Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
6:49-50 The disciples’ terror is understandable—humans cannot walk on water, so they concluded that they were seeing a ghost. As in many divine manifestations, the Lord gave a word of assurance: Don’t be afraid and Take courage! The reason is, I am here! It was not a ghost but Jesus—their friend, Savior, and Lord. • I am here!: Because Jesus’ walking on the sea and stilling the storm were miraculous, Mark’s original readers would have understood the exclamation I am as a parallel to God’s self-description in the Old Testament (Exod 3:14; Deut 32:39; Isa 41:4; 43:10-13) and thus as a reference to Jesus’ divinity.
Literal English (YLT)ⓘYoung's Literal Translation (1862) — mirrors the original word order and idiom as closely as English grammar allows. It reads awkwardly on purpose: the goal is to show you the structure of the original language, not smooth English prose. Covers the New Testament only.Young's Literal Translation (1862) — mirrors the original word order and idiom as closely as English grammar allows. It reads awkwardly on purpose: the goal is to show you the structure of the original language, not smooth English prose. Covers the New Testament only.
And they having seen him walking on the sea, thought [it] to be an apparition, and cried out,
Greek (New Testament)ⓘA Greek New Testament text — koine (common) Greek, the everyday language the New Testament was originally written in.A Greek New Testament text — koine (common) Greek, the everyday language the New Testament was originally written in.
none οι δε ιδοντες αυτον περιπατουντα επι της θαλασσης εδοξαν φαντασμα ειναι και ανεκραξαν
King James VersionⓘKing James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
American Standard VersionⓘAmerican Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.American Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.
but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
World English BibleⓘWorld English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.World English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.
but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
Bible in Basic EnglishⓘBible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written with a ~1,000-word vocabulary. Easiest to read, least precise wording.Bible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written with a ~1,000-word vocabulary. Easiest to read, least precise wording.
But they, when they saw him walking on the sea, took him for a spirit, and gave a loud cry: