What Does Mark 6:48 Mean in the 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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
He sees their punishing effort and comes across the sea that resists them, yet the verse leaves the strange note that he intends to pass them by.
THE MEANING
Your effort against resistance does not make you unseen. The one who perceives it moves across the very waters that have stalled your progress, while the words still hold a mystery: he comes toward you and would pass by. His nearness arrives before the struggle ends.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse dissolves the belief that ongoing struggle means you are unseen: he sees them while the wind remains against them.
THE ROOT
βασανιζομένους
basanizomenous
GROWS FROM
βασανίζω
basanizō
To distress, torment, or test under pressure.
The Greek word rendered “toiling” is also used for torment and severe distress; it gives the rowing the weight of an ordeal, not light exertion. The text lets that strain be real even while the one who sees it moves toward them.
ALSO GROWS
basanos: Touchstone; torment or severe distress.
βάσανος
This word family holds pressure that tests alongside pain, enlarging the force behind “toiling.”
basanismos: Torment or torture.
βασανισμός
This branch shows how strongly the family can name affliction, matching the rowers’ punishing struggle.
ἰδών
idōn
GROWS FROM
ὁράω (horaō), with the irregular stem ἰδ-
To see, perceive, or recognize.
“saw” in this verse is idōn. The Greek verb carries perception as well as sight, giving the moment the sense of awareness rather than a passing glance. He perceives their distress before they perceive who is approaching.
ALSO GROWS
horama: A vision; something seen.
ὅραμα
This branch keeps seeing connected to what comes into perception.
horatos: Visible; able to be seen.
ὁρατός
The shared word-family draws attention to the gap between being seen and recognizing what is before you.
παρελθεῖν
parelthein
GROWS FROM
ἔρχομαι (erchomai), with the compound παρέρχομαι (parerchomai)
To come or go; to pass by.
“would have passed by” in this verse is parelthein. The verb keeps “coming” and “passing by” in one motion. The Septuagint uses this same verb for the LORD passing before Moses as God’s nature is proclaimed.
ALSO GROWS
eiserchomai: To enter; to come in.
εἰσέρχομαι
This compound shares the movement of coming, sharpening the sense that he enters their scene.
dierchomai: To go through; to pass through.
διέρχομαι
This branch keeps the shared motion of passage, while Mark makes the direction “by them” central.
THE PATTERN
What blocks human passage does not bind the divine path.
Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;THE THREAD
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,Mark’s phrase uses the same Greek verb rendered “passed by” here in the Septuagint. The shared wording makes the movement across the sea more than an odd detail: it can be a disclosure of who is present, even before the disciples recognize him.
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