1055. galéné
Lexical Summary
galéné: Calm, tranquility

Original Word: γαλήνη
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: galéné
Pronunciation: gah-LAY-nay
Phonetic Spelling: (gal-ay'-nay)
KJV: calm
NASB: calm
Word Origin: [of uncertain derivation]

1. tranquillity

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
calm.

Of uncertain derivation; tranquillity -- calm.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
perhaps akin to gelaó
Definition
a calm
NASB Translation
calm (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1055: γαλήνη

γαλήνη, γαληνης, (adjective , , γαληνός calm, cheerful), calmness, stillness of the sea, a calm: Matthew 8:26; Mark 4:39; Luke 8:24. (From Homer down.)

Topical Lexicon
Overview

The term describes the sudden, complete stillness of wind-tossed waters when Jesus speaks His sovereign word. It is used exclusively in the Synoptic accounts of the calming of the storm, underscoring the uniqueness of Christ’s authority over creation and His ability to replace chaos with peace.

Biblical Occurrences

Matthew 8:26; Mark 4:39; Luke 8:24. In each narrative the word appears at the climactic moment when the raging elements obey Jesus and the sea becomes “perfectly calm” (Matthew 8:26). The repetition across three Gospels functions as a threefold witness that the event is both historical and theologically weighty.

Historical and Cultural Context

First-century Jews and Gentiles alike regarded the sea as a realm of unpredictability and danger. Fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were well acquainted with sudden, violent squalls funneled down from the surrounding hills. Within that setting, the instantaneous stillness would have been far more striking than if the storm had merely tapered off. The eyewitnesses experienced not only a change in weather but a direct display of divine power in real time and space.

Theological Significance

1. Revelation of Christ’s Deity: By issuing a verbal command that nature obeys, Jesus acts with the prerogatives attributed to the LORD in the Psalms: “He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed” (Psalm 107:29).
2. Discipleship and Faith: Each account sets the calm over against the disciples’ fear. Jesus first addresses their lack of faith, then produces the calm, teaching that true peace flows from trust in Him rather than from favorable circumstances.
3. Eschatological Foreshadowing: The word anticipates the promised cosmic peace when “there will be no more sea” in the sense of turmoil (Revelation 21:1). The temporary calm on Galilee previews the ultimate restoration of all creation.

Connections with Old Testament Imagery

Old Testament writers frequently portray the LORD subduing chaotic waters (Genesis 1:2; Exodus 14:21-22; Psalm 89:9). By bringing immediate stillness, Jesus identifies Himself with the covenant God who masters the deep. The calm becomes a living commentary on prophetic passages such as Isaiah 9:6-7, where the Messiah is called “Prince of Peace.”

Ministry and Pastoral Application

• Assurance in Trials: Believers encountering life’s storms draw comfort from the fact that the same Lord who calmed Galilee remains present and able to speak peace into any situation (John 14:27).
• Worship and Awe: The disciples’ question, “Who is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (Mark 4:41), invites continual meditation on the majesty of Christ.
• Missional Motivation: The calming of the storm testifies to a Savior competent to deliver from ultimate peril. Proclaiming Him includes announcing His power to bring inner calm through the gospel.

Early Church Reflection

Patristic writers such as Augustine saw in the calm a figure of Christ bringing tranquility to the Church amid persecution. The word therefore entered homiletic tradition as a picture of Christ’s ongoing care for His people.

Summary

Used only three times, the term captures a moment when divine authority breaks into human fear, turning violent disorder into serene order. It invites readers of every generation to trust the One whose voice still brings perfect calm.

Forms and Transliterations
γαληνη γαλήνη galene galēnē galḗne galḗnē
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 8:26 N-NFS
GRK: καὶ ἐγένετο γαλήνη μεγάλη
NAS: and it became perfectly calm.
KJV: there was a great calm.
INT: and there was a calm great

Mark 4:39 N-NFS
GRK: καὶ ἐγένετο γαλήνη μεγάλη
NAS: and it became perfectly calm.
KJV: there was a great calm.
INT: and there was a calm great

Luke 8:24 N-NFS
GRK: καὶ ἐγένετο γαλήνη
NAS: and they stopped, and it became calm.
KJV: and there was a calm.
INT: and there was a calm

Strong's Greek 1055
3 Occurrences


γαλήνη — 3 Occ.

1054
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