But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Parallel translations
- WEB But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.
- KJV But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
- BSB Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus.
- NASB But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
- NLT At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was.
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
At daybreak Jesus stands on the shore, but the disciples do not recognize Him. It matters because it heightens the moment of revelation that follows.
Overview
As morning comes, the risen Jesus is present, yet the disciples fail to perceive who He is, a recurring feature of the resurrection appearances. Distance and the dim early light kept them from immediate recognition. The scene builds anticipation toward the sign that will disclose His identity. It reminds readers that Christ is often present even when not yet recognized.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- John 20:14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus.
- Luke 24:15–16While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near, and went with them.
- Mark 16:12After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country.
- Luke 24:31Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 21:4 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.