but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost—
Parallel translations
- WEB but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
- KJV But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
- NKJV And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out;
- NASB But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought that it was a ghost, and they cried out;
- NLT but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost.
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
The disciples thought Jesus was a ghost and cried out in fear. Their terror shows how slow they were to recognize His glory.
Overview
Seeing a figure on the water, the disciples panicked, unable to comprehend what they saw. Their fear reflects both the strangeness of the sight and their hardened understanding. The moment sets up Jesus' reassuring self-revelation that follows.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Matt 14:25–26During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.
- Job 9:8He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
- Luke 24:37But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.
- Job 4:14–16fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 6:49 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
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