60 Bible Verses about Seafaring

"Zebulon shall dwell in the haven of the sea and in the port of ships, and shall reach unto Sidon.

Gilead abode on the other side Jordan, and why tarried Dan in ships? And Asher sat in the havens of the sea, and abode still in his own coasts.

and say unto Tyre, which is a port of the sea that occupieth with much people and many Isles, 'Thus speaketh the LORD God: O Tyre, thou hast said, 'What, I am a noble city.' Thy borders are in the midst of the sea, and thy builders have made thee marvelous goodly. All thy tables have they made of Cypress trees of the mount Senir. From Lebanon have they taken Cedar trees, to make the masts:read more.
and the Oaks of Bashan to make the rowers. Thy boards have they made of ivory, and of costly wood out of the Isle of Chittim. Thy sail was of white small needle work out of the land of Egypt, to hang upon thy mast: and thy hangings of yellow silk and purple, out of the Isles of Elishah. They of Sidon and Arvad were thy mariners, and the wisest in Tyre were thy shipmasters. The eldest and wisest at Gebal were they, that mended and stopped thy ships. All ships of the sea with their shipment occupied their merchandise in thee.

And it came to pass, when men began to multiply upon the earth and had begot them daughters, the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair, and took unto them wives, which they best liked among them all. And the LORD said, "My spirit shall not always strive with man, for they are flesh. Nevertheless I will give them yet space, a hundred and twenty years."read more.
There were tyrants in the world in those days. For after that the children of God had gone in unto the daughters of men and had begotten them children, the same children were the mightiest of the world and men of renown. And when the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was increased upon the earth, and that all the imagination and thoughts of his heart was only evil continually, he repented that he had made man upon the earth and sorrowed in his heart. And said, "I will destroy mankind which I have made, from off the face of the earth: both man, beast, worm and fowl of the air, for it repenteth me that I have made them." But yet Noah found grace in the sight of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man and uncorrupt in his time, and walked with God.

And Hiram sent by ship also of his servants, that were shipmen and expert in the sea, with the servants of Solomon. And they went to Ophir and fetched from thence gold, to the sum of four hundred and twenty two talents, and brought it to Solomon.

And Hiram sent him, by the hand of his servants, ships and servants that could skill of the sea: Which went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and brought thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought it to king Solomon.

The ships of Tarshish were the chief of thy occupying. Thus thou art full, and in great worship, even in the midst of the sea.

And thereto the ships of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir great plenty of almug trees and precious stones.

For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram once every three years. And the ships of Tarshish brought gold, silver, the teeth of elephants, apes and peacocks.

And Jehoshaphat made ships in the sea to go to Ophir for gold, but they went not: for the ships brake at Eziongeber. Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with thine in the ships." But Jehoshaphat would not.

After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, which was a wicked doer. And he coupled himself with him, to make ships to go to Tarshish. And they made the ships in Eziongeber. And Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works." And the ships were broken that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

"And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way which I bade thee that thou shouldest see it no more. And there ye shall be sold unto your enemies, for bondmen and bondwomen: and yet no man shall buy you."

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and wail in themselves, for no man will buy their ware any more, the ware of gold and silver, and precious stones, neither of pearl, and raynes, and purple, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and of iron, and cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and bodies; and souls of men.

The ships shall come out of the coast of Kittim and subdue Assyria and subdue Eber, and he himself shall perish at the last."

At that time shall their messengers go forth from me in ships, to make the careless Ethiopians afraid, and sorrow shall come upon them in the day of Egypt for doubtless it shall come.

And why? The ships of Chittim shall come upon him, that he may be smitten and turn again: that he may take indignation against the covenant of holiness, to meddle against it. Yea he shall turn him, and draw such unto him, as leave the holy covenant.

The isles also shall gather them unto me, and especially the ships of the sea: that they may bring the sons from far, and their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, unto the holy one of Israel, that hath glorified thee.

And Jonah made him ready to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and gat him down to Joppa, and found there a ship ready to go to Tarshish, and paid his fare, and went aboard, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

And then he entered into a ship: and passed over and came into his own city.

And they, after they were sent of the holy ghost, came unto Seleucia, and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

When Jesus had heard that, he departed thence by ship into a desert place out of the way. And when the people had heard thereof, they followed him afoot out of their cities.

