60 Bible Verses about Seafaring

Zebulun shall live at the sea shore. And he shall be a haven for ships, and his border beside Sidon.

Gilead stayed beyond Jordan. And why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the seashore and remained in his havens.

And say to Tyre, O you who are placed at the entrance of the sea, a merchant of the peoples for many coastlands, so says the Lord Jehovah: O Tyre, you have said, I am of perfect beauty. Your borders are in the midst of the seas, your builders have perfected your beauty. They have made all your ship boards of fir trees of Senir; they have taken cedars from Lebanon to make masts for you.read more.
They have made the oaks of Bashan your oars; the daughter of Assyria has made your deck of ivory from the coasts of Kittim. Your sail was of fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt, an ensign for you; violet and purple from the coasts of Elishah was your covering. The residents of Sidon and Arvad were your seamen. Your wise ones, O Tyre, were in you, they were your sailors. The elders of Gebal and her wise men were with you, reinforcing your seams. All the ships of the sea with their seamen were with you, to exchange your merchandise.

And it happened, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and when daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were good. And they took wives for themselves from all whom they chose. And Jehovah said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, in his erring; he is flesh. Yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.read more.
There were giants in the earth in those days. And also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore to them, they were mighty men who existed of old, men of renown. And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And Jehovah repented that He had made man on the earth, and He was angry to His heart. And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created, from the face of the earth, both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air. For I repent that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of Jehovah. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.

And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen who had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon. And they came to Ophir, and brought gold from there, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to King Solomon.

And Hiram sent ships to him by the hand of his servants, and servants who knew the sea. And they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took four hundred and fifty talents of gold from there, and brought them to King Solomon.

The ships of Tarshish were the travelers of your goods. And you were filled and made very glorious in the heart of the seas.

And also the navy of Hiram which brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great abundance of almug trees and precious stones.

For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

Jehoshaphat had ten ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold. But they did not go, for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber. And Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with your servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.

And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel; he did wickedly to do so. And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish. And they made the ships in Ezion-geber. And Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, Jehovah has broken your works. And the ships were broken so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

And Jehovah shall bring you into Egypt again with ships, by the way of which I said to you, You shall see it no more again. And there you shall be sold to your enemies for men-slaves and women-slaves, and no man shall buy you.

And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their cargo any more; the cargo of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and every ivory vessel, and every vessel of very precious wood, and of bronze, and of iron, and of marble, and cinnamon, and incenses, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

And ships shall come from the coast of Cyprus, and shall afflict Assyria and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish forever.

In that day messengers shall go out from Me in ships to terrify the confident Ethiopians, and anguish shall be on them, as in the day of Egypt; for lo, it is coming.

For the ships of Kittim shall come against him. And he shall be grieved and return, and have fury against the holy covenant. So he shall do; he shall even return and give heed to those who forsake the holy covenant.

Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, to the name of Jehovah your God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because He has glorified you.

But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah. And he went down to Joppa. And he found a ship going to Tarshish. And he gave its fare, and went down into it, in order to go with them to Tarshish, away from the sight of Jehovah.

And He entered into a boat, and passed over, and came to His own city.

Then these indeed sent out by the Holy Spirit went down to Seleucia. And from there they sailed to Cyprus.

When Jesus heard, He departed from there by boat into a deserted place apart. And hearing, the crowds followed Him on foot out of the cities.

And sending the crowd away, He went into the boat and came into the borders of Magdala.

And He spoke to His disciples, so that a small boat should stay near to Him, because of the crowd, lest they should press on Him.

And Paul and those around him sailed from Paphos and came to Perga of Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem.

And from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

Then there was sharp feeling, so as to separate them from each other. And taking Mark, Barnabas sailed to Cyprus.

Then having set sail from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

And Paul having remained many days more, taking leave of the brothers, he sailed from there into Syria. And Priscilla and Aquila were with him. And Paul had shorn his head in Cenchrea, for he had a vow.

but took leave of them, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that is coming in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you, God willing. And he sailed from Ephesus.

And spending three months there, there being a plot against him by the Jews, being about to sail into Syria, he proposed to return through Macedonia.

And it happened when it was time to sail, we having been torn away from them, running direct we came to Cos; and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, going on board, we set sail. And sighting Cyprus, and leaving it on the left, we sailed into Syria, and came down to Tyre. For the ship was to unload its cargo there.

And when it was determined that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' cohort. And boarding a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail alongside Asian places, we set sail, Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, being with us. And on the next day we were landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul courteously and gave him liberty to go to his friends to receive care.read more.
And setting sail from there, we sailed close to Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. And sailing over the sea against Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra of Lycia. And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing to Italy, and he put us on it. And sailing slowly many days and with difficulty, coming abreast of Cnidus; the wind not allowing us; we sailed close to Crete, across from Salmone. And coasting along with difficulty, we came to a place named Fair Havens, near which was a city, Lasea.

