Bible Strands
Matthew 14:25
During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus approaches the disciples' boat during the late night while they row far from land against a headwind.
The words — The Greek phrase τετάρτῃ φυλακῇ τῆς νυκτός (tetartē phulakē tēs nyktos) literally translates to "in the fourth watch of the night," marking a specific late-night military time period.
The thread — The narrative echoes Job 9:8, where God treads on the waves, and aligns with Mark 6:48, which also records the fourth watch and the disciples' struggle against the wind. John 6:19 similarly notes Jesus walking on the sea and the disciples' fear, though it omits the watch designation.
Why it lands — The text records a supernatural appearance that triggers immediate terror in the disciples, who mistake the figure for a ghost before recognizing Jesus.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
Cross-references
- Job 9:8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
- Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,
- John 6:19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified.
- Psalms 93:3 The floodwaters have risen, O LORD; the rivers have raised their voice; the seas lift up their pounding waves.
- Matthew 24:43 But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
- Psalms 104:3 laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.
- Luke 12:38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.
- Revelation 10:2 He held in his hand a small scroll, which lay open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.
- Revelation 10:5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven.
- Revelation 10:8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the small scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel standing on the sea and on the land.”