Luke 5:10 kjv
And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
Luke 5:10 nkjv
and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men."
Luke 5:10 niv
and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people."
Luke 5:10 esv
and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."
Luke 5:10 nlt
His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people!"
Luke 5 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 4:19 | And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” | Direct parallel: Jesus' calling of disciples. |
| Mk 1:17 | And Jesus said to them, “Come after Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” | Direct parallel: Jesus' calling of disciples. |
| Lk 5:8 | When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” | Peter's prior reaction of fear and unworthiness due to Jesus' power. |
| Lk 5:11 | So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. | Disciples' immediate obedience to Jesus' call. |
| Mt 4:20 | They immediately left their nets and followed Him. | Disciples' radical abandonment of former life. |
| Mk 1:20 | And immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee... | Disciples' decisive commitment to Jesus' call. |
| Lk 12:32 | Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. | Jesus' recurring reassurance to disciples to dispel fear. |
| Isa 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. | God's divine reassurance against fear in the Old Testament. |
| Jer 1:7-8 | Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you... Do not be afraid... for I am with you... | God's reassurance and empowerment for His called servants. |
| Jn 4:35 | Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! | Metaphor of spiritual harvest for evangelism. |
| Mt 9:37-38 | Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” | Urgency for laborers in the spiritual harvest. |
| Lk 10:2 | Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” | Parallels Matthew 9:37-38, emphasizing need for evangelists. |
| Acts 2:41 | Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. | Peter's first "catch of men" at Pentecost. |
| 1 Cor 9:19-22 | For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more… I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. | Paul's commitment to reaching all types of people for Christ. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ... that I may gain Christ. | Radical renunciation of earthly gains for Christ. |
| Lk 9:23 | If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. | Cost of discipleship and following Jesus. |
| Lk 14:26 | If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. | Prioritizing Christ above all earthly relationships. |
| Jn 21:6-7 | And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” | Post-resurrection echo of miraculous catch and Peter's recognition. |
| 2 Tim 2:26 | and that they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. | Uses "take alive" (ζωγρέω - zogreō) metaphor for captivity/deliverance. |
| Lk 19:10 | for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. | Jesus' mission to seek and save, aligning with "catching men." |
| Rom 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes... | The gospel as the power for saving people, the goal of "catching men." |
| Eph 2:8-9 | For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. | Salvation by grace, emphasizing the spiritual capture is a gift, not human merit. |
Luke 5 verses
Luke 5 10 Meaning
Luke 5:10 conveys Jesus' transformative call to Simon Peter, James, and John. Following a miraculous catch of fish that revealed Jesus' divine authority, Jesus redefines their purpose from physically catching fish for sustenance and death to spiritually gathering people for eternal life in God's Kingdom. He reassures Peter, dispelling his fear and declaring that from that moment, he would be "catching men" for salvation, signaling a radical shift in their lives and mission.
Luke 5 10 Context
Luke chapter 5 begins with Jesus teaching by the Lake of Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee), surrounded by crowds. He then borrows Simon Peter's boat to teach the multitudes from a distance. After teaching, Jesus instructs Peter to launch out into the deep for a catch, despite Peter's previous night of fruitless labor. Miraculously, their nets nearly break from an immense catch of fish, far exceeding any natural expectation. This astounding display of power leads Simon Peter to fall before Jesus, confessing his sinfulness and unworthiness, deeply affected by the holy presence. Verse 10 directly follows Peter's plea, as Jesus directly addresses Peter's fear and clarifies his future divine assignment, marking the beginning of Peter's (and his partners James and John's) committed discipleship and setting the stage for their future apostolic ministry. The subsequent verse (Lk 5:11) completes the narrative by stating they left everything to follow Him.
Luke 5 10 Word analysis
and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon:
- And so also: Connects Peter's immediate call directly to James and John. Implies they shared the experience and would share in the new calling.
- James and John, the sons of Zebedee: Specific identification of the two other prominent disciples. Highlights their existing partnership with Peter, setting the stage for their collective calling. This familial and business link establishes the pre-existing community Jesus called into new service.
- partners (κοινωνοί - koinōnoi): Signifies a close, interdependent working relationship, often sharing in gains and losses. This natural bond is now consecrated for spiritual labor.
And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid.
- And Jesus said to Simon: Jesus directly addresses Peter, indicating His focus on Peter's immediate fear and Peter's central role in the ensuing narrative and future ministry. It asserts Jesus' authority.
- Do not be afraid (μὴ φοβοῦ - mē phobou): A strong prohibition in the Greek aorist imperative, meaning to cease an action already in progress or to never start it. Peter's profound fear stemmed from encountering the holy presence of God manifest in Jesus. Jesus' words here are a divine comfort and a direct command to release the paralyzing awe and move beyond it. It is a divine reassurance in the face of human inadequacy.
From now on you will be catching men.”
- From now on (ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν - apo tou nyn): Marks a definitive, immediate, and irreversible shift in their lives and purpose. Their past profession and focus are left behind for a new, eternal vocation.
- you will be (ἔσῃ - esē): Future tense, certain outcome. Jesus is not just giving advice or hope, but stating a divine reality and certainty for Peter's future.
- catching men (ἀνθρώπους ζῶν ζῶν - anthrōpous zōgrōn):
- catching (ζωγρῶν - zōgrōn): The present active participle of zōgreō (ζωγρέω), meaning "to take alive," "to capture alive," "to preserve life." This is crucial. Unlike fishing, where the fish are caught to die, the spiritual endeavor is to catch men into life – to bring them alive in Christ, delivering them from spiritual death. This implies evangelism, salvation, and discipling, leading to eternal life.
- men (ἀνθρώπους - anthrōpous): Refers to human beings. The contrast is stark: from mere aquatic life to immortal souls. The object of their work shifts from physical creatures to spiritual beings, implying a mission of vastly greater importance and scope.
Luke 5 10 Bonus section
The transition from "catching fish" to "catching men" signifies a profound paradigm shift: from an earthly, perishable pursuit for physical sustenance to a divine, eternal endeavor for spiritual life. This moment encapsulates Jesus' ability to repurpose and sanctify human vocations, transforming common individuals into apostles for the Kingdom. It underscores that those who have personally experienced Christ's divine power (like Peter's awe at the miraculous catch) are best equipped to answer His call, despite initial fear or perceived unworthiness. The command "Do not be afraid" highlights a recurring theme in the New Testament: God often calms human apprehension when giving monumental assignments, empowering His chosen vessels with divine courage.
Luke 5 10 Commentary
Luke 5:10 represents a pivotal moment in the call of Jesus' key disciples, particularly Simon Peter. Jesus' instruction transforms the mundane work of fishing into a profound spiritual metaphor. The phrase "catching men" using the Greek term zōgreō emphasizes capturing alive, highlighting that the ultimate purpose of their new mission is to bring lost souls to spiritual life and salvation in Christ, not to condemnation. It directly contrasts with literal fishing, where the catch leads to death. Jesus addresses Peter's overwhelming sense of unworthiness with reassurance, commissioning him despite his imperfections, signifying that God calls imperfect people for His perfect purposes. This call demands complete surrender, evidenced by their immediate abandonment of everything. This event illustrates the transition from a livelihood focused on temporal needs to a kingdom work focused on eternal destinies, fueled by faith in Christ's power. It also provides a practical example for believers to embrace a greater purpose beyond their worldly occupations, engaging in the divine mission of drawing others to Christ.