And he sent away the people, and took ship and came into the parts of Magdala.

And he commanded his disciples, that a ship should wait on him, because of the people, lest they should throng him.

When Paul, and they that were with him, had departed by ship from Paphos, they came to Perga a city of Pamphylia. And there departed John from them, and returned to Jerusalem.

and thence departed by ship to Antioch, from whence they were delivered unto the grace of God, to the work which they had fulfilled.

And so sharp was the dissension between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: so that Barnabas took Mark and sailed unto Cyprus.

Then loosed we forth from Troas, and with a straight course came we to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis,

Paul, after this, tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, Priscilla and Aquila accompanying him. And he shore his head in Cenchreae. For he had a vow.

but bade them fare well saying, "I must needs, at this feast that cometh, be in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you if God will."

and there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria; He purposed to return through Macedonia.

And it chanced that as soon as we had launched forth, and were departed from them, we came with a straight course unto Cos, and the day following unto the Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara. And we found a ship ready to sail unto Phoenicia, and went aboard and set forth. Then appeared unto us Cyprus, and we left it on the left hand, and sailed unto Syria, and came unto Tyre. For there the ship unladed her burden.

When it was concluded that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, an under-captain of Caesar's soldiers. And we entered into a ship of Adramyttium, and loosed from land, appointed to sail by the coasts of Asia: one Aristarchus out of Macedonia, of the country of Thessalonica, being with us. And the next day came we to Sidon, and Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends, and to refresh himself.read more.
And from thence launched we and sailed hard by Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. Then sailed we over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, and came to Myra a city in Lycia. And there the under-captain found a ship of Alexandria ready to sail into Italy, and put us therein, and when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, because the wind withstood us, we sailed hard by the coast of Crete, over against Salmone, and with much work sailed beyond it, and came unto a place called Good Port, nigh whereunto was a city called Lasea.

After three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose badge was Castor and Pollux. And when we came to Syracuse, we tarried there three days, and from thence we set a compass and came to Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli,

They that go down to the sea in ships, and occupy their business in great waters, these men see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For at his word, the stormy wind ariseth, and lifteth up the waves thereof.read more.
They are carried up to the heaven, and down again to the deep; their soul melteth away in the trouble. They reel to and fro, they stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. So when they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, he delivereth them out of their distress. He maketh the storm to cease, so that the waves are still. Then are they glad, because they are at rest; and so he bringeth them unto the haven where they would be.

Thrice was I beaten with rods. I was once stoned. I suffered thrice shipwreck. Night and day have I been in the deep of the sea.

And Jehoshaphat made ships in the sea to go to Ophir for gold, but they went not: for the ships brake at Eziongeber.

And Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works." And the ships were broken that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

And Jonah made him ready to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and gat him down to Joppa, and found there a ship ready to go to Tarshish, and paid his fare, and went aboard, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. But the LORD hurled a great wind in to the sea, so that there was a mighty tempest in the sea: insomuch that the ship was like to go in pieces. And the mariners were afraid and cried every man unto his god, and cast out the goods that were in the ship in to the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah gat him under the hatches and laid him down and slumbered.read more.
And the master of the ship came to him and said unto him, "Why slumberest thou? Up! And call unto thy god, that God may think on us, that we perish not." And they said, one to another, come and let us cast lots, to know for whose cause we are thus troubled. And they cast lots. And the lot fell upon Jonah. Then they said unto him, "Tell us for whose cause we are thus troubled: what is thine occupation, whence comest thou, how is thy country called, and of what nation art thou?" And he answered them, "I am a Hebrew: and the LORD God of heaven which made both sea and dry land, I fear." Then were the men exceedingly afraid and said unto him, "Why didst thou so?" For they knew that he was fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. Then they said unto him, "What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may cease from troubling us?" For the sea wrought, and was troublous. And he answered them, "Take me and cast me in to the sea, and so shall it let you be in rest: for I know it is for my sake, that this great tempest is come upon you." Nevertheless the men assayed with rowing to bring the ship to land: but it would not be, because the sea so wrought and was so troublous against them. Wherefore they cried unto the LORD and said, "O LORD let us not perish for this man's death, neither lay innocent blood unto our charge: for thou LORD, even as thy pleasure was, so thou hast done." And then they took Jonah, and cast him into the sea: and the sea left raging.

And he entered into a ship, and his Disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with waves, and he was asleep. And his Disciples came unto him, and awoke him, saying, "Master, save us: we perish."read more.
And he said unto them, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there followed a great calm. And the men marveled and said, "What man is this, that both winds and sea obey him?"

And the same day, when even was come, he said unto them, "Let us pass over unto the other side." And they left the people, and took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and dashed the waves into the ship, so that it was full.read more.
And he was in the stern asleep on a pillow. And they awoke him, and said to him, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" And he rose up and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, "Peace and be still." And the wind allayed, and there followed a great calm: and he said unto them, "Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?" And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, "What fellow is this? For both wind and sea obey him."

And it chanced on a certain day that he went into a ship, and his disciples also, and he said unto them, "Let us go over unto the other side of the lake." And they launched forth. And as they sailed, he fell asleep. And there arose a storm of wind in the lake, and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they went to him and awoke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are lost." Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the tempest of water: and they ceased, and it waxed calm.read more.
And he said unto them, "Where is your faith?" They feared and wondered, saying one to another, "What fellow is this? For he commandeth both the winds and water, and they obey him!" And they sailed unto the region of the Gaderenes, which is over against Galilee.

And straightway Jesus made his disciples enter into a ship, and to go over before him, while he sent the people away. And as soon as he had sent the people away, he went up into a mountain alone to pray. And when night was come he was there himself alone. And the ship was now in the midst of the sea, and was tossed with waves, for it was a contrary wind.read more.
In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came unto them, walking on the sea: and when his disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is some spirit," and cried out for fear. And straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, "Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid." Peter answered him, and said, "Master, if thou be he, bid me come unto thee on the water." And he said, "Come." And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw a mighty wind, he was afraid. And as he began to sink, he cried, saying, "Master save me." And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said to him, "O thou of little faith: wherefore didst thou doubt?" And as soon as they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, "Of a truth thou art the son of God."

And straightway, he caused his disciples to go into the ship, and to go over the water before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And as soon as he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land,read more.
and he saw them troubled in rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them. And about the fourth quarter of the night, he came unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. When they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were afraid. And anon he talked with them, and said unto them, "Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid." And he went up unto them into the ship, and the wind ceased, and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they remembered not of the loaves, because their hearts were blinded. And they came over, and went into the land of Gennesaret, and drew up into the haven.

And when even was come, his disciples went unto the sea, and entered into a ship. And went over the sea unto Capernaum. And anon it was dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose with a great wind that blew.read more.
And when they had rowed about a twenty five or a thirty furlongs, they saw Jesus walk on the sea, and to draw nigh unto the ship, and they were afraid. And he said unto them, "It is I, be not afraid." Then would they have received him into the ship, and the ship was by and by at the land whither they went.

When much time was spent and sailing was now jeopardous, because also that we had overlong fasted, Paul put them in remembrance, and said unto them, "Sirs I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not of the lading and ship only: but also of our lives." Neverthelater, the under-captain believed the governor, and the master, better than those things which were spoken of Paul.read more.
And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, many took counsel to depart thence, if by any means they might attain to Phoenix and there to winter, which is a haven of Crete, and serveth to the southwest, and northwest wind. When the south wind blew, they supposing to obtain their purpose loosed unto Assos, and sailed past all Crete. But anon after there arose, against their purpose, a flaw of wind out of the northeast. And when the ship was caught, and could not resist the wind, we let her go and drave with the weather. And we came unto an isle named Cauda; And had much work to come by a boat, which they took up, and used help undergirding the ship, fearing lest we should have fallen into Syrtis, and we let down a vessel and so were carried. The next day when we were tossed with an exceeding tempest, they lightened the ship, and the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. When at the last neither sun nor star in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay upon us, all hope that we should be saved, was then taken away. Then after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them and said, "Sirs, ye should have hearkened to me, and not have loosed from Crete, neither to have brought unto us this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you: save of the ship only. For there stood by me this night the angel of God: whose I am, and whom I serve: saying, 'Fear not Paul, for thou must be brought before Caesar. And lo, God hath given unto thee all that sail with thee.' Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God that so it shall be even as it was told me; Howbeit, we must be cast into a certain island." But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were carried in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that there appeared some country unto them, and they sounded, and found it twenty fathoms; And when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms. Then fearing, lest they should have fallen on some rock, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. As the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, and had let down the boat into the sea, under a colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship: Paul said unto the under-captain and the soldiers, "Except these abide in the ship ye cannot be safe." Then the soldiers cut off the rope of the boat, and let it fall away. And in the meantime, betwixt that and day, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, "This is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting receiving nothing at all, wherefore I pray you to take meat: for this no doubt is for your health, for there shall not a hair fall from the head of any of you." And when he had thus spoken he took bread and gave thanks to God in presence of them all, and brake it, and began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took meat. We were all together in the ship, two hundred and three score and sixteen souls. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and cast out the wheat into the sea. When it was day they knew not the land, but they spied a certain haven with a bank, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bonds and hoisted up the main sail to the wind and drew to land. But they chanced on a place, which had the sea on both the sides, and thrust in the ship. And the fore part stuck fast, and moved not, but the hinder part brake with the violence of the waves. The soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners: lest any of them, when he had swum out, should flee away. But the under-captain, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that they that could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and escape to land. And the others he commanded to go, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they came all safe to land.

