Devine Scripture

Mark 6:49

What does Mark 6:49 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 6:49 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 6:49 means

Mark 6:49 records that when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. Their frightened reaction is natural: the sight defies normal experience, and at night an apparition could be feared as evil. Their immediate interpretation as a ghost shows both cultural fears about spirits and their incomplete understanding of Jesus’ nature. The cry reveals genuine terror and confusion, making the subsequent words of reassurance from Jesus more significant. Their fear contrasts with the calm authority Jesus will display in calming them and the sea.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But they, when they saw him walking on the sea, took him for a spirit, and gave a loud cry:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And they having seen him walking on the sea, thought <FI>it<Fi> to be an apparition, and cried out,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But they seeing him walking upon the sea, thought it was an apparition, and they cried out.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But they, seeing him walking on the sea, thought that it was an apparition, and cried out.

Context

This verse follows Jesus’ arrival on the sea (verse 48) and captures the disciples’ terrified misunderstanding. The misperception of Jesus as a ghost sets up his comforting declaration in verse 50—“Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid”—and leads into the miraculous calming of the wind when he enters the boat (verse 51). The scene highlights the disciples’ ongoing struggle to grasp Jesus’ identity even after witnessing many signs.

v.48And 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:

v.49This passage

v.50for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he straightway spake with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Job 4:14

    Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones to shake.

  • Luke 24:37

    But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit.

  • Matthew 14:25

    And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea.

  • Job 9:8

    That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;

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