1 Machabæorum 14:25

Clementine Latin Vulgate

Quarta enim vigilia noctis, venit ad eos ambulans super mare.

Parallel Translations

Jerome's Latin Vulgate (405)
Quarta enim vigilia noctis, venit ad eos ambulans super mare.

Nova Vulgata (1979)
Quarta autem vigilia noctis venit ad eos ambulans supra mare.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure 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. Matthew 24:43, Luke 12:38

walking: This suspension of the laws of gravitation was a proper manifestation of omnipotence. Job 9:8, Psalms 93:3, Psalms 93:4, Psalms 104:3, Mark 6:48, John 6:19, Revelation 10:2, Revelation 10:5, Revelation 10:8

Reciprocal: Psalms 90:4 - and as Psalms 135:6 - in the seas Lamentations 2:19 - watches Mark 6:49 - supposed Acts 23:23 - at

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And in the fourth watch of the night,.... This is said, according to the division of the night into four watches, by the Jews; who o say, that

"there are four watches in the night, and four watches in the day.''

It is true indeed, that it is disputed among them, whether there were four watches, or only three in the night: some say there were four, others say there were but three p; not but that these made a division of the night into four parts, the three first of which, they thought were properly the watches of the night, and the fourth was the morning. The first watch began at six o'clock in the evening, and lasted till nine; the second began at nine, and ended at twelve, which was midnight; the third began at twelve, and closed at three; the fourth began at three, and ended at six in the morning. But since some q Jewish writers are so positive for the division of the night into three watches only, and a watch is with them called r the third part of the night; and it is dubious with some, whether the Jewish division is here referred to; and since it is so clear a point, that the Romans s divided their night into four watches, and their writers speak not only of the first, second, and third watches, but also of the fourth watch t; it is thought by some, that the evangelist speaks after the Roman manner: but however, certain it is, that within this period, probably at the beginning of it, after three o'clock in the morning, Christ came to his disciples, when they had been almost all the night at sea, tossed with waves, and in great danger.

Jesus went unto them; from the mountain where he had been praying, the greatest part of the night, to the sea side, and so upon the waters to them; for it follows,

walking upon the sea; as on dry land: though it was so stormy and boisterous, that the disciples, though in a ship, were in the utmost danger, yet he upon the waves, was in none at all; by which action he showed himself to be the Lord of the sea, and to be truly and properly God; whose character is, that he "treadeth upon the waves of the sea", Job 9:8.

o T. Hieros. Beracot, fol. 2. 4. Echa Rabbati, fol. 54. 4. p T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 3. 1, 2. q Jaschi & Kimchi in Jud vii. 19. & in Psal. cxix. 147. r Gloss. in T. Bab. Betacot, fol. 2. 1. s Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. 1. 4. c. 20. t Liv. Hist. 1. 36, c. 24.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And in the fourth watch of the night - The Jews anciently divided the night into three parts of four hours each, usually called watches. The first of these watches is mentioned in Lamentations 2:19, the middle watch in Judges 7:19, and the morning watch in Exodus 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 until 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, Mark 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 4 or 5 miles from the shore, tossed by the billows.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 14:25. The fourth watch — Anciently the Jews divided the night into three watches, consisting of four hours each. The first watch is mentioned, Lamentations 2:19: the second, Judges 7:19; and the third, Exodus 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 John 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.