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King James Version

John 21:3

Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Fishermen;   Galilee;   John;   Peter;   Thompson Chain Reference - Fall;   Peter;   Simon Peter;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Night;   Ships;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Fish;   Palestine;   Peter;   Ship;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Hospitality;   Miracle;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Fishing, the Art of;   Peter;   Resurrection of Christ;   Holman Bible Dictionary - John, the Gospel of;   Martha;   Peter;   Presence of God;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - John, Gospel of;   Peter;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Boat (2);   Common Life;   Draught of Fishes;   Individuality;   James ;   John (the Apostle);   Luke, Gospel According to;   Night (2);   Pillow;   Property (2);   Social Life;   Tabernacle ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Miracles;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Handicraft;   Smith Bible Dictionary - John, Gospel of;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Thomas;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Andrew;   Fisher;   Fishing;   Go;   James;   Thomas;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Christianity in Its Relation to Judaism;   New Testament;   Simon Cephas;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for October 19;  

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Simon Peter said vnto them, I go a fishing. They said vnto him, We also will goe with thee. They went their way & entred into a ship straightway, and that night caught they nothing.
Christian Standard Bible®
“I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them.
Hebrew Names Version
Shim`on Kefa said to them, "I'm going fishing." They told him, "We are also coming with you." They immediately went forth, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing.
Darby Translation
Simon Peter says to them, I go to fish. They say to him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and went on board, and that night took nothing.
Easy-to-Read Version
Simon Peter said, "I am going out to fish." The other followers said, "We will go with you." So all of them went out and got into the boat. They fished that night but caught nothing.
Amplified Bible
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said, "And we are coming with you." So they went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
American Standard Version
Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing.
Berean Standard Bible
Simon Peter told them, "I am going fishing." "We will go with you," they said. So they went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night.
Contemporary English Version
Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing!" The others said, "We will go with you." They went out in their boat. But they didn't catch a thing that night.
Complete Jewish Bible
Shim‘on Kefa said, "I'm going fishing." They said to him, "We're coming with you." They went and got into the boat, but that night they didn't catch anything.
International Standard Version
Simon Peter said to them, "I'm going fishing." They told him, "We'll go with you, too." So they went out and got into the boat but didn't catch a thing that night.
Etheridge Translation
Shemun Kipha saith to them, I go to net fishes. They say to him, We also go with thee. And they went forth and ascended into a vessel; and through that night they netted nothing.
Murdock Translation
Simon Cephas said to them: I will go [fn] catch fishes. They said to him: We will go with thee. And they went, and embarked in a ship: and that night, they caught nothing.
King James Version (1611)
Simon Peter saith vnto them, I goe a fishing. They say vnto him, Wee also goe with thee. They went foorth and entred into a ship immediatly, and that night they caught nothing.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Simon Peter saith vnto them, I [wyl] go a fisshyng. They say vnto hym: We also wyll go with thee. They wet their way, and entred into a shippe immediatly, & that nyght caught they nothyng.
English Revised Version
Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing.
Lexham English Bible
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing!" They said to him, "We also are coming with you." They went out and got into the boat, and during that night they caught nothing.
Literal Translation
Simon Peter said to them, I am going out to fish. They said to him, We also are coming with you. They went and entered into the boat at once. And in that night, they caught nothing.
New Century Version
Simon Peter said, "I am going out to fish." The others said, "We will go with you." So they went out and got into the boat. They fished that night but caught nothing.
New English Translation
Simon Peter told them, "I am going fishing." "We will go with you," they replied. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
New King James Version
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately [fn] got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
New Living Translation
Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing." "We'll come, too," they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
New Life Bible
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." The others said, "We will go with you." They went out and got into a boat. That night they caught no fish.
New Revised Standard
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Simon Peter saith unto them - I go a fishing! They say unto him - We also, go with thee! They went out, and got up into the boat, and during that night, they caught nothing.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Simon Peter saith to them: I go a fishing. They say to him: We also come with thee. And they went forth and entered into the ship: and that night they caught nothing.
George Lamsa Translation
Simon Peter said to them, I am going to catch fish. They said to him, We also will come with you. So they went out and went up into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
Good News Translation
Simon Peter said to the others, "I am going fishing." "We will come with you," they told him. So they went out in a boat, but all that night they did not catch a thing.
Webster's Bible Translation
Simon Peter saith to them, I go a fishing. They say to him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a boat immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Simon Peter saith to them, I go a fishing. They say to him, We also go with thee. They went out and entered into the vessel, but caught nothing that night.
Weymouth's New Testament
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." "We will go too," said they. So they set out and went on board their boat; but they caught nothing that night.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Symount Petre seith to hem, Y go to fische. Thei seyn to hym, And we comen with thee. And `thei wenten out, `and wenten in to a boot. And in that niyt thei token no thing.
Young's Literal Translation
Simon Peter saith to them, `I go away to fish;' they say to him, `We go -- we also -- with thee;' they went forth and entered into the boat immediately, and on that night they caught nothing.
World English Bible
Simon Peter said to them, "I'm going fishing." They told him, "We are also coming with you." They immediately went forth, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing.
Revised Standard Version
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Simon Peter sayde vnto them: I goo a fysshynge. They sayde vnto him: we also will goo with the. They wet their waye and entred into a shippe strayght waye and that nyght caught they nothinge.
Update Bible Version
Simon Peter says to them, I am going fishing. They say to him, We will also come with you. They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing.
Bible in Basic English
Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, And we will come with you. They went out and got into the boat; but that night they took no fish.
New American Standard Bible
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are also coming with you." They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Symon Peter sayde vnto the: I go a fyshinge. They sayde vnto hi: We also wil go wt the. They wete out, & entred into a shippe straight waye. And yt same night toke they nothinge.
Mace New Testament (1729)
when Simon Peter said to them, I am going a fishing. they reply'd, we likewise will go with you. so they departed and went on board a vessel,; but that night they caught nothing.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Pete said, "I'm going fishin'," and the others said they wanted to go too. So, they all jumped in a boat, but they didn't catch anything all night long.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will also come with you." They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
Legacy Standard Bible
Simon Peter *said to them, "I am going fishing." They *said to him, "We will also come with you." They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

