John 21 13

John 21:13 kjv

Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

John 21:13 nkjv

Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

John 21:13 niv

Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

John 21:13 esv

Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.

John 21:13 nlt

Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish.

John 21 verses

John 21 13 Meaning

John 21:13 describes Jesus, after His resurrection, actively providing and serving a meal of bread and fish to His disciples on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. This act demonstrates His resurrected physicality as He eats with them, reinforces His role as the compassionate provider for their physical and spiritual needs, and serves as a moment of intimate fellowship and restoration following Peter's denial and the disciples' return to fishing. It symbolically reconnects them with His ministry of feeding and points to renewed communion and purpose.

John 21 13 Context

John 21:13 occurs on the third recorded post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to a group of His disciples. The chapter opens with Peter and six other disciples having returned to their former trade of fishing on the Sea of Tiberias, following the crucifixion and resurrection. After an unsuccessful night of fishing, Jesus, unrecognized in the early morning mist from the shore, instructs them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, resulting in a miraculous catch of 153 large fish. Upon Peter's recognition of Jesus, he impulsively swims ashore. When the disciples land, they find a charcoal fire prepared by Jesus, with fish already cooking on it and bread present. This setting of Jesus providing a ready meal, separate from their significant catch, highlights His continued role as a self-sufficient provider and gracious host. It sets the scene for a tender meal that facilitates reunion, forgiveness, and recommissioning, particularly for Peter. The intimate act of sharing a meal serves to reaffirm Jesus' bodily resurrection and to restore fellowship before His final instructions and ascension.

John 21 13 Word analysis

• Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsous): The Risen Lord. His presence confirms His resurrection and ongoing personal engagement with His disciples. He is the active agent.
• then cometh (ἔρχεται - erchetai): "Cometh" emphasizes His initiative and direct action. He approaches them, demonstrating accessibility and willingness to draw near to His disciples even in their confusion or doubt. This verb is in the historical present, making the action vivid and immediate.
• and taketh (λαμβάνει - lambanei): "Taketh" highlights Jesus' proactive role. He isn't waiting to be served; He serves. This recalls His actions at the feeding miracles and the Last Supper, underscoring His familiar posture as provider and host.
• bread (ἄρτον - arton): A fundamental staple of life, both physical and symbolic. In Jesus' ministry, bread signifies His provision for physical hunger (feeding multitudes) and spiritual nourishment (Himself as the Bread of Life). Here, it implies common sustenance and fellowship.
• and giveth them (δίδωσιν αὐτοῖς - didōsin autois): The act of giving directly to "them," the disciples. This emphasizes His personal care and service. It parallels the act of distributing food at the feeding miracles and distributing the elements of the Last Supper, signifying sharing and inclusion.
• and fish (καὶ τὸ ὀψάριον - kai to opsarion): "Opsarion" specifically means fish, a common food source in the region. The presence of fish (already on the fire) confirms the tangible, physical reality of the meal and of Jesus' resurrected body. It's a real meal, not an illusion.
• likewise (ὁμοίως - homoiōs): "Likewise" or "similarly" shows a repetitive pattern. Jesus gives them bread, and He gives them fish in the same manner. This symmetrical giving emphasizes the complete and generous provision He offers for their meal.

Words-group analysis:

• "Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them": This phrase underlines Jesus' direct involvement and servant leadership. The sequence of coming, taking, and giving portrays Him as the ultimate host who initiates and sustains fellowship. It carries echoes of the breaking of bread at Emmaus (Lk 24:30), where His identity was revealed through such a familiar gesture of loving service.
• "and fish likewise": The inclusion of fish alongside bread solidifies the tangible nature of the meal. The repetition ("likewise") reinforces the completeness of His provision and echoes His previous miracles involving both bread and fish, tying this post-resurrection event firmly to the entirety of His earthly ministry and divine identity as provider. This also serves as further evidence of His physical resurrection, as a spirit does not eat (Lk 24:39-43).

John 21 13 Bonus section

This act of Jesus serving His disciples can be seen as an intentional reversal of typical social roles, much like His foot-washing, emphasizing humble leadership. In ancient cultures, the host typically served, but here, the Lord serves His servants, affirming His new covenant model of leadership. The disciples do not take their massive catch and cook it for Him; rather, He has prepared a meal for them before their arrival and before their success in fishing. This highlights that His provision and presence are not dependent on their efforts or their "catch" but spring from His sovereign love and grace. The meal is an anticipation of the heavenly banquet (Rev 19:9) and reminds believers that Jesus desires intimate communion and nourishment with His followers, both physically and spiritually.

John 21 13 Commentary

John 21:13 is a powerful, concise depiction of the Risen Christ's intimate and gracious presence among His disciples. It showcases Jesus' unwavering care, His role as provider, and His readiness to restore fellowship. Having found a meal already prepared by Jesus (Jn 21:9), the disciples are served by Him, a profound act of humility from the resurrected Lord, recalling His washing of their feet (Jn 13:4-5). This shared meal provides tangible evidence of Jesus' physical resurrection, dispelling any notion that He was merely a ghost. By offering bread and fish, familiar elements from His earlier feeding miracles and daily life, Jesus reestablishes a sense of normalcy, comfort, and direct connection after the trauma of His death and their subsequent uncertainty. This simple yet profound act of communal eating serves as a silent invitation to renew their commitment to Him and anticipate the spiritual sustenance He continues to provide.