Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:48
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.
48. he saw them toiling in rowing ] The word translated “toiling,” which also occurs in Mat 14:24, is a very striking expression. It denotes (1) to test metals with the touchstone, (2) to rack, torture, (3) to torment as in Mat 8:29, “art Thou come to torment us before the time?”, and Mat 8:6, “Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.” Here it seems to imply that they were tortured, baffled, by the waves, which were boisterous by reason of the strong wind that blew (Joh 6:18). Wyclif translates it “ travailing in rowing; ” Tyndale and Cranmer, “ troubled in rowing.”
the fourth watch ] The proper Jewish reckoning recognised only three watches or periods, for which sentinels or pickets remained on duty. They were entitled (1) the first, or beginning of the watches, from sunset to 10 p.m. (Lam 2:19), (2) the middle watch, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Jdg 7:19), and (3) the morning watch, from 2 a.m. to sunrise (Exo 14:24; 1Sa 11:11). After the Roman supremacy the number of watches was increased to four, sometimes described by their numerical order, as here and in Mat 14:25; sometimes by the terms (1) even, closing at 9 p.m.; midnight; cock-crowing, at 3 a.m.; morning, at 6 a.m.
would have passed by them ] He came quite near their vessel on the storm-tost waves, and seemed to wish to lead the way before them to the western shore. Comp. Luk 24:28-29.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
48. And he saw them toiling inrowing; for the wind was contrary unto themputting forth alltheir 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 withthem: yet would He not go to their relief till His own time came.
and about the fourth watch ofthe nightThe Jews, who used to divide the night into threewatches, latterly adopted the Roman division into four watches, ashere. So that, at the rate of three hours to each, the fourth watch,reckoning from six P.M.,would be three o’clock in the morning. “So when they had rowedabout five and twenty or thirty furlongs” (Joh6:19) rather more than halfway across. The lake is about sevenmiles broad at its widest part. So that in eight or nine hours theyhad only made some three and a half miles. By this time, therefore,they must have been in a state of exhaustion and despondencybordering on despair; and now at length, having tried them longenough.
he cometh unto them, walkingupon the sea“and draweth nigh unto the ship” (Joh6:19).
and would have passed bythembut only in the sense of Luk 24:28;Gen 32:26; compare Gen 18:3;Gen 18:5; Gen 42:7.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he saw them toiling in rowing,…. He saw them either with his bodily eyes from the mountain on which he was; or he perceived in his Spirit, he knew, by virtue of his omniscience as God, what distress his disciples were in; being tossed about with the waves of the sea, and were labouring with all their might and main against the wind: and were vexed and tortured, as the word signifies; they were in the utmost pain and uneasiness of mind, as well as fatigue of body, assisting the men in rowing; for the ship they were in was no other than a vessel managed by oars; and hard work it was to keep it from being overset:
for the wind was contrary unto them; it blew from the other side they were making to, full in their face, hard against them; so that it was with great toil and difficulty, that they got any thing forward:
and about the fourth watch of the night; or three o’clock in the morning: so that it is very likely, that as the evening when they took to the vessel was sun setting, or about six o’clock, they had been nine hours at sea, and had got but twenty five or thirty furlongs from shore; [See comments on Mt 14:25];
he cometh unto them walking upon the sea: being in this distress, Christ came down from the mountain to the sea side; and then, by his divine power, as the mighty God, that treadeth on the waves of the sea, he walked upon the surface of the waters of it; “as on dry land”, as the Persic version adds:
and would have passed by them; that is, he made as though he would; see Lu 24:28. By the course he steered, by the swiftness of his motion, and his seeming negligence of them, it looked as though he intended to have gone by them, and said nothing to them, though this was far from his real design.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Seeing them distressed in rowing ( ). See also Mt 8:29 for the word , to torture, torment (Mt 4:24) with a touch-stone, then to distress as here. Papyri have used on slaves like our third degree for criminals. is literally to drive as of ships or chariots. They drove the boat with oars. Common in Xenophon for marching.
