New International Version
Mark 6:48
48He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,
Mark 6:48 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.
- New Living Translation (NLT)He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them,
Context of Mark 6:48
46After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 47Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Read all of Mark 6Mark 6:48 word by word
καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτοὺς βασανιζομένους ἐν τῷ ἐλαύνειν, ἦν γὰρ ὁ ἄνεμος ἐναντίος αὐτοῖς, περὶ τετάρτην φυλακὴν τῆς νυκτὸς ἔρχεται πρὸς αὐτοὺς περιπατῶν ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ ἤθελεν παρελθεῖν αὐτούς.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- he sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- toilingβασανίζωbasanizō · to torture: anguishG928
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- rowingἐλαύνωelaunō · to driveG1643
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- the windἄνεμοςanemos · windG417
- wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- contraryἐναντίοςenantios · hostileG1727
- aboutπερίperi · aboutG4012
- the fourthτέταρτοςtetartos · fourthG5067
- watchφυλακήphulakē · prison/watch: watchG5438
- of the nightνύξnux · nightG3571
- he comethἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- walkingπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
- uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- the seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281
- would haveθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- passed byπαρέρχομαιparerchomai · to pass byG3928
Cross-references for Mark 6:48
- Isaiah 54:11“Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli.
- John 1:13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
- Matthew 14:24and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
- Exodus 14:24During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.
- 1 Samuel 11:11The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
- Luke 12:38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.
- Job 9:8He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
- Psalms 93:4Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is mighty.
- Psalms 104:3and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.
- Genesis 19:2“My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”
- Genesis 32:26Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
- Luke 24:28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.
Commentaries on Mark 6:48
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 45-56Verses 45-56 See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 14:22-36. Mark 6:52 They considered not the miracle of the loaves - They did not remember or call to mind the “power” which Jesus had shown in feeding the five thousand by a miracle, and that, having done that, he had power also to save them from the storm. Their heart was hardened - Their “mind” was dull to perceive it. This does not mean that they were “opposed” to Jesus, or that they had…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 45-56Verses 45-56 The church is often like a ship at sea, tossed with tempests, and not comforted: we may have Christ for us, yet wind and tide against us; but it is a comfort to Christ's disciples in a storm, that their Master is in the heavenly mount, interceding for them. And no difficulties can hinder Christ's appearance for his people, when the set time is come. He silenced their fears, by making himself known to them. Our fears are soon satisfied, if our…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 48About the fourth watch of the night: This was about three o'clock in the morning. This Roman way of telling time suggests that Mark wrote for Christians in Rome. Mark does not explain how Jesus saw his disciples struggling in the middle of the lake at night. It is not important to the story. Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea: It seems Jesus came to rescue them from the storm. But Mark says that Jesus intended to pass by them. Many have tried to…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4848. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them--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. and about the fourth watch of the night--The Jews, who used to divide the night into three watches…Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 6:48
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Mark 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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries