Mark 6 48

Mark 6:48 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.

Mark 6:48 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.

Mark 6:48 niv

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,

Mark 6:48 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,

Mark 6:48 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,

Mark 6 verses

Mark 6 48 Meaning

Mark 6:48 describes Jesus, from a distance on a mountain, observing His disciples struggling intensely in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, rowing against a strong, contrary wind. In the earliest hours of the morning, He then came to them, supernaturally walking on the surface of the turbulent water. This verse highlights Jesus’ divine awareness of His followers' distress, His omnipotent power over creation, and His timely intervention to provide deliverance.

Mark 6 48 Context

Mark chapter 6 depicts Jesus’ growing ministry and profound displays of divine power. Prior to this event, Jesus had performed the miraculous feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:30-44). Immediately after dismissing the crowds, Jesus instructed His disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to Bethsaida while He went up on the mountain to pray (Mark 6:45-46). This strategic retreat by Jesus placed Him in a position to observe their distress from afar. The disciples' subsequent struggle against the wind and waves during the night reveals their human limitations, contrasting sharply with Jesus' omnipotent nature. This specific event occurs just before dawn, in the "fourth watch," a time often associated with heightened vulnerability and anticipation of relief or divine intervention, echoing Old Testament accounts of God acting during the night watches to deliver His people. It also serves as a crucial teaching moment for the disciples, reinforcing Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, not just a prophet or teacher, through a display of power over chaotic natural forces—a prerogative typically attributed only to God in Jewish thought.

Mark 6 48 Word analysis

• And he saw them (Καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτοὺς - kai idōn autous):

  • Kai: "And," serving as a simple connector, linking this action to the preceding events of Jesus praying on the mountain.
  • Idōn (from horaō): "seeing," a participle indicating a perceptive and sustained act of observation, not just a casual glance. It conveys Jesus' full awareness and deep understanding of their difficult plight. This signifies His omniscience—He perceived their struggle even from a distance, through the dark of night.
  • Autous: "them," specifically the disciples.
  • Significance: This emphasizes Jesus' vigilant and compassionate oversight of His followers, even when they feel alone or forgotten. His gaze is discerning and knowing.

• toiling (βασανιζομένους - basanizomenous):

  • Basanizomenous (from basanizō): "to be vexed, tormented, tortured, distressed." It indicates intense struggle, severe difficulty, and even physical anguish. It suggests their effort was laborious, painful, and nearing exhaustion.
  • Significance: The word highlights the depth of their suffering and the futility of their human efforts against the overwhelming natural force. It allows for an empathetic understanding of their situation.

• in rowing (ἐν τῷ ἐλαύνειν - en tō elaunein):

  • En tō elaunein: Literally, "in the driving," referring specifically to propelling the boat with oars.
  • Significance: This details the precise nature of their strenuous labor. They were actively battling the conditions.

• for the wind was contrary unto them (ἦν γὰρ ὁ ἄνεμος ἐναντίος αὐτοῖς - ēn gar ho anemos enantios autois):

  • Gar: "for, because," indicating the reason or cause of their toil.
  • Anemos: "wind."
  • Enantios: "contrary, opposite, hostile, adverse." It describes an opposing force making progress impossible or exceedingly difficult.
  • Significance: This specifies the direct, powerful antagonist that made their journey a battle. The opposing wind symbolizes external adversities and trials faced in life.

• and about the fourth watch of the night (περὶ τετάρτην φυλακὴν τῆς νυκτός - peri tetartēn phylakēn tēs nyktos):

  • Peri: "about," denoting approximate time.
  • Tetartēn: "fourth."
  • Phylakēn: "watch, guard." Refers to the Roman system of dividing the night into four three-hour watches. The fourth watch spanned from approximately 3 AM to 6 AM (just before dawn).
  • Significance: This detail of timing is crucial. It signifies the darkest, most desolate hours, when human endurance is at its lowest and natural strength is depleted, just before dawn. It's often the moment when divine intervention is most dramatically evident.