About the fourth watch of the night ( ). That is, between three and six A.M. The wind was
contrary to them ( ), that is in their faces and rowing was difficult, “a great wind” (Joh 6:18), and as a result the disciples had made little progress. They should have been over long before this.
And he would have passed by them ( ). Only in Mark. He wished to pass by them, praeterire eos (Vulgate). Imperfect tense .
They thought (). A natural conclusion.
And cried out ().
Cried up , literally, a shriek of terror, or scream.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
He saw [] . Participle. Rev., seeing. Better, however, the literal having seen. It was this which induced him to go to them.
Toiling [] . Lit., tormented. Rev., distressed. See on Mt 4:24. Wyc., travailing. Tynd., troubled.
Fourth watch. Between 3 and 6 A. M.
Would have passed by them. Peculiar to Mark.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And He saw them toiling in rowing (kai idon autous basanizomenous en to elaunein) “And when He saw them as they were distressed in rowing,” laboring at the oars and sails, for He sees and understands all that men encounter, even in the midst of storms and toil, Heb 4:15-16.
2) “For the wind was contrary unto them (en gar ho anemos enantios autois) “Because the wind was contrary to them,” blowing opposite their desired destination, so that they were having to try to row and sail against the wind and waves, two of the earth’s greatest forces. God’s children must encounter winds of resistance against the world, the flesh, and the devil as they sail on to glory, Joh 2:15-17; Jas 4:7; 1Pe 5:8-9.
3) “And about the fourth watch of the night,” (peri tetarten phulaken tes nuktos) “Around the fourth watch of the night,” Mat 14:25, between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., in the morning.
4) “He cometh unto them, walking upon the sea,” (erchetai pros autous peripaton epi tes thalasses) “He approached them, of His own accord, walking upon the sea,” upon the surface of the water of the sea, supernaturally, against the laws of nature,
5) “And would have passed by them.” (kai ethelen parelthein autous) “And wished to pass on (to walk on) by them, or so it appeared to them, Jas 5:8; Perhaps He did it to teach them patience in times of storm and adversity, Rom 5:3; Heb 10:35-36; Luk 24:28.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Mar 6:48. And would have passed by them, , seemed inclined to pass. This appears the proper translation of the passage.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
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.
Ver. 48. Would have passed by them ] Either the more to try them, or rather to spare them, because he foresaw they would be further frightened else.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
48. ] . . . ., peculiar to Mark. “A silent note of Inspiration. He was about to pass by them. He intended so to do. But what man could say this? Who knoweth the mind of Christ but the Spirit of God? Compare 1Co 2:11 .” Wordsw. But it may be doubted whether this is either a safe or a sober comment. has here but a faint subjective reference, and is more nearly the “would have passed by them” of the E. V. See on Luk 24:28 , for the meaning. Lange, Leben Jesu, ii. p. 788 note, well remarks, that this , and the of Joh 6:21 , mutually explain one another.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 6:48 . , in pro pelling (the ship with oars). . ., about the fourth watch, between three and six in the morning, towards dawn. , He wished to pass them “praeterire eos,” Vul.; it appeared so to them.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
He saw He having seen. App-133.
toiling = distressed. Greek. basanizo, translated “tor ment “(Mar 5:7. Mat 8:6, Mat 8:28, Luk 8:28, Rev 9:5; Rev 11:10; Rev 14:1 Rev 14:0; Rev 20:10. Compare Mat 4:24).
about. Greek. peri App-104. Not the same word as in Mar 6:44.
the fourth watch. See App-51.
upon. Greek. epi. App-104.
