^6:47When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land. ^6:48He⁶² saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. As the night was ending,⁶³ he came to them walking on the sea,⁶⁴ for⁶⁵ he wanted to pass by them.⁶⁶^6:49When they saw him walking on the water⁶⁷ they thought he was a ghost. They⁶⁸ cried out, ^6:50for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them:⁶⁹ “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” ^6:51Then he went up with them into the boat, and the wind ceased. They were completely astonished, ^6:52because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

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Footnotes

62 This verse is one complete sentence in the Greek text, but it has been broken into two sentences in English for clarity.
63 Grk “about the fourth watch of the night,” between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.
64 Or “on the lake.”
65 The καί (kai) was translated so as to introduce a subordinate clause, i.e., with the use of “for.” See §442.9.
66 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 () 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 (), 236.
67 Grk “on the sea,” “on the lake.” The translation “water” has been used here for stylistic reasons (cf. the same phrase in v. 48).
68 Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
69 Grk “he spoke with them, and said to them.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 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, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 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, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Well into the night, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Very early in the morning he came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.

NLTNew Living Translation

Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 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, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him.

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land. And he saw them being beaten in their rowing because the wind was against them. Around the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and he was wanting to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought that it was a ghost, and they cried out. For they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke with them and said to them, “Have courage, I am he! Do not be afraid!” And he went up with them into the boat, and the wind abated. And they were extraordinarily astounded within themselves, because they did not understand concerning the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

KJV 1900King James Version

And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 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. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 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. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

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