Matthew 4:21 kjv
And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
Matthew 4:21 nkjv
Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them,
Matthew 4:21 niv
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,
Matthew 4:21 esv
And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
Matthew 4:21 nlt
A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too.
Matthew 4 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 1:19-20 | Going a little farther, He saw James... and John his brother... in the boat mending their nets. Immediately He called them... | Parallel account of James and John's call and immediate response. |
| Lk 5:10-11 | He said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." ...they left everything and followed Him. | Call of first disciples, emphasizing leaving everything. |
| Mt 4:18-20 | As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother... and they immediately left their nets and followed Him. | Preceding parallel call to Peter and Andrew, establishing a pattern. |
| Mt 10:2 | The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; | Lists James and John as among the twelve apostles. |
| Mk 3:17 | James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); | Jesus gives them the descriptive name, indicating their passionate temperament. |
| Mt 19:27-29 | Peter answered, "See, we have left everything and followed You. What then will we have?" Jesus said... "everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters..." | Theme of disciples leaving everything for Jesus and the Kingdom. |
| Lk 14:26-27 | "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother... he cannot be My disciple." | Emphasis on the supreme allegiance required to follow Christ over family ties. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ... I have suffered the loss of all things... for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. | Apostle Paul's radical abandonment for Christ, echoing disciples' commitment. |
| 1 Pet 1:13-16 | Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded... As obedient children, do not be conformed... | Calls to readiness and obedience for those who follow God. |
| Gen 12:1-4 | Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country... and I will make of you a great nation." So Abram went... | God's call requiring a person to leave their former life. |
| Isa 6:8 | And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am! Send me." | Willing and immediate response to God's divine call. |
| Jer 1:4-7 | The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you... I appointed you a prophet..." Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD!"... but the LORD said... "Go to all to whom I send you..." | God's call to service from before birth, met with initial apprehension but divine instruction. |
| Mt 4:19 | And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." | Defines their new purpose after the call – spiritual fishing. |
| Lk 9:59-62 | Another He said, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."... Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit..." | Illustrates Jesus' demand for unreserved commitment over family obligations. |
| Mk 10:35-45 | And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said... "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." | Reveals their ambition and passionate nature; later rebuked by Jesus. |
| Acts 12:2 | He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. | James becomes the first apostle martyred for Christ. |
| Jn 21:7 | That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord... | John, often called the "disciple whom Jesus loved," his spiritual maturity. |
| Jn 1:43-51 | The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me." | Other accounts of Jesus initiating a call to discipleship. |
| 1 Cor 7:20 | Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. | A contrasting perspective that following God doesn't always mean changing professions unless called. |
| Lk 18:28-30 | Peter said, "See, we have left our homes and followed you." And He said to them, "Truly, I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more..." | Promises spiritual and eternal rewards for those who sacrifice for the Kingdom. |
| Phil 3:12-14 | Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own... I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. | A continuing "call" in Christian life toward perfection and goal in Christ. |
Matthew 4 verses
Matthew 4 21 Meaning
This verse recounts the Lord Jesus' sovereign call to James and John, two brothers, the sons of Zebedee, while they were engaged in their family fishing business on the Sea of Galilee. Following closely after the call of Simon Peter and Andrew, it signifies Jesus' intentional gathering of a foundational group of disciples, demonstrating His divine authority and their immediate, obedient response in leaving behind their livelihood and family to follow Him.
Matthew 4 21 Context
Matthew chapter 4 marks the commencement of Jesus’ public ministry in Galilee following His temptation in the wilderness. It opens with Jesus hearing of John the Baptist's arrest, prompting His move to Capernaum to begin preaching, thus fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy (Mt 4:12-17). The verses immediately preceding Matthew 4:21 (Mt 4:18-20) describe Jesus calling the first two disciples, Simon Peter and Andrew. This verse, then, shows a rapid, deliberate continuation of Jesus establishing His core group of followers. The Sea of Galilee was a bustling hub for fishing, a common and essential occupation, meaning these men were engaged in everyday work when the extraordinary call came. This establishes a pattern of Jesus calling ordinary individuals, disrupting their conventional lives for the profound purpose of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 4 21 Word analysis
- And going on from there (kai probas ekeithen): Signifies continuous movement and purposeful action on Jesus' part, building directly from the previous scene of calling Peter and Andrew. It indicates a deliberate progression in His ministry of gathering disciples.
