Bible Commentaries
John 21

Verse 1

After these things. A note of time frequent in John. See John 3:22 ; John 5:1 , John 5:14 ; John 6:1 ; John 7:1 ; John 13:7 ; John 19:38 .

After . Greek. meta. App-104 .

Jesus. App-98 .

shewed = manifested. Greek. phaneroo. App-106 . v; not merely presented Himself, but revealed His power and glory. See John 2:11 . Not the same word as John 14:21 , John 14:22 , which is empitanizo. App-106 .

at = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

on this wise = thus.

Verse 2

of = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

other . Greek allos. App-124 .

of = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

Verse 3

unto = to.

I go a fishing = I go forth to fish.

with. Greek. sun. App-104 .

into . Greek eis. App-104 .

a = the; probably that of Matthew 4:21 , belonging to Zebedee and his sons.

immediately . All the texts omit.

that night = in (Greek. en. App-104 .) that night. caught. Greek. piazo. Used in the Gospels by John only, and always, except here and John 21:10 , of "taking" the Lord (John 7:30 , John 7:32 , John 7:44 ; John 8:20 ; John 10:39 ; John 11:57 ).

nothing. Greek. oudeis, compound of ou. App-105 .

Verse 4

now = already.

on . Greek. eis. App-104 .

knew . Greek. oida. App-132 .

not . Greek. ou. App-105 .

Verse 5

Then = Therefore.

Children . Greek. paidion. App-108 .

meat. Greek. prosphagion. Something to eat with (your bread), a relish. Occurs only here.

No . Greek. ou. App-105 .

Verse 6

Cast . Greek. ballo, as in John 20:25 , John 20:27 .

net. A bag or purse net. Greek. diktuon, as in Matthew 4:20 . Mark 1:18 . Luke 5:2 . For other words for "net", see Matthew 4:18 ; Matthew 13:47 .

now they were not = no longer (Greek. ouketi) were they.

draw . Greek. helkuo. See on John 12:32 .

for = from. Greek. apo, App-104 . This was the eighth sign. See App-176 .

Verse 7

loved. Greek. agapao. App-135 .

the Lord. App-98 .

Now when = Therefore.

heard = having heard.

girt . Greek. diazonnumi. Only here and John 13:4 , John 13:5 .

his fisher's coat = the upper garment. Greek. ependutes. Only here in N.T. Used in the Septuagint for the Hebrew meil, robe, in 1 Samuel 18:4 . 2 Samuel 13:18 .

naked. Greek gumnos. This means he had only his tunic or undergarment on. Compare Mark 14:51 .Acts 19:16 .

Verse 8

a little ship = the boat. Greek. ploiarion, dim. of ploion, John 21:3 ; John 21:6 . Elsewhere in John 6:22 , John 6:23 "boat", Mark 3:9 ; Mark 4:36 .

from . Greek. apo. App-104 .

land = the land. Greek. ge. App-129 .

two , &c. = about (Greek. apo. App-104 .) two, &c.: i.e. one hundred yards. See App-51 .

dragging . Greek suro. Only here, Acts 8:3 ; Acts 14:19 ; Acts 17:6 . Revelation 12:4 . Not the same word as in John 21:6 .

the net with fishes = the net of fishes.

Verse 9

were come = went forth,

to = unto. Greek. eis. App-104 .

saw = see. Greek. blepo. App-133 .

fire of coals . Greek. anthrakia. Only here and John 18:18 .

fish . Greek. opsarion, dim. of opson, cooked meat, eaten as a relish. in John 6:9 , John 6:11 , the only other passage where it occurs, it is in the plural as in John 21:10 below. Here it probably means a little fish,

bread = a loaf. One little fish and one loaf to feed eight persons. A beautiful variant of, and supplement to, the widow's handful of meal and cruse of oil (1 Kings 17:0 ). It was a type of the food He would supply them with, in the strength of which they would go "many days".

Verse 10

the fish . Here the word is opsarion in the plural. But they were great fishes (John 21:11 ). So it must be used in a general sense.

Verse 11

went up = went back.

to . Greek. epi. App-104 ., but all the texts read eis.

Verse 12

dine . Greek. aristao. Only here, John 21:15 , and Luke 11:37 . The ariston was the morning meal, as contrasted with the afternoon meal, which was called deipnon, translated "supper". Compare Matthew 22:4 .Luke 11:38 ; Luke 11:14 , Luke 11:12 .

none = no one. Greek. oudeis.

durst = ventured to. Contrast their freedom in questioning Him before. It marks the change in their relationship wrought by the resurrection,

ask = inquire. Only here and Matthew 2:8 ; Matthew 10:11 .