And after three months we sailed in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, an Alexandrian with an ensign, The Twin Brothers. And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. Going around from there we arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind coming on, we came to Puteoli on the second,

They who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters; these see the works of Jehovah and His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up its waves.read more.
They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and all their wisdom is swallowed up. And they cry to Jehovah in their trouble, and He brings them out of their troubles. He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still. And they are glad because they are quiet; so He brings them to their desired haven.

Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the deep.

Jehoshaphat had ten ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold. But they did not go, for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.

And Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, Jehovah has broken your works. And the ships were broken so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah. And he went down to Joppa. And he found a ship going to Tarshish. And he gave its fare, and went down into it, in order to go with them to Tarshish, away from the sight of Jehovah. But Jehovah hurled a great wind into the sea, and there was a great storm in the sea, so that the ship was thought to be broken. Then the seamen were afraid, and each man cried to his god. And they threw out the ship's articles in the ship, into the sea in order to lighten it. But Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship; and he lay there, and was fast asleep.read more.
And the chief of the seaman came to him and said to him, What is it to you, O sound sleeper? Arise, call upon your God! It may be that our god will notice us, and we will not perish. And they said, each one to his fellow, Come and let us cast lots, so that we may know who has caused this evil to occur to us. And they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, Please tell us, for what reason this evil has come on us. What is your business? And where do you come from? Where is your country? And of what people are you? And he said to them, I am a Hebrew; and I fear Jehovah, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land. Then the men were afraid with a great fear. And they said to him, What is this you have done? For the men knew that he was fleeing from before the face of Jehovah, because he had told them. Then they said to him, What shall we do to you, that the sea may be calm to us? For the sea was going on and being stormy. And he said to them, Take me up and throw me out into the sea. And the sea shall be calm to you; for I know that this great storm has come on you for my sake. But the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not, for the sea was going on and being stormy against them. And they cried to Jehovah and said, We beg You, O Jehovah, we beg You, let us not perish for this man's life, and do not lay on us innocent blood. For You, O Jehovah, have done as it pleased You. And they lifted Jonah up and threw him out into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging.

And He entering into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, a great tempest arose in the sea, so much so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. And His disciples came to Him and awakened Him, saying, Lord, save us! We perish!read more.
And He said to them, Why are you afraid, little-faiths? Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marveled, saying, What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

And evening having come, He said to them on that day, Let us pass over to the other side. And when they had sent away the crowd, they took Him with them as He was in the boat. And there were also other little boats with Him. And there arose a windstorm, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was now full.read more.
And He was in the stern of the boat, asleep on a headrest. And they awakened Him and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we perish? And He awakened and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace! Be still! And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said to them, Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? And they feared exceedingly and said to one another, What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?

And it happened on a certain day that He went into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, Let us go over to the other side of the lake. And they put out to sea. But as they sailed, He fell asleep. And a storm of wind came onto the lake. And they were being filled with water and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awakened Him, saying, Master, Master, we are perishing! Then being aroused, He rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.read more.
And He said to them, Where is your faith? And being afraid, they marveled, saying to one another, Who then is this One? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him! And they sailed down to the country of the Gadarenes, which is across from Galilee.

And immediately Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a boat and to go before Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. And when He had sent the crowds away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray. And when evening had come, He was there alone. But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves; for the wind was against them.read more.
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a phantom! And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer, I AM! Do not fear. And Peter answered Him and said, LORD, if it is You, tell me to come to You on the water. And He said, Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But seeing that the wind was strong, he was afraid. And beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me! And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him; and said to him, Little-faith! Why did you doubt? And when they had come into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, Truly You are the Son of God.

And immediately He constrained His disciples to get into the boat and to go before to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent away the crowd. And taking leave of them, He went away to the mountain to pray. And when evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land.read more.
And He saw them toiling in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them. And about the fourth watch of the night He came toward them walking on the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a phantom, and cried out. For they all saw Him and were troubled. And immediately He talked with them, and said, Be of good cheer. I AM! Do not be afraid. And He went up into the boat to them. And the wind was cut off. And they were very much amazed within themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they did not understand the miracle of the loaves, for their hearts were hardened. And crossing over, they came into the land of Gennesaret and drew to the shore.

And when evening had come, the disciples went down to the sea and entered into a boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them. And the sea rose up because of a great wind that blew.read more.
Then having rowed about twenty-five or thirty furlongs, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the ship. And they were afraid. But He said to them, I AM! Do not be afraid. Then they willingly received Him into the boat. And immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

