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.

And {G2532} he saw {G1492} them {G846} toiling {G928} in {G1722} rowing {G1643}; for {G1063} the wind {G417} was {G2258} contrary {G1727} unto them {G846}: and {G2532} about {G4012} the fourth {G5067} watch {G5438} of the night {G3571} he cometh {G2064} unto {G4314} them {G846}, walking {G4043} upon {G1909} the sea {G2281}, and {G2532} would {G2309} have passed by {G3928} them {G846}.

He saw that they were having difficulty rowing, because the wind was against them; so at around four o'clock in the morning he came toward them, walking on the lake! He meant to come alongside them;

He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,

And seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them, about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them:

Commentary

Mark 6:48 describes a pivotal moment during Jesus' ministry on the Sea of Galilee, immediately following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:35-44). This verse highlights Jesus' divine insight, power, and timely intervention in the midst of His disciples' struggle.

Context

After instructing His disciples to cross to the other side of the lake, Jesus dismissed the crowds and went up into a mountain to pray by himself (Mark 6:45-46). Meanwhile, the disciples embarked on their journey, but encountered severe opposition. The wind was "contrary unto them," making their rowing extremely difficult and slow. This passage parallels accounts in Matthew 14:22-33 and John 6:16-21, offering a fuller picture of the events.

Key Themes

  • Divine Awareness and Presence: Even from a distance, Jesus "saw them toiling in rowing." This emphasizes His omniscience and constant awareness of His followers' struggles, even when they feel alone or forgotten.
  • Jesus' Power Over Nature: The most striking element is Jesus "walking upon the sea." This miraculous act unequivocally demonstrates His authority and sovereignty over creation, a power reserved for God alone (Job 9:8). It reinforces His divine nature, similar to His calming of the storm in Mark 4:39.
  • Struggle and Timely Intervention: The disciples were "toiling," indicating immense physical effort and distress. Jesus waited until "about the fourth watch of the night" (between 3 AM and 6 AM)—the darkest and most difficult part of their struggle—to come to them. This timing often signifies that God intervenes when human strength and hope are at their lowest.
  • Intentional Revelation: The phrase "and would have passed by them" is intriguing. It suggests Jesus intended to make His presence known, perhaps to test their faith or to draw their attention, rather than just casually walking past. It echoes moments in the Old Testament where God "passed by" to reveal Himself (Exodus 33:19-22).

Linguistic Insights

  • The Greek word for "toiling" is basanizomenous, which literally means "being tormented" or "distressed." It conveys a sense of severe struggle and pain, not just simple hard work. This highlights the intensity of the disciples' predicament against the "contrary" (enantios, meaning opposing or hostile) wind.
  • The "fourth watch of the night" refers to the Roman system of dividing the night into four watches, with the fourth watch being the period just before dawn (3 AM - 6 AM). This detail underscores the lateness of the hour and the prolonged nature of their hardship.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound encouragement for believers today. When facing life's "contrary winds"—whether they be financial hardship, relational conflict, illness, or spiritual battles—we can be assured that Jesus sees our "toiling." He is aware of our struggles, even when we feel isolated or overlooked. His timing is perfect; He often comes to us in our deepest need, demonstrating His sovereignty and delivering us from seemingly insurmountable obstacles. We are called to trust in His power and presence, knowing that He is always near, ready to intervene with His divine authority.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Job 9:8

    Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

  • Luke 24:28

    And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

  • Luke 12:38

    And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find [them] so, blessed are those servants.

  • Isaiah 54:11

    ¶ O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, [and] not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

  • Genesis 32:26

    And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

  • Matthew 14:24

    But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

  • Psalms 93:4

    The LORD on high [is] mightier than the noise of many waters, [yea, than] the mighty waves of the sea.
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