Matthew 14 · Verse 25

Matthew 14:25

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
Matthew 14:25, King James Version

Matthew 14:25 in other translations

BSBDuring the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.
WEBIn the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.
ASVAnd in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea.
YLTAnd in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went away to them, walking upon the sea,
DARBYBut in the fourth watch of the night he went off to them, walking on the sea.
BBEAnd in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
WebsterAnd in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.

What does Matthew 14:25 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 25. And in the fourth watch of the night. The Jews anciently divided the night into three divisions o� four hours each. The first of these watches is mentioned in Lam 2:19; the middle watch in Jud 7:19 and the morning watch in Ex 14:24. In the time of our Saviour: they divided the night into four watches;the fourth having been introduced by the Romans. These watches consisted of three hours each. The first commenced at six, and continued till nine; the second from nine to twelve; the third from twelve to three; and the fourth from three to six. The first was called evening; the second, midnight; the third, cock-crowing; the fourth, morning, Mk 13:35. It is probable that the term watch was given to each of these divisions, from the practice of placing sentinels around the camp in time of war, or in cities, to watch or guard the camp or city, and that they were at first relieved three times in the night, but under the Romans four times. It was in the last of these watches, or between three and six in the morning, that Jesus appeared to the disciples; so that he had spent most of the night alone on the mountain in prayer.

Walking on the sea. A manifest and wonderful miracle. It was a boisterous sea. It was in a dark night. The little boat was four or five miles from the shore, tossed by the billows.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 25 The fourth watch - Anciently the Jews divided the night into three watches, consisting of four hours each. The first watch is mentioned, Lam 2:19 : the second, Jdg 7:19; and the third, Exo 14:24; but a fourth watch is not mentioned in any part of the Old Testament. This division the Romans had introduced in Judea, as also the custom of dividing the day into twelve hours: see Joh 11:9. The first watch began at six o'clock in the evening, and continued till nine; the second began at nine, and continued till twelve; the third began at twelve, and continued till three next morning; and the fourth began at three, and continued till six. It was therefore between the hours of three and six in the morning that Jesus made his appearance to his disciples. Walking on the sea - Thus suspending the laws of gravitation was a proper manifestation of unlimited power. Jesus did this by his own power; therefore Jesus showed forth his Godhead. In this one miracle we may discover three: - 1. Though at a distance from his disciples, he knew their distress. 2. He found them out on the lake, and probably in the midst of darkness. 3. He walked upon the water. Job, speaking of those things whereby the omnipotence of God was demonstrated, says particularly, Job 9:8, He walketh upon the waves of the sea: intimating that this was impossible to any thing but Omnipotence.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 14:22-33

Those are not Christ's followers who cannot enjoy being alone with God and their own hearts. It is good, upon special occasions, and when we find our hearts enlarged, to continue long in secret prayer, and in pouring out our hearts before the Lord. It is no new thing for Christ's disciples to meet with storms in the way of duty, but he thereby shows himself with the more grace to them and for them. He can take what…

Read the full comment on Matthew 14:22-33 →

Matthew 14:25 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τετάρτῃtetartēIn [the] fourthG5067
δὲdenowG1161
φυλακῇphulakēawatchG5438
τῆςtēsof theG3588
νυκτὸςnuktosnightG3571
ἦλθενēlthenhe cameG2064
πρὸςprostoG4314
αὐτοὺςautousthemG846
περιπατῶνperipatōnwalkingG4043
ἐπὶepionG1909
τὴνtēntheG3588
θάλασσαν.¶thalassansea.G2281

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 14:25

  • Job 9:8

    Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

  • John 6:19

    So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.

  • Mark 6:48

    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.

  • Psalms 104:3

    Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

  • Matthew 24:43

    But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

  • Psalms 93:3-4

    The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

  • Luke 12:38

    And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

  • Revelation 10:8

    And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.

  • Revelation 10:5

    And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

  • Revelation 10:2

    And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the fourth watch.The Jews at this time divided the night into four watches; the first was from six o'clock in the evening till nine, the second from nine to twelve, the third from twelve till three, and the fourth from three till six; so that it probably began to be daylight before our Lord came to his disciples.
24:43; Lu 12:38
walking.This suspension of the laws of gravitation was a proper manifestation of omnipotence.
Job 9:8; Ps 93:3,4; 104:3; Mr 6:48; Joh 6:19; Re 10:2,5,8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 14:24

    But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

  • Matthew 14:25

    And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

  • Matthew 14:26

    And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

Read all of Matthew 14

Matthew 14:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas á la cuarta vela de la noche, Jesús fué á ellos andando sobre la mar.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et à la quatrième veille de la nuit, il s’en alla vers eux, marchant sur la mer.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber in der vierten Nachtwache kam er zu ihnen, wandelnd auf dem See.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quarta enim vigilia noctis, venit ad eos ambulans super mare.