Jesus Walks on the Sea
John 6:16-24
John.6.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ως: CONJ
- δε: CONJ
- οψια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- κατεβησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- θαλασσαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 14:22 (structural): Synoptic parallel: after the feeding, Jesus sends the disciples to the boat and they go to the other side — same narrative setting as John 6:16.
- Mark 6:45 (verbal): Close verbal and structural parallel to John 6:16–17 describing the disciples' departure by boat immediately after the meal.
- John 6:17 (structural): Immediate Johannine continuation of 6:16 — specifies that they entered a boat and crossed the sea toward Capernaum.
- John 6:19 (thematic): Same episode from the disciples' perspective: their time on the sea culminates in seeing Jesus walking on the water toward them.
Alternative generated candidates
- When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and set out across the sea toward Capernaum.
- When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,
John.6.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εμβαντες: VERB,part,aor,act,nom,m,pl
- εις: PREP
- πλοιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ηρχοντο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,pl
- περαν: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- θαλασσης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- Καφαρναουμ: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- σκοτια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ηδη: ADV
- εγεγονει: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- ουπω: ADV
- εληλυθει: VERB,perf,mid,ind,3,sg
- προς: PREP
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 6:45-52 (verbal): Parallel narrative of Jesus sending the disciples by boat, night falling, and Jesus approaching them on the sea; shares sequence and motifs (boat, night, Jesus not yet present, disciples' fear).
- Matthew 14:22-33 (verbal): Same episode: disciples sent ahead by boat, darkness/night, and Jesus walking on the water to them — closely parallels John’s account of their crossing and Jesus’ delayed arrival.
- John 6:16-21 (structural): Immediate Johannine context that frames the same event: v.16–21 narrate the boat crossing, the coming of night, Jesus walking on the sea, and his entering the boat (continuation of v.17).
- Psalm 107:23-30 (thematic): The psalm describes sailors at sea in darkness and storm who cry out and are delivered by the Lord; thematically echoes the peril at sea and divine intervention present in John’s scene.
Alternative generated candidates
- They sailed, and were going across the sea toward Capernaum; night had fallen, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
- and they got into a boat and set off across the sea toward Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
John.6.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- τε: CONJ
- θαλασσα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ανεμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μεγαλου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- πνεοντος: PTCP,pres,act,gen,sg,m
- διεγειρετο: VERB,impf,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 14:24 (structural): Parallel account of the same episode (disciples in a boat after the feeding of the 5,000); the sea is troubled and the boat is far from land because of adverse wind.
- Mark 6:48 (structural): Mark's narration of the same event: the disciples labor against the wind and sea, and Jesus comes to them walking on the water; echoes the struggle caused by a strong wind.
- Mark 4:37 (verbal): In the calming-of-the-storm pericope Mark uses almost identical language about a 'great windstorm' that stirs up the sea—verbal parallel and thematic resonance (sea disturbed by wind).
- Matthew 8:24 (verbal): Matthew's version of the calming-of-the-storm similarly describes a 'great storm' arising on the sea; offers a literary parallel in wording and theme (wind-driven sea).
- Jonah 1:4 (thematic): Old Testament precedent: 'the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea,' linking the motif of a divinely significant 'great wind' that agitates the sea (thematic and verbal resonance).
Alternative generated candidates
- A strong wind arose, and the sea became rough.
- A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew rough.
John.6.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εληλακοτες: VERB,perf,act,ptc,nom,m,pl
- ουν: CONJ
- ως: ADV
- σταδιους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- εικοσι: NUM,card
- πεντε: NUM,acc,pl,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- τριακοντα: NUM,acc,pl,n
- θεωρουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Ιησουν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- περιπατουντα: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- θαλασσης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εγγυς: ADV
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πλοιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- γινομενον: PART,pres,mid/pass,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- εφοβηθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 14:25-27 (quotation): Parallel narrative of Jesus walking on the sea toward the disciples' boat at night; reports their fear and Jesus' words 'Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.'
- Mark 6:48-50 (quotation): Another Synoptic parallel describing Jesus walking on the sea, the disciples' alarm, and Jesus' reassurance 'It is I; do not be afraid.'
- Psalm 77:19 (allusion): Poetic imagery of God's 'way in the sea' and 'paths in the great waters' echoes the motif of divine presence and action on the sea that evokes fear and awe.
- Exodus 14:21-22 (thematic): God's control over the sea in the parting of the Red Sea establishes an Old Testament theme of divine authority over waters, providing a background for reactions of fear and wonder at miraculous activity on the sea.
Alternative generated candidates
- After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat, and they were afraid.
- After they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat, and they were frightened.
John.6.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις·Εγω: PRON,dat,pl,m;PRON,nom,sg,m
- ειμι: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- μη: PART
- φοβεισθε: VERB,pres,mid/pass,imp,2,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 14:27 (verbal): Parallel Synoptic account of Jesus walking on the sea; uses the same words of reassurance — 'Take courage; it is I. Do not be afraid.'
- Mark 6:50 (verbal): Mark's parallel of the same event, likewise reporting Jesus' immediate words to the terrified disciples: 'It is I; do not be afraid.'
- John 8:58 (verbal): In John Jesus uses the phrase 'ego eimi' as a self-identifying formula ('Before Abraham was, I am'), linking the Johannine 'It is I' to the deeper theological claim of divine identity.
- Exodus 3:14 (allusion): God's self-revelation 'I AM' (LXX: 'ego eimi ho on') — the OT divine name provides background for NT uses of 'ego eimi,' so John 6:20 may echo divine presence in Jesus' words.