Contextual Overview

1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. 9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I go: 2 Kings 6:1-7, Matthew 4:18-20, Luke 5:10, Luke 5:11, Acts 18:3, Acts 20:34, 1 Corinthians 9:6, 1 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9

and that: Luke 5:5, 1 Corinthians 3:7

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 6:2 - and take thence Ezekiel 47:10 - fishers

Cross-References

Genesis 17:19
And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
Genesis 21:6
And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
Genesis 21:12
And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Genesis 22:2
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Joshua 24:3
And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
Matthew 1:2
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
Acts 7:8
And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
Romans 9:7
Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Hebrews 11:18
Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing,.... Which was his business before his conversion; and now having nothing to do, and his Lord and master having, as yet, no service for him in the ministry of the word, until the Spirit was poured down in an extraordinary manner, which was given to be expected, in the mean while he was inclined to, and resolved upon taking up his former employment; partly that he might not live an idle life, and partly to obtain a livelihood, which was now to be sought after in another manner, since the death of Christ; and these inclinations and resolutions of his he signifies to the rest of the disciples, who agreed with him:

they say unto him, we also go with thee; that is, a fishing; for it seems to have been the business and employment of them all formerly: the place they went to was the sea of Tiberias, as appears from

John 21:1 a place free for any to fish at. This is said to be one of the ten traditions which Joshua delivered to the children of Israel, when he divided the land among them z:

"that any man should be free to catch fish in the waters (or sea) of Tiberias; and he might fish with an hook only; but he might not spread a net, or place a ship there, except the children of the tribe to whom that sea belonged in their division.''

But now these disciples, or the greater part of them at least, belonging to the tribe and division in which the sea was, had a right to carry a ship or boat thither, and make use of a net, as they did. Besides, there was another reason for fishing here, because there were no unclean fish; for the Jews say a, that

"in a place of running water no clean fish goes along with unclean fish, and lo, the sea of Tiberias is מהלכין הן

כגון המים, "as running waters".''

They went forth: from the house, town, or city where they were, whether Capernaum, or Bethsaida, or Tiberias itself:

and entered into a ship immediately; which was either one of their own, that belonged to some one of them before their call; which though they had left, had reserved their right and claim unto; see Luke 5:3 or which they hired for their present purpose: the word immediately is not in the Vulgate Latin, nor in the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, nor in Beza's ancient copy:

and that night they caught nothing. They went out in the evening of the day, and fished all night, that being a proper time for such business, and the most likely to succeed in, but caught no fish, or very little: and so it is sometimes with Gospel ministers, who are fishers of men, though they take every opportunity, and the most proper methods to gain souls to Christ, yet sometimes do not succeed; which makes things look dark and gloomy in their apprehensions.

z Maimon. Hilch. Nezike Maramon, c. 5. sect. 3. Vid. T. Bab. Bava Kama, fol. 81. 1. a T. Hieros. Avoda Zara, fol. 42. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That night they caught nothing - This was so ordered in the providence of God that the miracle which was performed might appear more remarkable.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 21:3. Peter saith - I go a fishing. — Previously to the crucifixion of our Lord, the temporal necessities of himself and his disciples appear to have been supplied by the charity of individuals: Luke 8:3. As it is probable that the scandal of the cross had now shut up this source of support, the disciples, not fully knowing how they were to be employed, purposed to return to their former occupation of fishing, in order to gain a livelihood; and therefore the seven, mentioned John 21:2, embarked on the sea of Tiberias, otherwise called the sea of Galilee.

That night they caught nothing. — God had so ordered it, that they might be the more struck with the miracle which he afterwards wrought.


 
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