Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, New Living Translation but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. English Standard Version but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, Berean Standard Bible but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost— Berean Literal Bible And having seen Him walking on the sea, they thought that it is a ghost, and cried out. King James Bible But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: New King James Version And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; New American Standard Bible But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought that it was a ghost, and they cried out; NASB 1995 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; NASB 1977 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; Legacy Standard Bible But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought that it was a ghost, and cried out; Amplified Bible But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out [in horror]; Christian Standard Bible When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out, Holman Christian Standard Bible When they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; American Standard Version but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; Contemporary English Version When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost, and they started screaming. English Revised Version but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was an apparition, and cried out: GOD'S WORD® Translation When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought, "It's a ghost!" and they began to scream. Good News Translation but they saw him walking on the water. "It's a ghost!" they thought, and screamed. International Standard Version but when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and began to scream. NET Bible When they saw him walking on the water they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, New Heart English Bible but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and began to scream; Webster's Bible Translation But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out. Weymouth New Testament They saw Him walking on the water, and thinking that it was a spirit they cried out; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Biblebut when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost— World English Bible but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd they having seen Him walking on the sea, thought [it] to be an apparition, and cried out, Berean Literal Bible And having seen Him walking on the sea, they thought that it is a ghost, and cried out. Young's Literal Translation And they having seen him walking on the sea, thought it to be an apparition, and cried out, Smith's Literal Translation And having seen him walking upon the sea, they thought it was an apparition, and cried out: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut they seeing him walking upon the sea, thought it was an apparition, and they cried out. Catholic Public Domain Version But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they thought it was an apparition, and they cried out. New American Bible But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. New Revised Standard Version But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut when they saw him walking on the water, they thought it was a false vision, and they cried out; Aramaic Bible in Plain English They saw him that he was walking on the water, and they thought to themselves that he was a hallucination and they cried out, NT Translations Anderson New TestamentBut when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a specter, and cried out; Godbey New Testament But they, seeing Him walking on the sea, thought it was a specter, and cried out. Haweis New Testament But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they thought it was an apparition, and screamed out: Mace New Testament when they saw him walking upon the sea, they thought it was an apparition, Weymouth New Testament They saw Him walking on the water, and thinking that it was a spirit they cried out; Worrell New Testament but, seeing Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and they cried out; Worsley New Testament But they seeing Him walking upon the water, thought it was an apparition, and cried out: for they all saw Him and were frighted. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jesus Walks on Water…48He 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, 49but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost— 50for they all saw Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”… Cross References Matthew 14:26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear. John 6:19-20 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified. / But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:25 During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. John 6:16-18 When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, / got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them. / A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated. Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD. Job 9:8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. Matthew 8:27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!” Luke 24:37 But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit. Psalm 77:19 Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, but Your footprints were not to be found. Isaiah 43:16 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters, Matthew 14:27 But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” John 6:21 Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and at once the boat reached the shore where they were heading. Psalm 107:29-30 He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed. / They rejoiced in the silence, and He guided them to the harbor they desired. Isaiah 51:10 Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over? Matthew 8:23-27 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. / Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves. But Jesus was sleeping. / The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” ... Treasury of Scripture But when they saw him walking on the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: they saw. Job 9:8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. supposed. Job 4:14-16 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake… Matthew 14:25,26 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea… Luke 24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. Jump to Previous Apparition Cried Cry Ghost Lake Sea Spirit Supposed Thinking Thought Walking WaterJump to Next Apparition Cried Cry Ghost Lake Sea Spirit Supposed Thinking Thought Walking WaterMark 6 1. Jesus is a prophet without honor in his own country.7. He gives the twelve power over unclean spirits. 14. Various opinions of Jesus. 16. John the Baptist is imprisoned, beheaded, and buried. 30. The apostles return from preaching. 34. The miracle of five loaves and two fishes. 45. Jesus walks on the sea; 53. and heals all who touch him. but when they saw Him walking on the sea This phrase highlights a miraculous event, demonstrating Jesus' divine authority over nature. The Sea of Galilee, where this event took place, is known for sudden storms due to its geographical location. Walking on water is a direct display of Jesus' power over creation, echoing Old Testament themes where God alone treads upon the waves (Job 9:8). This act serves as a type of Jesus' divinity, reinforcing His identity as the Son of God. The disciples' witnessing of this miracle is crucial, as it challenges their understanding and faith, preparing them for future ministry. they cried out thinking He was a ghost— Persons / Places / Events 1. JesusThe central figure of the New Testament, the Son of God, who demonstrates His divine authority by walking on water. 2. The Disciples Followers of Jesus who are in the boat on the Sea of Galilee, witnessing this miraculous event. 3. Sea of Galilee A significant body of water in the region where many of Jesus' miracles and teachings took place. 4. The Event of Walking on Water A miraculous demonstration of Jesus' power over nature, intended to reveal His divine identity to the disciples. 5. The Cry of Fear The disciples' reaction, thinking they saw a ghost, which reflects their lack of understanding and faith at that moment. Teaching Points Divine AuthorityJesus' ability to walk on water is a testament to His divine nature and authority over creation. This should strengthen our faith in His power and sovereignty. Human Fear and Misunderstanding The disciples' fear and misinterpretation of Jesus as a ghost highlight human tendencies to misunderstand divine actions. We should seek spiritual discernment and trust in God's presence. Faith in the Midst of Storms Just as the disciples were in a literal storm, we face metaphorical storms in life. Jesus' presence assures us that He is with us, even when we cannot see clearly. Recognizing Jesus The disciples' initial failure to recognize Jesus challenges us to be attentive to His presence in our lives, especially in unexpected ways. Growth Through Challenges This event is a reminder that challenges and fears can be opportunities for spiritual growth and deeper faith. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Mark 6:49?2. How does Mark 6:49 demonstrate Jesus' authority over nature? 3. Why did the disciples mistake Jesus for a ghost in Mark 6:49? 4. How can we recognize Jesus' presence in our own storms? 5. What Old Testament events parallel Jesus walking on water in Mark 6:49? 6. How does Mark 6:49 encourage us to trust Jesus in fearful situations? 7. Why did the disciples mistake Jesus for a ghost in Mark 6:49? 8. What does Mark 6:49 reveal about the disciples' understanding of Jesus' identity? 9. How does Mark 6:49 challenge our perception of the supernatural? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Mark 6? 11. What does the Bible say about ghosts and hauntings? 12. In Mark 6:48-51, how can Jesus walking on water be reconciled with known scientific laws? 13. How did the disciples react when Jesus walked on water? They worshipped him as the Son of God (Matthew 14:33) but were astounded and didn't understand (Mark 6:51-52). 14. Why did Jesus perform the miracle of walking on water? What Does Mark 6:49 Mean But“ But when they saw Him walking on the sea…” (Mark 6:49) • This little word ties our verse to what just happened: Jesus “saw the disciples straining at the oars” and “came toward them” (Mark 6:48). • The contrast is striking—while the disciples are battling wind and waves, Jesus is utterly at peace. Compare John 16:33 where He says, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world.” • Scripture often uses “but” to signal God’s unexpected intervention (e.g., Ephesians 2:4, “But God, who is rich in mercy…”). Here the intervention is not only unexpected—it is literally supernatural. When they saw Him • In the storm they weren’t expecting Jesus; they were simply trying to stay alive. Their vision is clouded by wind-blown spray and fear. • Other moments reveal the same pattern: seeing Jesus yet not recognizing Him at first (Luke 24:16 on the Emmaus road; John 21:4 on the shore). Human sight alone is never enough; spiritual insight is needed (1 Corinthians 2:14). • The Lord often lets us reach the end of our own resources so we will truly “see” Him (Psalm 121:1-2). Walking on the sea • Job 9:8 says God “treads on the waves of the sea.” By doing the same, Jesus unmistakably displays divine authority. • Psalm 77:19 reminds us, “Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, but Your footprints were not to be found.” What was unseen in the Exodus becomes visible in Christ. • Earlier Jesus calmed a storm with a word (Mark 4:39). Now He strolls on the very waters that threaten the disciples, proving yet again that “all things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16). They cried out • Mark 6:50 notes they “were all terrified.” Raw emotion erupts; seasoned fishermen shriek like children. • Similar cries fill Scripture: the psalmist “called out to the LORD in trouble” (Psalm 107:28) and the Israelites “cried out” at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:10). God hears every cry (Psalm 34:17). • Fear can be a doorway to faith when it drives us to call on Jesus (Romans 10:13). Thinking He was a ghost • Matthew 14:26 adds, “They cried out in fear, ‘It is a ghost!’ ” First-century Jews, like many today, had shadowy ideas about spirits inhabiting dark waters. • After the resurrection, Jesus’ followers again mistake Him for a spirit until He shows His hands and feet (Luke 24:37-39). The pattern underscores how easily human understanding misfires without divine revelation. • Christ dispels superstition by speaking: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” (Mark 6:50). His presence turns terror into trust (Isaiah 41:10). summary Mark 6:49 captures a pivotal moment: exhausted disciples in a storm, suddenly confronted with the sight of Jesus calmly walking where no human should. Their terrified cry reveals human frailty; Jesus’ approach on the waves reveals divine mastery. The verse reminds us that when circumstances feel chaotic and vision is blurred, the Lord is still sovereign, still present, and still speaks the words our trembling hearts need most: “Do not be afraid.” Greek butδὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. when they saw ἰδόντες (idontes) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear. Him αὐτὸν (auton) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. walking περιπατοῦντα (peripatounta) Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular Strong's 4043: From peri and pateo; to tread all around, i.e. Walk at large; figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow. on ἐπὶ (epi) Preposition Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at. the τῆς (tēs) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. sea, θαλάσσης (thalassēs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Strong's 2281: Probably prolonged from hals; the sea. they cried out, ἀνέκραξαν (anekraxan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 349: To shout aloud, cry out. From ana and krazo; to scream up. thinking ἔδοξαν (edoxan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1380: A prolonged form of a primary verb, doko dok'-o of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem. [He] was ἐστιν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. a ghost— φάντασμά (phantasma) Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 5326: An apparition, ghost, spirit, phantom. From phantazo; a show, i.e. Spectre. Links Mark 6:49 NIVMark 6:49 NLT Mark 6:49 ESV Mark 6:49 NASB Mark 6:49 KJV Mark 6:49 BibleApps.com Mark 6:49 Biblia Paralela Mark 6:49 Chinese Bible Mark 6:49 French Bible Mark 6:49 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Mark 6:49 But they when they saw him walking (Mar Mk Mr) |
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