Matthew 14:27 - Exposition

But straightway Jesus spake unto them ( ἐλάλησεν , not ἔκραξεν ). He was evidently near them. Saying, Be of good cheer ( θαρσεῖτε , Matthew 9:2 ); it is I be not afraid. Encouragement, self-manifestation, recall from present terror. But the absence of θαρσεῖτε in John 6:20 suggests that it is, perhaps, a duplicate rendering of the Aramaic for μὴ φοβεῖσθε . For the LXX . commonly translates "fear ye not" by θαρσεῖτε ( e.g. Exodus 14:13 ; Exodus 20:20 ). One or two second-rate manuscripts omit θαρσεῖτε in Mark, but this may be only due to a reminiscence of John. It is also omitted in Tatian's 'Diatessaron' (edit. Hemphill).