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.
Parallel translations
- WEB Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing.
- BSB 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.
- NKJV Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
- NASB 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.
- NLT 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Peter goes fishing with the others, but they catch nothing all night. It matters because their empty nets set up Jesus' miraculous provision and recall their original calling.
Overview
Peter returns to his familiar trade, and the others join him, yet their labor through the night yields nothing. The fruitless effort recalls Luke 5, where a similar empty catch preceded Jesus' call to follow Him. The emphasis on catching nothing highlights human inability apart from Christ. It prepares the disciples to recognize that fruitfulness comes only at the Lord's word.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Luke 5:5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
- Matt 4:18–20And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
- 2 Th 3:7–9For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
- Luke 5:10–11And 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.
- 1 Th 2:9For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
- 2 Kgs 6:1–7And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
- 1 Cor 3:7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
- Acts 18:3And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
- 1 Cor 9:6Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
- Acts 20:34Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 21:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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