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Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
John 21:5 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
  • BSB So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered.
  • NKJV Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.”
  • NASB So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish to eat, do you?” They answered Him, “No.”
  • NLT He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied.

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

Jesus calls out asking whether they have caught any food, and they answer no. It matters because their admission of failure precedes His provision.

Overview

Addressing them warmly as 'Children,' the unrecognized Jesus asks about their catch. Their blunt 'No' confesses the night's failure. The simple exchange sets up the contrast between empty human effort and the abundance Christ will supply. It quietly underscores the disciples' need and Jesus' readiness to meet it.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 7

  • Phil 4:19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
  • Phil 4:11–13Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
  • 1 Jn 2:13I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
  • Heb 13:5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
  • Ps 37:3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
  • Luke 24:41–43And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
  • 1 Jn 2:18Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — John videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on John 21:5YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JohnMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 21:5 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.