- Isaiah 41:10 (thematic): Old Testament assurance 'Do not fear, for I am with you' parallels the command not to be afraid and the underlying promise of God's presence implicit in Jesus' reassurance.
Alternative generated candidates
- But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."
- But he said to them, “I am; do not be afraid.”
John.6.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ηθελον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- ουν: CONJ
- λαβειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πλοιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- ευθεως: ADV
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πλοιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- υπηγον: VERB,impf,act,3,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 14:32-33 (verbal): Same incident in the Synoptics: after Jesus enters the boat the boat is brought to the shore; disciples respond with worship (immediate arrival and recognition motif).
- Mark 6:51-52 (verbal): Direct Synoptic parallel: Jesus gets into the boat, the wind ceases and they are immediately at land; the disciples are astonished and fail to understand the miracle fully.
- Luke 8:24-25 (thematic): Calming the storm narrative—Jesus’ power over wind and waves and the disciples’ fear and amazement parallels the control of the sea and sudden arrival at safety.
- John 21:7-12 (structural): Post‑resurrection beach/boat scene: disciples recognize Jesus from the shore, make for land in small boats and bring their catch to shore—echoes the shore/boat transition and recognition motif in John 6:21.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then they willingly received him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
- Then they willingly received him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going—for they had not gone far.
John.6.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- επαυριον: ADV
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- οχλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εστηκως: VERB,perf,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- περαν: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- θαλασσης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- πλοιαριον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- αλλο: ADJ,neut,sg,nom
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- εκει: ADV
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μη: PART
- εν: PREP
- και: CONJ
- οτι: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- συνεισηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- μαθηταις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πλοιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αλλα: CONJ
- μονοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- απηλθον·: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- John 6:16-21 (structural): Immediate context: recounts the disciples crossing the sea, Jesus walking on the water and then entering the boat—directly parallels the crowd's observation in v.22.
- Matthew 14:22-33 (verbal): Parallel account of the disciples in a lone boat, Jesus walking on the sea to them and entering the boat after; shares key verbal and narrative elements with John’s episode.
- Mark 6:45-52 (verbal): Mark's version of the same incident (disciples at sea, Jesus approaching by walking on water, and their amazement), closely matches the boat-and-disciples material reflected in John 6:22.
- Luke 9:10-17 (thematic): Parallel account of the Feeding of the Five Thousand that precipitates the boat passage and the crowd’s pursuit; provides the broader narrative background for John 6:22.
Alternative generated candidates
- On the next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there except the one, and that Jesus had not entered with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples had gone away alone.
- On the next day the crowd that had remained on the other side saw that there was only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.
John.6.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αλλα: CONJ
- ηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- πλοιαρια: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- εκ: PREP
- Τιβεριαδος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εγγυς: ADV
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- τοπου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- οπου: ADV,rel
- εφαγον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αρτον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ευχαριστησαντος: VERB,aor,act,part,gen,m,sg
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- John 6:1-15 (structural): Directly connected feeding-of-the-5,000 narrative; v.23 refers back to the place and the meal where Jesus gave thanks and broke the loaves.
- Mark 6:30-44 (verbal): Parallel account of the feeding of the 5,000 with similar language about gathering, blessing/breaking the loaves, and distribution to the crowd.
- Matthew 14:13-21 (thematic): Another synoptic report of the same feeding miracle; shares setting of a remote place and the miraculous multiplication of bread.
- Luke 9:10-17 (thematic): Luke's version of the feeding narrative; parallels the sequence of teaching, compassion for the crowd, and the giving of bread.
- Mark 6:45-52 (structural): Describes disciples getting into a boat and crossing the sea (and Jesus later walking on the sea) — parallels the boat/sea movement that frames John 6:23–24 and the crowd's subsequent search for Jesus.
Alternative generated candidates
- Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread, after the Lord had given thanks.
- Yet other boats from Tiberias had come near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
John.6.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οτε: CONJ
- ουν: CONJ
- ειδεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- οχλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εκει: ADV
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ενεβησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτοι: PRON,nom,pl,3
- εις: PREP
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- πλοιαρια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- ηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- Καφαρναουμ: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ζητουντες: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Ιησουν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- John 6:17-21 (structural): Same episode’s immediate context: the disciples are in boats crossing the sea and Jesus later comes to them (walking on the water), which explains the movements between shore and Capernaum.
- John 6:1-15 (thematic): The feeding of the 5,000 explains why a large crowd follows Jesus and then seeks him across the lake.
- John 6:25-27 (structural): Direct continuation of v.24: the crowd finds Jesus in Capernaum and questions him, revealing their motives in seeking him.
- Matthew 14:22-33 (structural): Synoptic parallel: disciples set off by boat and Jesus walks on the sea to them after the feeding miracle—comparable sea-crossing and crowd/disciple movement motif.
- Mark 6:45-52 (structural): Another parallel of the post-feeding boat episode: disciples in a boat, Jesus walking on water, and the narrative link between the feeding and the sea-crossing.
Alternative generated candidates
- When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
- So when the people saw that Jesus was not there nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea.
They got into a boat and set out across the sea for Capernaum. It had become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
A strong wind was blowing, and the sea rose up.
After they had rowed about three or four stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."
Then they gladly received him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land to which they were going.
On the next day the crowd that had remained on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there except one, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.
Yet other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
When the crowd saw that Jesus was not there nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.