Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land.
Parallel translations
- WEB When evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land.
- KJV And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
- BSB When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land.
- NKJV Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.
- NASB When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
By evening the boat was far out on the sea while Jesus remained alone on land. It sets the scene for the miracle of walking on water.
Overview
The disciples were separated from Jesus and struggling against the elements, while He prayed on the shore. The distance heightens the drama of the rescue to come. The scene reminds believers that Christ sees His people even when He seems absent and distant.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Matt 14:23After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.
- John 6:16–17When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 6:47 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.