Luke 5:6 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Luke 5:6 kjv
And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
Luke 5:6 nkjv
And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
Luke 5:6 niv
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
Luke 5:6 esv
And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.
Luke 5:6 nlt
And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!
Luke 5 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 16:13 | In the evening quail came up and covered the camp... | God's miraculous provision of abundant food. |
| Num 11:31 | Now a wind went out from the LORD... and brought quail from the sea... | God's power over nature, supplying immense food. |
| Deut 28:2 | And all these blessings shall come upon you... if you obey... | Blessings as a result of obedience to God. |
| Ps 104:24-25 | O LORD, how manifold are your works!... The sea, great and wide, wherein are living things innumerable. | God's vast and innumerable creation, including sea creatures. |
| Jer 16:16 | "Behold, I am sending for many fishermen, declares the LORD..." | Prophetic imagery of "fishing" for men. |
| Matt 4:19 | And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." | Jesus' call to make disciples, foreshadowed by this event. |
| Matt 17:27 | But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea and cast a hook... | Jesus' authority over fish for practical needs. |
| Mk 1:17 | And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." | Parallel account of the call to be fishers of men. |
| Mk 6:41-42 | And he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And all ate and were satisfied. | Jesus' power to multiply and provide beyond human means. |
| Lk 5:5 | Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night... But at your word I will let down the nets.” | The preceding obedience that leads to the great catch. |
| Lk 5:10 | ...Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” | The spiritual meaning of the miraculous catch, a pre-figurement. |
| Lk 9:16-17 | And they took them and divided them among them all... they took up what was left over, twelve baskets of broken pieces. | Jesus multiplying food for a crowd, showing divine abundance. |
| Lk 5:37-38 | No one pours new wine into old wineskins... but new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. | The "breaking net" symbolizes old structures unable to contain new blessings; points to a need for new forms. |
| Jn 2:5 | His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” | Instruction to obey Jesus, leading to miraculous results. |
| Jn 6:11-12 | Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them... | Jesus feeding 5000, demonstrating divine power and abundant provision. |
| Jn 21:6 | He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because of the quantity of the fish. | A post-resurrection miraculous catch, affirming Jesus' continued power and commissioning. |
| Jn 21:11 | So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. | Contrast to Lk 5:6; in the later miracle, the net does not break, perhaps signifying a perfected Church able to hold the harvest. |
| Acts 2:41 | So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. | The massive "catch of men" on Pentecost, demonstrating overwhelming spiritual harvest. |
| Acts 4:4 | But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. | Continued rapid growth of believers, another "multitude" of souls. |
| 1 Cor 3:6-7 | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. | Reinforces that ultimately, the immense "increase" or "growth" (fish/souls) comes from God's power. |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him... | Emphasizes the necessity of faith and obedience as seen in Peter's action. |
| Zech 4:6 | Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts." | God's work is not by human strength or skill, but by His Spirit's power, producing supernatural results. |
Luke 5 verses
Luke 5 6 meaning
Luke 5:6 describes the immediate result of Peter's obedient casting of nets at Jesus' command: an unprecedented and overwhelming capture of fish. This great multitude was so vast that the very nets designed to hold such catches began to rupture under the immense strain. It signifies the miraculous power of Jesus, which surpasses human expertise and expectation, bringing forth an abundance that challenges the limits of existing structures.
Luke 5 6 Context
Luke Chapter 5 begins with Jesus teaching from Peter’s boat by the Lake of Gennesaret (the Sea of Galilee), having drawn a large crowd on the shore. After teaching, Jesus instructs Peter, an experienced fisherman who had toiled fruitlessly all night, to "put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." Despite Peter’s professional assessment that it would be futile, he expresses obedience based on Jesus' word (Luke 5:5). Verse 6 describes the astonishing outcome of that obedience, immediately followed by the need for assistance from other boats (Lk 5:7) and Peter’s recognition of Jesus’ divine power and his own sinfulness (Lk 5:8). This miraculous event serves as the catalyst for Peter, James, and John abandoning their livelihood to follow Jesus, foreshadowing their future role as "fishers of men" (Lk 5:10). The immediate context highlights the contrast between human limitation and divine omnipotence, and the power of obedient faith.
