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48 He[a] saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. As the night was ending,[b] he came to them walking on the sea,[c] for[d] he wanted to pass by them.[e] 49 When they saw him walking on the water[f] they thought he was a ghost. They[g] cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them:[h] “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

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Footnotes

  1. 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.
  2. Mark 6:48 tn Grk “about the fourth watch of the night,” between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.
  3. Mark 6:48 tn Or “on the lake.”
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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).
  7. Mark 6:49 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  8. Mark 6:50 tn Grk “he spoke with them, and said to them.”

48 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, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost.(A) They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”(B)

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