50 Bible Verses about Waves

Waves, with their rhythmic and powerful motion, are a compelling metaphor used in the Bible to depict various aspects of life, from challenges and turmoil to the majesty of creation.

“You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them,” says Psalm 89:9, beautifully illustrating God’s sovereignty over the natural world and the tumultuous aspects of life.

As we reflect upon the symbolism of waves, the Bible offers profound insights into understanding their significance in our spiritual journey, teaching us about strength, resilience, and the steadfast presence of God amidst life’s ebbs and flows.

Throughout Scripture, the imagery of waves and water is frequently employed to convey spiritual truths. The story of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee, where his disciples are terrified by the raging waves, serves as a powerful lesson about faith and trust in God’s power, even in the face of overwhelming circumstances. Similarly, the Old Testament narratives, such as the parting of the Red Sea, reveal God’s ability to control and use the forces of nature for divine purposes.

In its essence, the Bible uses the symbolism of waves to speak to the human condition – our fears, challenges, and the need for faith and perseverance. From the poetic expressions in the Psalms that often use sea imagery to reflect human emotions, to the prophetic visions in Revelation where the sea represents cosmic forces, waves are a recurring theme that invites contemplation and spiritual insight.

This compilation of 50 Bible verses explores the theme of waves. Each verse provides a unique lens through which to view the metaphor of waves, offering guidance, comfort, and a deeper understanding of their symbolic significance in our lives.

May these verses inspire you to see the waves not just as physical phenomena, but as spiritual metaphors that teach us about the power of faith, the inevitability of change, and the unchanging support of God through every high and low in our lives.

The Power and Majesty of Waves

Psalm 93:4

“Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea—the Lord on high is mighty.”

Job 38:11

“And said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt?’”

Psalm 107:29

“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.”

Matthew 8:26

“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.”

Isaiah 51:15

“But I am the Lord your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves roar—the Lord Almighty is his name.”

The Unpredictability of Life’s Waves

James 1:6

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

Matthew 14:30

“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’”

Psalm 89:9

“You rule over the surging sea; when its waves rise, you still them.”

Jonah 1:15

“Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.”

Proverbs 8:29

When he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

Guidance Through Life’s Turbulent Waters

Psalm 23:2

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.”

Isaiah 43:2

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

Psalm 77:19

“Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.”

John 6:18-19

“A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.

Psalm 29:3

“The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.”

Hope and Renewal in the Midst of Waves

Lamentations 3:22-23

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

Romans 5:3-5

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

1 Peter 5:10

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Revelation 21:4

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Wisdom and Reflection by the Seashore

Ecclesiastes 1:7

“All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.”

Jeremiah 5:22

“Do you not fear me? declares the Lord. ‘Do you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.'”

Job 12:8

“Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you.”

Psalm 95:5

The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Psalm 139:17-18

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you.”

The Steadfast Love of God Amidst Waves

Psalm 136:6

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he spread out the earth upon the waters; His love endures forever.”

Mark 4:39

“Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”

Psalm 65:7

“Who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.”

Isaiah 54:10

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Psalm 42:7

“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.”

The Guidance of God in Stormy Seas

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Psalm 32:8

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

Matthew 14:29

“‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”

Isaiah 30:21

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'”

Psalm 31:3

“For you are my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead and guide me.”

Faith and Trust Amidst Life’s Oceans

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Mark 11:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

2 Corinthians 5:7

“For we live by faith, not by sight.”

Romans 10:17

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

James 2:26

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

The Transformative Power of God’s Love

Romans 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Corinthians 3:18

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Ephesians 4:22-24

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Colossians 3:10

“And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

Romans 8:28

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Seeking God’s Presence by the Sea

1 Kings 19:11-12

“The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”

Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Matthew 14:23

“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.”

Psalm 19:1

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Jeremiah 29:13

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

In this collection of verses, the Bible reflects on the symbolic and literal significance of waves and the sea. These passages convey the power, unpredictability, and beauty of the ocean, while also offering metaphors for life’s challenges and God’s guidance through them. They remind us of the strength and presence of God in times of turmoil and change, and encourage reflection and wisdom in the face