Jesus Walks on the Water

45 (A)And immediately Jesus had His disciples get into (B)the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to (C)Bethsaida, while He Himself *dismissed the crowd. 46 And after (D)saying goodbye to them, He left (E)for the mountain to pray.

47 When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48 Seeing them [a]straining at the oars—for the wind was against them—at about the [b](F)fourth watch of the night, He *came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. 49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought that it was a ghost, and they cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were [c]terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and *said to them, (G)Take courage; it is I, (H)do not be afraid.” 51 Then He got into (I)the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52 for (J)they [d]had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but [e]their hearts (K)were hardened.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Mark 6:48 Lit tormented in rowing
  2. Mark 6:48 I.e., 3-6 a.m.
  3. Mark 6:50 Or troubled
  4. Mark 6:52 Lit had not understood on the basis of
  5. Mark 6:52 Lit heart was hardened; or their mind was closed, made dull; or insensible

Walking on Water

45 Immediately Jesus[a] made his disciples get into the boat[b] and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dispersed the crowd. 46 After saying goodbye to them, he went to the mountain to pray. 47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land. 48 He[c] saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. As the night was ending,[d] he came to them walking on the sea,[e] for[f] he wanted to pass by them.[g] 49 When they saw him walking on the water[h] they thought he was a ghost. They[i] cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them:[j] “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 Then he went up with them into the boat, and the wind ceased. They were completely astonished, 52 because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Mark 6:45 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  2. Mark 6:45 sn See the note at Mark 1:19 for a description of the first-century fishing boat discovered in 1986 near Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
  3. Mark 6:48 tn This verse is one complete sentence in the Greek text, but it has been broken into two sentences in English for clarity.
  4. Mark 6:48 tn Grk “about the fourth watch of the night,” between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.
  5. Mark 6:48 tn Or “on the lake.”
  6. Mark 6:48 tn The καί (kai) was translated so as to introduce a subordinate clause, i.e., with the use of “for.” See BDF §442.9.
  7. Mark 6:48 sn The statement he wanted to pass by them is somewhat difficult to understand. There are at least two common interpretations: (1) it refers to the perspective of the disciples, that is, from their point of view it seemed that Jesus wanted to pass by them; or (2) it refers to a theophany and uses the language of the Greek Old Testament (LXX) when God “passed by” Moses at Sinai (cf. Exod 33:19, 22). According to the latter alternative, Jesus is “passing by” the disciples during their struggle, in order to assure them of his presence with them. See W L. Lane, Mark (NICNT), 236.
  8. Mark 6:49 tn Grk “on the sea,” “on the lake.” The translation “water” has been used here for stylistic reasons (cf. the same phrase in v. 48).
  9. Mark 6:49 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  10. Mark 6:50 tn Grk “he spoke with them, and said to them.”

45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

48 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.

49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Read full chapter