And much time having been used up, and the voyage already being dangerous, because the Fast was now already past, Paul warned them, saying, Men, I perceive that this voyage is about to be with much harm and loss, and not only much cargo and of the ship, but also of our souls. But the centurion was rather persuaded by the helmsman and the shipmaster, than by the things spoken by Paul.read more.
And the port not being fit to winter in, the most of them advised to set sail from there, if by any means they might be able to get to Phoenix to winter; which is a port of Crete, looking toward the southwest and northwest. And a south wind blowing softly, thinking to have obtained their purpose, lifting anchor, they sailed along close beside Crete. But not long after, a stormy wind called Euroclydon beat down on it. And the ship being seized, and not being able to beat against the wind, giving way we were borne along. And running under an islet being called Clauda, we hardly were able to become masters of the boat; which taking, they used helps, undergirding the ship. And fearing lest they should fall into the sandbanks of Syrtis, lowering the tackle, so they were borne along. And being exceedingly storm-tossed with a tempest, they made a casting on the next day; And on the third day we threw out the ship's tackle with our hands. And neither sun nor stars appearing in many days, and no small tempest pressing hard, now all hope that we would be saved was taken away. But there being much fasting, then standing up in their midst, Paul said, O men, being obedient to me you ought not to have set sail from Crete, and to have come by this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer, for there will be no casting away of life among you, only of the ship. For tonight an angel of God stood beside me, whose I am and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul! You must stand before Caesar. And behold! God has given you all those who sail with you. Therefore, men, be of good cheer, for I believe God, that it will be so, according to the way it was told me. But we must fall on a certain island. But when the fourteenth night came, we being carried about in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors thought that they drew near some country. And sounding they found it twenty fathoms; and moving a little further, and sounding again, they found it fifteen fathoms. And fearing that we would fall on rocks, and casting four anchors out of the stern, they wished day to come. But the sailors seeking to flee out of the ship, and lowering the boat into the sea, pretending to be about to cast out anchors from the prow, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Unless these remain in the ship, you cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the boat, and let her fall. And until day was about to come, Paul begged all to take food, saying, This is the fourteenth day that you continued waiting without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I beg you to take some food, for this is for your deliverance. For not a hair of your head shall perish. And saying these things, and taking bread, he gave thanks to God before all, and breaking, he began to eat. And all becoming cheered, they also took food. And we were, all the souls in the ship, two hundred and seventy-six. And being filled with food, they lightened the ship, throwing the wheat into the sea. And when day came, they did not recognize the land. But they discovered a certain bay with a beach, into which they were minded, if they were able, to drive the ship. And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea; at the same time they loosened the rudder bands and hoisted up the foresail to the wind and held to the shore. And coming on a place between two seas, they drove the vessel. And indeed the prow sticking fast, it remained unmovable. But the stern was broken with the violence of the waves. And the mind of the soldiers was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out and escape. But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, kept them from their purpose and commanded those who could swim, to throw themselves overboard, to go out on the land. And the rest went, some on boards and others on some of the things from the ship. And so it happened that all were saved on the land.

The burden against Tyre: Howl, ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in. From the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.

and on all the ships of Tarshish, and on all pleasurable craft.

Howl, ships of Tarshish! For your strength is laid waste.

But there the glorious Jehovah will be to us a place of broad rivers and streams, in which no galley with oars shall go, nor shall mighty ship pass by it. For Jehovah is our judge, Jehovah is our lawgiver, Jehovah is our king; He will save us. Your ropes are loosened, they do not hold the base of the mast; they could not spread the sail. Then the prey of a great spoil shall be divided; the lame take the prey.

So says Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all of them as fugitives, and the Chaldeans, whose shout is in the ships.

Your rowers have made you come into great waters; the east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas. Your riches, and your wares, your goods, your seamen, and your sailors reinforcing your seams, and the traders of your goods, and all your men of war, who are in you, and all your company which is in your midst, shall fall into the heart of the seas in the day of your ruin. At the sound of the cry of your sailors the open lands will shake.read more.
And all who handle the oar, the mariners, all the sailors of the sea, shall come down from their ships. They shall stand on the land, and shall cause their voice to be heard against you, and shall cry bitterly, and shall throw dust on their heads. They shall wallow themselves in the ashes. And they will be bald for you, and gird with sackcloth. And they shall weep for you with bitterness of soul, a bitter wailing. And in their wailing they shall lift up a lamentation and lament over you, saying, Who is like Tyre; as she who is quiet in the midst of the sea? When your goods went out from the seas, you filled many people. With the plenty of your riches and your goods you enriched the kings of the earth. At this time you are broken by the seas, in the depths of the waters, your goods and all your company in your midst have fallen. All the residents of the coastlands are appalled at you, and their kings are horribly terrified; their faces tremble. The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; you have become terrors. And you shall not be forever.

For in one hour such great riches was desolated. And every ship-pilot, and all the company on the ships, and sailors, and as many as work the sea, stood afar off. And they cried out, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying, What is like the great city? And they threw dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe! Woe to the great city, by which all who had ships in the sea were rich out of her costliness! For in one hour she was ruined.

so that we no longer may be infants, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, in the dishonesty of men, in cunning craftiness, to the wiles of deceit.

holding faith and a good conscience, which some have put away and made shipwreck as to faith.

which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil,

Behold also the ships being so great, and driven by fierce winds, yet they are turned about with a very small rudder, where the impulse of him steering desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. Behold how little a fire kindles how large a forest!

You break the ships of Tarshish with an east wind;

She is like the merchants' ships; she brings her food from afar.

But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.

to disobeying ones, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared (in which a few, that is, eight souls were saved through water);