John 21 10

John 21:10 kjv

Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

John 21:10 nkjv

Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught."

John 21:10 niv

Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."

John 21:10 esv

Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."

John 21:10 nlt

"Bring some of the fish you've just caught," Jesus said.

John 21 verses

John 21 10 Meaning

John 21:10 describes Simon Peter's strenuous effort to bring ashore a fishing net miraculously filled with 153 large fish, highlighting the extraordinary abundance and, importantly, the net's remarkable resilience as it remained unbroken despite the immense weight. This event occurs in the post-resurrection context, signaling divine provision and the power available to the disciples in their future mission. The "net not torn" symbolizes the preservation and unity of the nascent Christian community even with a vast influx of believers.

John 21 10 Context

John 21:10 occurs during Jesus' third post-resurrection appearance to His disciples, specifically at the Sea of Tiberias. Seven disciples, led by Peter, had decided to return to their former occupation of fishing and had toiled fruitlessly through the night. A stranger on the shore (Jesus, unrecognized initially) instructs them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, resulting in an overwhelming catch. Peter, after John identifies Jesus, eagerly swims to shore. This verse describes the laborious effort of retrieving the net full of fish. The immediate context of the chapter prepares the disciples, especially Peter, for their future mission of spreading the Gospel, symbolized by the abundant harvest of fish. Historically, fishing was a common occupation, and such a large catch, especially after a fruitless night, would have been a profoundly significant event, reinforcing Jesus' divine authority and supernatural power, similar to His first call of the fishermen in Luke 5.

John 21 10 Word analysis

• Simon Peter (Σίμων Πέτρος - Simōn Petros): Simon (heard) was his birth name; Peter (rock) was the name Jesus gave him (Jn 1:42). He is a central figure, representing leadership among the disciples, often impulsive yet deeply devoted. His actions here signify both human effort and a preparation for his divinely appointed leadership after his restoration.
• went up (ἀνέβη - anebē): From anabainō, meaning "to go up" or "to ascend." It could mean he went up into the boat (if he had jumped into the water previously) or simply ascended from the water's edge to the shore itself, implying physical exertion.
• drew (εἵλκυσεν - heilkysen): From helkysō or helkō, meaning "to draw, drag, pull." This verb suggests significant effort and force, highlighting the immense weight of the catch. Jesus uses a similar word in Jn 12:32, "I will draw (helkysō) all people to myself."
• the net (τὸ δίκτυον - to diktyon): A literal fishing net. Biblically, the net frequently symbolizes the kingdom of God, the church, or the means of evangelism that gathers people into the fold (Matt 13:47).
• to land (εἰς τὴν γῆν - eis tēn gēn): Meaning "to the earth, ground, or shore." Bringing the net to land signifies the completion of the catch and its secure reception.
• full (μεστὸν - meston): Meaning "full, filled to the brim." It emphasizes the sheer quantity of the fish, signifying overflowing abundance, a divine blessing.
• of large fish (ἰχθύων μεγάλων - ichthyōn megalōn): Ichthyōn (fish), megalōn (large/great). The detail of them being "large" indicates quality and value, making the catch even more remarkable. Symbolically, these represent valuable souls brought into God's kingdom.
• 153 (ἑκατὸν πεντήκοντα τρεῖς - hekaton pentēkonta treis): This precise number has been a subject of much scholarly speculation. While some see it as a purely factual detail unique to John's Gospel, others find rich symbolism:
  • Completeness: Some interpret it as signifying the completeness of the harvest, gathering all kinds of people or nations, echoing ancient ideas about the number of known species of fish (though not historically accurate).
  • Augustine's Theory: Most famously, Augustine noted that the sum of all numbers from 1 to 17 equals 153. He linked 10 (representing the Law/Decalogue) and 7 (representing the Spirit's gifts or grace) to 17, suggesting that those saved come through both Law and Grace.
  • Triangular Number: 153 is also a triangular number (T_17), meaning it's the sum of 1+2+3+...+17.
  • The specificity underlines the miraculous, intentional, and sovereign nature of the divine provision and harvest.
• and although there were so many (καὶ τοσούτων ὄντων - kai tosoutōn ontōn): This clause intensifies the wonder. Despite the overwhelming number and weight, an unexpected outcome follows.
• the net was not torn (οὐκ ἐσχίσθη τὸ δίκτυον - ouk eschisthē to diktyon): Ouk (not), eschisthē (was torn, from schizō - to split, divide). This detail is pivotal. In Luke's account of the first miraculous catch (Lk 5:6), the nets began to break. Here, after Jesus' resurrection, the net holds. This symbolizes the resilience and enduring unity of the post-resurrection church (the "net") despite the vast number of people (fish) brought into it. It points to God's divine preservation and the Spirit's power to maintain unity amidst growth, contrasting with divisions that plagued Israel under the Law or pre-Pentecost.

John 21 10 Bonus section

The contrast between this miraculous catch (John 21) and the earlier one in Luke 5 is highly significant. In Luke, the nets began to break, symbolizing the limitations of human effort and the difficulties even a divinely initiated ministry can face before Christ's atoning work and resurrection were complete. The broken nets could represent the inability of the Old Covenant or individual efforts to fully contain God's blessing without the New Covenant's power and the Spirit's indwelling. In John 21, however, post-resurrection, the net does not break, even with a larger, specific number of fish, pointing to the finished work of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the establishment of a unified, unbreakable New Covenant community (the church) that is capable of sustaining a vast harvest of souls without fragmentation. This miracle thus served not just as provision, but as a potent theological sign for the disciples' imminent, global ministry.

John 21 10 Commentary

John 21:10 vividly portrays the culmination of a divine sign. Peter's action of drawing the net laden with 153 large fish signifies the labor required in Christian ministry, yet also the supernatural power behind the harvest. The vast number of fish symbolizes the multitude of souls that will be gathered into the Kingdom through the apostles' work. Crucially, the net's unbroken state contrasts sharply with the earlier miraculous catch in Luke, where nets tore, signifying that the church, empowered by the resurrected Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, will be supernaturally sustained and united, even under the immense weight of an overflowing ingathering. This reassures believers that despite the challenges of rapid growth or diverse personalities, God ensures His church remains cohesive, strong, and effective in its mission. Practically, it encourages ministers that while the harvest may be overwhelming, divine grace provides the strength and unity needed for sustained growth, rather than fragmentation.