The Meaning of Matthew 8:18 Explained

Matthew 8:18

KJV: Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

YLT: And Jesus having seen great multitudes about him, did command to depart to the other side;

Darby: And Jesus, seeing great crowds around him, commanded to depart to the other side.

ASV: Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandments to depart unto the other side.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now  when Jesus  saw  great  multitudes  about  him,  he gave commandment  to depart  unto  the other side. 

What does Matthew 8:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 8:18-27 - Leader Of Men And Ruler Of Nature
Christ winnows men. Before any enter upon His service, He places before them the inevitable trials which they must meet, among which loneliness and homelessness bulk large. See that in your heart Christ has a home. Where, however, there is lethargy, the Savior stirs the soul to follow Him. Do not mourn about the grave of the past; leave it and enter the life of resurrection and ascension.
Storms must sweep over all our lives. The Master's sleep indicates the peace and security of His nature. What a contrast between our impatience and His infinite serenity! Our Lord was sure that the Father was with Him, John 8:29. Near though the enemy may be, the Father is nearer. The everlasting arms are beneath you. You are beset behind and before, but no boat can sink when Christ is on board. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 8

1  Jesus cleanses the leper;
5  heals the centurion's servant,
14  Peter's mother in law,
16  and many others;
18  shows the cost of following him;
23  stills the storm on the sea;
28  drives the demons out of two men possessed;
31  and tells them to go into the pigs

What do the individual words in Matthew 8:18 mean?

Having seen now - Jesus a great crowd around Him He commanded to depart to the other side
Ἰδὼν δὲ Ἰησοῦς ‹πολλοὺς› ὄχλον περὶ αὐτὸν ἐκέλευσεν ἀπελθεῖν εἰς τὸ πέραν

Ἰδὼν  Having  seen 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
‹πολλοὺς›  a  great 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
ὄχλον  crowd 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ὄχλος  
Sense: a crowd.
περὶ  around 
Parse: Preposition
Root: περί 
Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
ἐκέλευσεν  He  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κελεύω  
Sense: to command, to order.
ἀπελθεῖν  to  depart 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἀπέρχομαι  
Sense: to go away, depart.
πέραν  other  side 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πέραν  
Sense: beyond, on the other side.