God’s Word Translation
John 6:19
19After they had rowed three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they became terrified.
John 6:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
- New International Version (NIV)When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.
Context of John 6:19
17They got into a boat and started to cross the sea to the city of Capernaum. By this time it was dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18A strong wind started to blow and stir up the sea. After they had rowed three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they became terrified. 20Jesus told them, “It’s me. Don’t be afraid!” 21So they were willing to help Jesus into the boat. Immediately, the boat reached the shore where they were going.
Read all of John 6John 6:19 word by word
ἐληλακότες οὖν ὡς σταδίους εἴκοσι πέντε ἢ τριάκοντα, θεωροῦσιν τὸν Ἰησοῦν περιπατοῦντα ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ ἐγγὺς τοῦ πλοίου γινόμενον, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- So whenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- they had rowedἐλαύνωelaunō · to driveG1643
- aboutὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- five and twentyεἴκοσιeikosi · twentyG1501
- orἤē · orG2228
- thirtyτριάκονταtriakonta · thirtyG5144
- furlongsστάδιοςstadion · stadiumG4712
- they seeθεωρέωtheōreō · to see/experienceG2334
- Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- walkingπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
- onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- the seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- drawingγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- nighἐγγύςeggus · nearG1451
- unto the shipπλοῖονploion · boatG4143
- they were afraidφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
Cross-references for John 6:19
- Ezekiel 27:26Your rowers took you out to the high seas, and an east wind wrecked you in the sea.
- Jonah 1:13Instead, the men tried to row harder to get the ship back to shore, but they couldn’t do it. The storm was getting worse.
- Mark 6:47When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land.
- John 11:18(Bethany was near Jerusalem, not quite two miles away.)
- Luke 24:13On the same day, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village called Emmaus. It was about seven miles from Jerusalem.
- Revelation 14:20The grapes were trampled in the winepress outside the city. Blood flowed out of the winepress as high as a horse’s bridle for 1,600 stadia.
- Revelation 21:16The city was square. It was as wide as it was long. He measured the city with the stick. It was 12,000 stadia long. Its length, width, and height were the same.
- John 14:18“I will not leave you all alone. I will come back to you.
- Job 9:8He stretches out the heavens by himself and walks on the waves of the sea.
- Psalms 29:10The Lord sat enthroned over the flood. The Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
- Psalms 93:4The Lord above is mighty— mightier than the sound of raging water, mightier than the foaming waves of the sea.
- Matthew 14:25Between three and six o’clock in the morning, he came to them. He was walking on the sea.
- Mark 6:49When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought, “It’s a ghost!” and they began to scream.
- Luke 24:36While they were talking about what had happened, Jesus stood among them. He said to them, “Peace be with you!”
Commentaries on John 6:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19Had rowed - Their vessel was a small one only, something of the boat kind: as to sails, if they had any, they could not now venture to carry them, because of the storm. Five and twenty or thirty furlongs - Between three and four miles. The sea of Tiberias, on which they now were, was, according to Josephus, War, book iii. chap. 25, forty furlongs, or five miles in breadth; and one hundred and forty furlongs, or eighteen miles, in length. Pliny, lib. v…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-21Verses 16-21 See this miracle of walking on the sea explained in the notes at Matthew 14:22-33. Compare Mark 6:45-52. John 6:21 Immediately - Quickly. Before a long time. How far they were from the land we know not, but there is no evidence that there was a miracle in the case. The word translated “immediately” does not of necessity imply that there was no interval of time, but that there was not a long interval. Thus, in Matthew 13:5, in the parable of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-21Verses 15-21 Here were Christ's disciples in the way of duty, and Christ was praying for them; yet they were in distress. There may be perils and afflictions of this present time, where there is an interest in Christ. Clouds and darkness often surround the children of the light and of the day. They see Jesus walking on the sea. Even the approaches of comfort and deliverance often are so mistaken, as to become the occasions of fear. Nothing is more…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19The disciples were afraid of the storm. Then they saw Jesus walking on the water toward them. At that moment, their fear of the storm was replaced by fear and awe of him. Jesus came to help them. By walking on the water, he showed his authority over nature. This act recalled Moses, who led Israel safely through the water (Exodus 14; see Psalm 77:19–20).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-1918-19. sea arose, &c.--and they were "now in the midst of it" (Mt 14:24). Mark adds the graphic and touching particular, "He saw them toiling in rowing" (Mr 6:48), putting forth all their strength to buffet the waves and bear on against a head wind, but to little effect. He saw this from His mountain-top, and through the darkness of the night, for His heart was all with them; yet would He not go to their relief till His own time came.Read the comment
Topics related to John 6:19
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on John 6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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