Note 9 at Mk. 6:45: If Jesus and His disciples were already near Bethsaida (Lk. 9:10), why is Jesus constraining His disciples to go "to the other side before unto Bethsaida?" One explanation is that the Greek word "eis" translated "unto" in this verse can also be translated "against" and is rendered that way more than a dozen times in the New Testament. Had "unto" been translated "against", the phrase, "against Bethsaida" would imply "the opposite side of the lake from Bethsaida" just as Luke 8:26 (p. 149) uses the expression "against Galilee" meaning "on the opposite side" from Galilee. The Translator's New Testament reads "go to the other side of Bethsaida before him," which could also be interpreted as "the other side of the lake from Bethsaida." John 6:17 would support this view since this verse says they "went over the sea toward Capernaum." Bethsaida is only two or three miles across from Capernaum, both cities being on the north end of the Sea of Galilee.

The marginal rendering of "unto Bethsaida" in some reference Bibles is "over against Bethsaida," which would tend to support "eis" being used in this verse to mean "across from" or "on the opposite side from."

Another explanation to reconcile Mark 6:45 to Luke 9:10 is that the grassy "desert" place "belonging to the city called Bethsaida" may have been as much as a mile or two away from the city, probably farther down the shore. Sailing "unto" or Stoward" Bethsaida in a north to northwesterly direction may have offered protection from "heavy seas" as the ship made its way around the shoreline with the ultimate destination being Capernaum.

Because of the strong wind, "the ship was in the midst of the sea" Mark says (Mk. 6:47), and most certainly far off course. This explains why after rowing 25 or 30 furlongs (3*- 4 miles), they were still not at their destination (See "Weights and Measures-Length," p. S10, Supplements section.).