Luke 5 6 Word analysis
- And when they had done this: The Greek "kai touto poiēsantes" (καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσαντες) indicates a direct and immediate consequence of Peter and his partners' action. "Done this" refers specifically to casting the nets into the deep "at Your word," emphasizing the link between their obedience and the miraculous outcome. It signifies Peter's initial reluctance giving way to a profound act of trust in Jesus.
- they enclosed: The Greek "synekleisan" (συνέκλεισαν), from synkleiō, means "to shut up together" or "to encompass." This is an aorist active verb, denoting a singular, complete action that led to the fish being contained. It implies the collaborative effort of the fishermen in surrounding and hauling in the catch, even as they grappled with its sheer volume. This also reflects the divine orchestration of the fish converging into their net.
- a great multitude: The Greek "plēthos polu" (πλῆθος πολύ) is emphatic. "Plēthos" means "a crowd" or "multitude," and "polu" means "much" or "great." This emphasizes the unprecedented, immense quantity of fish, far beyond what any ordinary fishing operation, especially after a fruitless night, could yield or expect. It underscores the miraculous nature of the catch, defying human experience and expertise.
- of fish: The Greek "ichthyōn" (ἰχθύων) refers to literal aquatic creatures. The common nature of the "fish" highlights that the miracle occurs within their ordinary profession, making it profoundly impactful and undeniably real for the fishermen. It is a tangible sign of Jesus' authority over creation.
- and their net: The Greek "kai autōn to diktyon" (καὶ αὐτῶν τὸ δίκτυον). "Diktyon" is a fishing net. The possessive "their" indicates it was the working equipment of these seasoned fishermen, underscoring their familiarity with its limits. The net, being an instrument of their livelihood, becomes the immediate point of failure under divine blessing.
- was breaking: The Greek "dierrhēgnuto" (διεῤῥήγνυτο), from diarrhēgnumi, meaning "to tear apart," "burst through," or "break asunder." The imperfect passive tense is crucial here, signifying a continuous, ongoing action – the net was not simply broken, but was in the process of tearing and rupturing under the extreme weight. This vividly conveys the immense pressure and the imminent danger of losing the entire catch. It illustrates the idea of capacity being overwhelmed, anticipating the need for new vessels or approaches to handle God's overwhelming abundance.
Luke 5 6 Bonus section
The immediate and immense catch not only brought Peter to a point of humble recognition of Jesus' divinity (Lk 5:8), but also vividly illustrated Jesus' call to be "fishers of men." The struggle to contain the catch, needing to call for help from another boat (Lk 5:7), underscores a foundational principle for future ministry: the great harvest of souls will necessitate collaboration among God's people. Furthermore, the breaking net can be seen as a parabolic hint at the inability of existing Jewish structures and practices ("old wineskins") to fully contain the new work and immense ingathering of the Holy Spirit's power that would come through Jesus' ministry and the subsequent spread of the gospel.
Luke 5 6 Commentary
Luke 5:6 presents a dramatic display of divine power and provision. After a night of skilled but fruitless toil, experienced fishermen obey the word of a carpenter and witness an immediate, unprecedented overflow. The "great multitude of fish" not only validates Jesus' authority over nature but also served as an undeniable, tangible sign that propelled Peter and his partners towards deeper faith. The detail that "their net was breaking" highlights a blessing so immense it exceeded human capacity and infrastructure. This imagery subtly foreshadows the future overwhelming harvest of souls in the nascent Church, suggesting that traditional structures might prove inadequate for God's unprecedented outpouring. It teaches that God's blessings often exceed our limited expectations and capacities, pushing us beyond our comfort zones and demanding new ways of receiving and stewarding His abundance.