The burden of Tyre. Mourn, ye ships of Tarshish, for there cometh such destruction that ye shall not have a house to enter into. Out of the land of Chittim they have knowledge of this plague.

upon all ships of Tarshish, and upon everything that is glorious and pleasant to look upon.

Mourn, ye ships of Tarshish, for your power shall be thrown down.

For the glorious Majesty of the LORD shall there be present among us. In that place, where fair broad rivers and streams are, shall neither Galley row, nor great ship sail. For the LORD shall be our captain, the LORD shall be our law giver. The LORD shall be our king, and he himself shall be our Saviour There are the cords so laid abroad, that they cannot be better; The mast set up of such a fashion, that no banner nor sail hangeth thereon; but there is dealt great spoil: yea, lame men run after the prey;

Thus sayeth the LORD the holy one of Israel, your redeemer, "For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and brought down the strongest of them. All they are fugitive with the Chaldeans that boast them of their ships:

"'Thy mariners were ever bringing unto thee out of many waters. But the east wind shall overbear thee into the midst of the sea: so that thy wares, thy merchandise, thy riches, thy mariners, thy shipmasters, thy helpers, thy occupiers that brought the things necessary, the men of war that are in thee: Yea, and all thy commons shall perish in the midst of the sea, in the day of thy fall. The suburbs shall shake at the loud cry of thy shipmen.read more.
All whirry men, and all mariners upon the sea, shall leap out of their boats and set themselves upon the land. They shall lift up their voice because of thee, and make a lamentable cry. They shall cast dust upon their heads, and lie down in the ashes. They shall shave themselves, and put sackcloth upon them for thy sake. They shall mourn for thee with heartful sorrow and heavy lamentation; yea, their children also shall weep for thee. Alas, what city hath so been destroyed in the sea, as Tyre is? When thy wares and merchandise came from the seas, thou gavest all people enough. The kings of the earth hast thou made rich, through the multitude of thy wares and occupying: But now art thou cast down in to the deep of the sea, all thy resort of people is perished with thee. All they that dwell in the Isles are abashed at thee, and all their kings are afraid; yea, their faces have changed colour. The merchants of the nations wonder at thee, in that thou art so clean brought to naught, and comest no more up.'"

for at one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every ship governor, and all they that occupied ships, and shipmen which work in the sea, stood afar off; and cried, when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, "What city is like unto this great city?' And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping, and wailing, and said, 'Alas, Alas, that great city wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea, by the reason of her costliness, for at one hour is she made desolate.'

That we henceforth be no more children, wavering and carried with every wind of doctrine, by the wiliness of men and craftiness, whereby they lay a wait for us to deceive us.

having faith and good conscience, which some have put away from them, and as concerning faith have made shipwreck.

which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. Which hope also entereth in, into those things which are within the veil,

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the violence of the governor will: even so the tongue is little member and boasteth great things. Behold how great a thing a little fire kindleth,

Thou shalt break the ships of the sea, through the east wind.

She is like the merchants' ship, that bringeth her victuals from afar.

But let him ask in faith, and waver not. For he that doubteth is like the waves of the sea, tossed of the wind, and carried with violence.

which were in time past disobedient, when the long suffering of God abode exceeding patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few - that is to say eight souls - were saved by water,