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Selected Verse: Mark 6:48 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Mr 6:48	King James	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.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them--putting forth all their 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 with them: yet would He not go to their relief till His own time came. and about the fourth watch of the night--The Jews, who used to divide the night into three watches, latterly adopted the Roman division into four watches, as here. 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 rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs" (Joh 6:19) --rather more than halfway across. The lake is about seven miles broad at its widest part. So that in eight or nine hours they had only made some three and a half miles. By this time, therefore, they must have been in a state of exhaustion and despondency bordering on despair; and now at length, having tried them long enough. he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea--"and draweth nigh unto the ship" (Joh 6:19). and would have passed by them--but only in the sense of Luk 24:28; Gen 32:26; compare Gen 18:3, Gen 18:5; Gen 42:7.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them--putting forth all their 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 with them: yet would He not go to their relief till His own time came.

and about the fourth watch of the night--The Jews, who used to divide the night into three watches, latterly adopted the Roman division into four watches, as here. 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 rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs" (Joh 6:19) --rather more than halfway across. The lake is about seven miles broad at its widest part. So that in eight or nine hours they had only made some three and a half miles. By this time, therefore, they must have been in a state of exhaustion and despondency bordering on despair; and now at length, having tried them long enough.

he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea--"and draweth nigh unto the ship" (Joh 6:19).

and would have passed by them--but only in the sense of Luk 24:28; Gen 32:26; compare Gen 18:3, Gen 18:5; Gen 42:7.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
He saw (ἰδὼν) Participle. Rev., seeing. Better, however, the literal having seen. It was this which induced him to go to them. Toiling (βασανιζομένους) Lit., tormented. Rev., distressed See on Mat 4:24. Wyc., travailing. Tynd., troubles Fourth watch Between 3 and 6 a.m. Would have passed by them. Peculiar to Mark.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And he saw them - For the darkness could veil nothing from him. And would have passed by them - That is, walked, as if he was passing by.

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⁷ And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.

⁵ And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

³ And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

²⁶ And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

²⁸ And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

¹⁹ So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.

²⁴ And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.