Verse 13

then . All the texts omit.

bread = the loaf.

fish = the fish of John 21:9 .

Verse 14

now = already.

His = the.

risen . Greek. egeiro. App-178 .

from the dead. Greek. ek nekron. See App-139 .

Verse 15

So = Therefore.

Simon . Peter was always addressed by the Lord as Simon except in Luke 22:34 . See App-147 .

more than these : i.e. than these other disciples do. Referring to his words in Matthew 26:33 , Matthew 26:35 .

love . Greek phileo. App-135 . Note the different words used in these verses. The Lord uses agapao twice and phileo once, Peter always phileo.

Feed : i.e. provide pasture for. Greek. bosko. Save in this passage, always of swine.

lambs . Greek. arnion, a diminutive. Only here and in the Revelation, where it occurs twenty-nine times, always of the Lord, except John 13:11 . The other word for "lamb", amnos, only in John 1:29 , John 1:36 . Acts 8:32 . 1 Peter 1:19 .

Verse 16

the = a.

Feed = Shepherd. Greek poimaino. Occurs eleven times, translated "rule "in Matthew 2:6 . Revelation 2:27 ; Revelation 12:5 ; Revelation 19:15 . Compare poimen, John 10:2 , John 10:11 , John 10:12 , John 10:14 , John 10:16 (Shepherd); Ephesians 4:11 (pastors).

sheep . Greek probaton.

Verse 17

grieved . Greek. lupeo . Elsewhere in John 16:20 . Compare 1 Peter 1:6 . The noun lupe occurs in John 16:6 , John 16:20 , John 16:21 , John 16:22 . Compare 1 Peter 2:19 .

knowest. Greek ginosko. App-132 .

Verse 18

Verily, verily . Twenty-fifth and last occurance of this double Amen ( App-10 ). See on John 1:51 and p. 1511.

young . Greek. neoteros, younger. The positive neos applied to any one up to thirty. This and John 20:4 gave rise to the tradition that Peter was a middle-aged man. girdedst. Greek. zonnumi. Only here.

wouldest . Greek. thelo. App-102 .

carry = lead. Greek. phero. Compare Mark 9:17 . Luke 15:23 .Acts 14:13 .

Verse 19

what = what kind of.

glorify. Greek. doxazo. See p. 1511.

God . App-98 .

when He had = having.

Follow . Greek. akoloutheo. Used of soldiers, servants, and pupils. First occurance in John 1:37 .

Verse 20

Then . All the texts omit.

turning about = having turned round.

also leaned = leaned also.

on . Greek. epi. App-104 .

at . Greek. en. App-104 .

which = who. betrayeth. See on John 19:30 , "gave up".

Verse 21

seeing . Greek. eidon. App-133 .

what , &c.: literally ' this one, what?

Verse 22

If. App-118 .

tarry. Greek meno, translated abide, remain, &c. See book comments for John.

what, &c. Peter's curiosity rebuked. Compare Matthew 17:4 .

to = with reference to. Greek. pros. App-104 .

Verse 23

saying . Greek. logos. See on Mark 9:32 .

among = unto. Greek eis. App-104 .

that . Greek. ekeinos.

should not die = is not dying: i.e. is not going to die.

Verse 24

testifieth = beareth witness. Greek. martureo. See See book comments for John, note 4.

of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

testimony . Greek. marturia. Compare John 19:35 , and see book comments for John.

true. Greek alethes. App-175 .

Verse 25

also many , &c. = many other things also. See John 20:30 .

every one = one by one. Greek. kath' ( App-104 ) en.

I suppose = I think. Greek. oimai, contr. for oiomai, which occurs in Philippians 1:1 , Philippians 1:16 . James 1:7 .

even . . . not. Greek. oude, compound of ou . App-105 .

world . Greek. kosmos. App-129 .

contain . Greek. choreo. Elsewhere in John: John 2:6 ; John 8:37 (hath no place). Compare Matthew 19:12 .

the books, &c. = the written books. Figure of speech Hyperbole. App-6 . Amen. All the texts omit. In that case, only the double "verily" found in John. This chapter is a supplement, of the highest value, to the Gospel formally concluded in John 20:31 .

The use of the first person singular in John 21:25 , contrasted with the Evangelist's modest self-effacement elsewhere, has led some to doubt the Johannine authorship of this chapter. But the evidence of the MSS. and Versions, and the attestation clause at John 21:24 is so closely allied to that in John 19:35 as to leave little room for doubt. Note further, the use of many characteristic words (see p. 1511), the expression noted in John 21:1 , the double "verily" (John 21:18 ), and, above all, the eight signs with their wonderful structure and correspondence (see App-176 ).