Boats have been central to many biblical stories. From Noah’s ark to Jesus calming the storm, these verses remind us of God’s control over the seas and our lives.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Better Days
Bible Verses About Boats
Genesis 6:14 – God instructs Noah to build an ark
“So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.” – Genesis 6:14
Exodus 2:3 – Moses’ mother puts him in a basket on the Nile River
“But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.” – Exodus 2:3
Exodus 14:21 – Moses parts the Red Sea
“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided.” – Exodus 14:21
Jonah 1:15 – Jonah is swallowed by a great fish
“Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.” – Jonah 1:15
Matthew 14:22 – Jesus walks on water
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.” – Matthew 14:22
Matthew 28:19 – Jesus commands his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” – Matthew 28:19
Mark 4:39 – Jesus calms the storm
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” – Mark 4:39
Mark 6:48 – Jesus walks on water and comes to the disciples’ boat
“He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn, he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them.” – Mark 6:48
Luke 5:4 – Jesus teaches from Simon Peter’s boat
“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”” – Luke 5:4
Luke 8:23 – Jesus calms the storm on the Sea of Galilee
“As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.” – Luke 8:23
John 21:6 – After the resurrection, Jesus instructs the disciples to cast the net on the right side of the boat
“He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.” – John 21:6
Acts 27:14 – Paul and his companions face a tempestuous wind on their voyage to Rome
“Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island.” – Acts 27:14
Genesis 6:15 – The dimensions of Noah’s ark
“This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high.” – Genesis 6:15
Genesis 7:23 – The floodwaters cover the earth
“Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; people and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.” – Genesis 7:23
Exodus 14:27 – The Israelites cross the Red Sea on dry ground
“Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea.” – Exodus 14:27
Matthew 8:24 – A great storm arises on the Sea of Galilee
“Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.” – Matthew 8:24
Matthew 14:32 – Jesus and Peter walk on water
“And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.” – Matthew 14:32
John 21:11 – The disciples catch a large number of fish after following Jesus’ instructions
“So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.” – John 21:11
Acts 27:41 – The shipwreck on Malta
“But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.” – Acts 27:41
Hebrews 11:7 – Noah’s faith in building the ark
“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith, he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.” – Hebrews 11:7
1 Peter 3:20 – Noah and his family were saved through water
“To those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water.” – 1 Peter 3:20
Isaiah 43:2 – God’s promise to be with us through deep waters
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” – Isaiah 43:2
Matthew 4:18 – Jesus calls his first disciples, who were fishermen
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.” – Matthew 4:18
Matthew 8:26 – Jesus rebukes the winds and the waves
“He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” – Matthew 8:26
Matthew 28:20 – Jesus promises to be with us always, even unto the end of the age
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20
Mark 1:16 – Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew while they are fishing
“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.” – Mark 1:16
Mark 6:47 – Jesus sees the disciples straining against the wind as they row the boat
“Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.” – Mark 6:47
Luke 8:22 – Jesus calms the storm on the Sea of Galilee
“One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out.” – Luke 8:22
John 6:19 – The disciples rowed about three or four miles when they saw Jesus walking on the water
“When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.” – John 6:19
John 21:3 – The disciples decide to go fishing and catch nothing all night
““I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.” – John 21:3
Acts 27:44 – Paul, along with all the others, reaches land safely after the shipwreck
“The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way, everyone reached land safely.” – Acts 27:44
Genesis 6:16 – The construction of the ark and its compartments
“Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit high all around. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks.” – Genesis 6:16
Genesis 7:17 – The floodwaters increase on the earth
“For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth.” – Genesis 7:17
Exodus 14:16 – God tells Moses to raise his staff and divide the sea
“Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” – Exodus 14:16
Jonah 1:17 – Jonah spends three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish
“Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” – Jonah 1:17
Matthew 14:25 – Jesus comes to the disciples in the fourth watch of the night, walking on the water
“Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.” – Matthew 14:25
Matthew 28:18 – Jesus declares that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”” – Matthew 28:18
Mark 4:37 – A furious squall comes up, and the waves break over the boat
“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.” – Mark 4:37
Mark 6:49 – The disciples mistake Jesus for a ghost when they see him walking on water
“When they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out.” – Mark 6:49
Luke 5:3 – Jesus gets into the boat and teaches the crowds from there
“He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.” – Luke 5:3
Luke 8:24 – Jesus rebukes the wind and the raging waters, and they calmed down
“The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.” – Luke 8:24
John 21:2 – Peter and the other disciples go fishing
“Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.” – John 21:2
Acts 27:20 – The storm rages on for many days, blocking out the sun and stars
“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.” – Acts 27:20
1 Peter 3:21 – Baptism symbolizes the pledge of a good conscience toward God
“And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 3:21