• he cometh unto them (ἔρχεται πρὸς αὐτοὺς - erchetai pros autous):

  • Erchetai: "he comes," the Greek present tense verb can convey immediacy, a historical present, or a vivid narration. It expresses Jesus' decisive, intentional movement.
  • Pros: "to, toward," indicating direct movement with a specific destination.
  • Significance: This highlights Jesus' initiative and compassionate drive to rescue His struggling disciples. He approaches them actively.

• walking (περιπατῶν - peripatōn):

  • Peripatōn (from peripateō): "walking around, walking." The normal human action, but applied to an impossible scenario.
  • Significance: This is the astounding supernatural element. It signifies Jesus’ absolute transcendence over natural law, revealing His divine authority.

• upon the sea (ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης - epi tēs thalassēs):

  • Epi: "upon, on top of," indicating His direct contact with and mastery over the water.
  • Thalassēs: "sea, lake." In biblical literature, the sea often symbolizes chaos, instability, and hostile forces (e.g., in prophetic literature).
  • Significance: This emphasizes Jesus' ultimate sovereignty and divine power, asserting His command over the very elements, including the chaotic sea which no mere human could control. It confirms His identity as God.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them": This phrase paints a vivid picture of severe human struggle and exhaustion. Jesus' divine perception of their suffering against an insurmountable natural obstacle—the opposing wind—lays the groundwork for His imminent supernatural intervention. It emphasizes His sympathetic awareness of their plight.
• "and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea": This powerfully illustrates Jesus' perfect timing and unique, divine nature. His arrival in the "fourth watch" signifies help at the most desperate hour, and His unprecedented "walking upon the sea" underscores His supreme authority over all creation, conquering the very elements that oppressed His disciples. It demonstrates His omnipotence and direct action in their hour of need.

Mark 6 48 Bonus section

The sea in biblical context often represents chaos, separation, and untamed forces (e.g., Isa 57:20, Psa 89:9). Jesus walking upon it, effortlessly dominating its power, is a direct theological assertion of His divine supremacy over all chaos and disorder in the cosmos. It aligns with God’s primal control over the waters in creation (Gen 1:2) and His interventions through them (Ex 14). This act, therefore, isn't just a wonder; it's a profound statement about Jesus’ very nature as God. It contrasts sharply with the common pagan beliefs of the time where various gods were confined to specific domains or had to contend with other forces; Jesus' effortless walk demonstrates ultimate, singular authority over all elements. The disciples’ initial fear, believing Jesus to be a phantom (Mark 6:49), speaks to their astonishment and lingering human perception even after witnessing miracles, highlighting their ongoing need for deeper faith in the truly divine Son of God.

Mark 6 48 Commentary

Mark 6:48 presents a profound moment where Jesus' divinity is clearly manifested. After the physically and spiritually demanding miracle of feeding the multitudes, Jesus sends His weary disciples into a situation of intense struggle. The detail of Him "seeing them toiling" from the mountain top underscores His omniscience and compassionate care, even when physically separate. The phrase "toiling" is powerful, suggesting severe anguish and near exhaustion as they wrestled with a "contrary" wind. This adversity highlights the limits of human effort in the face of overwhelming forces. Jesus’ arrival during the "fourth watch" (3-6 AM) is crucial; it’s the darkest and most wearisome part of the night, illustrating that divine intervention often occurs when human strength has fully failed and hope is at its lowest. His act of "walking upon the sea" is a spectacular demonstration of His unparalleled power and sovereignty over nature, an attribute solely belonging to God. In ancient Jewish thought, only Yahweh treads upon the sea, conquering chaos. By this act, Jesus revealed His identity as God in the flesh, Master of the universe. This miracle was intended to deepen the disciples' faith and understanding of Who He truly was, confirming that He was not merely a powerful teacher, but the very Creator upholding His creation and actively delivering His people from their distress.For practical usage, this verse provides immense comfort: Jesus sees us in our struggles, even when we feel alone; He understands our deepest toils, and His intervention, though perhaps at our darkest hour, is always perfectly timed and supremely powerful.