would have passed by = wished (App-102.) to pass by. Only here.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
48.] . . . ., peculiar to Mark. A silent note of Inspiration. He was about to pass by them. He intended so to do. But what man could say this? Who knoweth the mind of Christ but the Spirit of God? Compare 1Co 2:11. Wordsw. But it may be doubted whether this is either a safe or a sober comment. has here but a faint subjective reference, and is more nearly the would have passed by them of the E. V. See on Luk 24:28, for the meaning. Lange, Leben Jesu, ii. p. 788 note, well remarks, that this , and the of Joh 6:21, mutually explain one another.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 6:48. , He saw) And yet He did not come to them, before that it was the full [proper] time.-, was wishing [would have]) Comp. Luk 24:28.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
he saw: Isa 54:11, Joh 1:13, Mat 14:24
the fourth: Exo 14:24, 1Sa 11:11, Luk 12:38
he cometh: Job 9:8, Psa 93:4, Psa 104:3
would: Gen 19:2, Gen 32:26, Luk 24:28
Reciprocal: Psa 55:17 – Evening Mat 8:26 – and rebuked Mat 14:25 – walking Joh 6:19 – had rowed Act 27:4 – the winds
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
MYSTERIOUS PASSAGES OF LIFE
And He saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them.
Mar 6:48
He saw them toilingthe word in the original is very strong, wrought, tested, torturedyet, nevertheless, continuing the task which seemed so hopeless, and persevering in the unequal combat, which all the while was producing the distress.
This Jesus saw then, and what does He see now?
I. The voyage of life.We are all bound together in one holy fellowship, and our first duty is to advance and propel ourselves and each otherall the Churchto the appointed goal. And on that voyage, in which we are all bound, every one of us has his own appointed work to doand that work is to each man a thing definite, and real, and hard.
II. Difficulties.Who that has gone but a little on this course does not know how difficult grows the way, and how many are the things that rise up against him! And with all this there come the aggravations of a mind harassed and perplexed with the obscurities in which it finds itself involved; there is the painful questioning, Is this the path? And then there comes that bitter sense of lonelinessno voice of love, human or Divine; early feelings lost, or going away with the lost Comforter; the breaking of all we used to lean upon; the miserable desolation; no prayers answered, no sorrow healed, no good done, no hearty responsesbut all, above, below, around, on every side, all drear and silent! These are true passages of life.
III. God sends a word of comfort.Jesus sees you. He sees every stroke of that hand, every heaving of that breast, every panting of that heart, every rolling wave, every disturbing gust, every hostile breath. Darkness and distance shut out Him from you, but they never shut out you from Him. That is the point; that is the whole trial; that is the exercise of faith. I cannot see my Saviour, but my Saviour does see me; and He sees me trying to please Him, and to reach the place where He has told me that I shall see Him.
Illustration
If, like St. Peter, we fix our eyes on Jesus, we too may walk triumphant over the swelling waves of disbelief, and unterrified amid the rising winds of doubt; but if we turn away our eyes from Himif, and as we are so much tempted to do, we look rather at the power and fury of those destructive elements than at Him Who can help and savethen we too shall inevitably sink. Oh, if we feel, often and often, that the water-floods threaten to drown us, and the deep to swallow up the tossed vessel of our Church and Faith, may it again and again be granted us to hear amid the storm, and the darkness, and the voices prophesying war, those two sweetest of the Saviours utterancesFear not. Only believe. It is I. Be not afraid.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
8
While it was night, it was possible to discern a form coming towards them and they were frightened. They thought it was a spirit which is from PHANTASMA which means some kind of disembodied being with a visible form.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 6:48. Distressed in rowing. Lit., tormented. In consequence of the contrary wind. John says they rowed about twenty-five or thirty furlongs; yet they must have been thus engaged for some time, since it was not until about the fourth watch of the night (three to six in the morning) that our Lord appeared.
Would have passed by them. Mentioned by Mark only: This was to try them. It seems best to suppose, not that both were going in the same direction, but that their courses crossed, and that, seeing Him go on His path over the sea, they were affected as Mar 6:49 describes. This too will best account for Peters loss of courage in the boisterous (contrary) wind. See on Mat 14:30. Lange thinks that this passing on was, as it were, to show them the way, to show that they need no longer toil to meet Him at eastern Bethsaida, but might pass directly over.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 48
And he saw them. The lake was five miles across, on the average, and about ten in the widest place. From his elevated position Jesus could perhaps overlook the whole surface of the water.–The fourth watch; not far from three o’clock. The watches were of three hours each.