- He saw (eiden): Emphasizes Jesus' initiative and intentional observation. This was not a chance encounter; Jesus perceived these men with divine insight, understanding their hearts and their potential for His kingdom work. It conveys a knowing selection.
- another two brothers, (allous dyo adelphous): This directly links them to the previously called brothers, Simon and Andrew, highlighting a pattern of calling family units. It establishes the immediate formation of a small, related group of disciples.
- James (Iakōbos): A common Hebrew name. He would become part of Jesus' inner circle along with Peter and his brother John, often present during key events. He was later the first apostle to be martyred.
- the son of Zebedee and John his brother, (tou Zebedaiou kai Iōannēn ton adelphon autou): Identifies their paternal lineage and the sibling relationship, indicating a strong familial tie. Zebedee's apparent presence in the boat with hired servants (Mk 1:20) suggests their family business was prosperous. The immediate departure of James and John meant leaving a thriving, stable family enterprise, a significant act of self-denial. John is the "beloved disciple," a pillar of the early church, and the author of the Gospel of John, epistles, and Revelation.
- in the boat (en tō ploiō): Their workspace and source of livelihood. It shows Jesus meets people in their everyday routines and ordinary circumstances, calling them from where they are.
- with Zebedee their father, (meta Zebedaiou tou patros autōn): This detail intensifies the act of leaving, as it involved not just their profession but their direct working relationship and immediate physical presence with their father. Their departure signified a supreme commitment to Jesus, transcending familial obligation at that moment.
- mending their nets; (katartizontas ta diktya autōn):
- Katartizontas (from katartizo): Means to repair, prepare, adjust, make ready, or restore to a proper condition. The men were performing necessary, practical maintenance.
- Nets (diktya): The instruments of their trade. They symbolize their current means of living. The act of "mending" (preparing them for continued use) stands in stark contrast to the subsequent abandonment of the nets for a new, radically different call. Spiritually, it might subtly allude to their own preparation and being "made complete" by following Jesus, or to the future work of 'mending' human souls through the gospel.
- and He called them. (kai ekalesen autous): The decisive act of divine summoning. The same powerful verb used for Peter and Andrew. It implies an authoritative invitation requiring an immediate, transformative response, not a mere suggestion. It emphasizes Jesus' ultimate authority.
Matthew 4 21 Bonus section
The immediate response of James and John, alongside Peter and Andrew, signals a fundamental characteristic of authentic discipleship: immediate, unreserved obedience to the divine summons. This initial selection of two sets of brothers suggests an intentional formation of a close-knit group from related backgrounds, perhaps anticipating the strength of family bonds repurposed for spiritual community. The fact that Zebedee, their father, remains with the hired servants implies that the sons left a prosperous and well-established family business, making their decision all the more significant as a full relinquishment for the sake of following Christ. These initial calls highlight the voluntary self-emptying and supreme allegiance Jesus demanded from His earliest followers, setting the standard for all who would claim to follow Him.
Matthew 4 21 Commentary
Matthew 4:21 stands as a profound illustration of Jesus' sovereign authority and the nature of discipleship. Found on the bustling shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus encounters James and John, working alongside their father, mending their nets—an image of common, laborious, daily life. Yet, His "call" immediately transcends their mundane routine, transforming their very purpose. Like Peter and Andrew before them, these brothers do not hesitate; their swift departure from their secure family trade and their father demonstrates a radical and unreserved allegiance to Jesus.
The act of "mending their nets" ironically precedes their complete abandonment of those same nets. This detail highlights that Jesus calls individuals in their present state, engaged in their normal lives, only to invite them into an entirely new purpose. Their former profession of catching fish is to be radically reoriented to "fishing for men," a higher spiritual calling. The immediacy of their response underscores the captivating power and compelling authority of Jesus' person. Their willing sacrifice, particularly in leaving their father, portrays the primary loyalty required for the Kingdom of God, surpassing all earthly ties. This moment lays the groundwork for the core group who would later be privy to Jesus' most intimate teachings and miracles, shaping the foundation of His earthly ministry.
- Example 1: Just as James and John were in their daily work when called, we too are often called to new purposes or deeper commitment within our everyday lives and situations.
- Example 2: Their readiness to abandon a stable livelihood exemplifies that following Christ may require prioritizing His will over material security or worldly comfort.