γᾰλήν-η G1055
calm, stillness of the sea, complete absence of wind and waves
This term describes the profound stillness of the sea when wind and waves completely cease. Classical usage distinguishes calm at sea from calm in the air. In the Gospel accounts, after Jesus rebukes the wind and sea, there comes 'a great calm'—an immediate and complete cessation of the violent storm. The term can also metaphorically describe calmness or serenity of mind, but in the New Testament it appears only in the literal sense of meteorological calm. The sudden transition from fierce storm to perfect stillness amplifies the miracle's dramatic impact.
Senses
1. sense 1 — All three occurrences (Matthew 8:26, Mark 4:39, Luke 8:24) appear in the Synoptic accounts of Jesus calming the storm. The narrative structure is identical: fierce storm, disciples' fear, Jesus' rebuke of wind and waves, immediate 'great calm.' The multilingual glosses are uniform—English 'calm,' Spanish 'calma,' French 'calme,' German 'Stille'—all emphasizing the complete stillness that follows the storm. The disciples' amazement focuses not just on the storm's cessation but on the unnatural completeness of the resulting calm. 3×
AR["هُدوءٌ"]·ben["নীরবতা", "শান্ত", "শান্তি"]·DE["Stille", "γαλήνη"]·EN["a-calm", "calm"]·FR["calme"]·heb["דְּמָמָה"]·HI["शान्ति"]·ID["teduh"]·IT["galene"]·jav["tentrem"]·KO["고요가", "고요함", "고요함이"]·PT["bonanca", "bonanza", "calmaria"]·RU["тишина"]·ES["calma"]·SW["shwari", "utulivu"]·TR["dinginlik.", "durgunluk"]·urd["سکون"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
γᾰλήν-η, ἡ, stillness of the sea, calm (γ. μὲν ἐν θαλάσσῃ νηνεμία δ᾽ ἐν ἀέρι Refs 8th c.BC+; οἱ δ᾽ ἐλόωσι γαλήνην will sail the calm sea, Refs; stillness of deep waters, Refs 5th c.BC+: metaphorically of the mind, calmness, serenity, φρόνημα νηνέμου γαλάνας Refs 4th c.BC+; ἐν γαλήνῃ in calm, quiet, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II lead sulphide, galena, Refs 1st c.AD+ __III name of an antidote, Refs 1st c.AD+ accusative to Refs 6th c.AD+; perhaps akin to γελάω.)