John 21:10

KJV

Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

KJV (with Strong's)

Jesus {G2424} saith {G3004} unto them {G846}, Bring {G5342} of {G575} the fish {G3795} which {G3739} ye have {G4084} now {G3568} caught {G4084}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yeshua said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

Berean Standard Bible

Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

American Standard Version

Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now taken.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In the aftermath of a miraculous catch of fish at the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus, having already prepared a meal of fish and bread on the shore, instructs his disciples to bring some of the fish they have just caught. This seemingly simple command highlights profound theological truths about divine provision, human participation in God's work, and the intimate fellowship shared between the resurrected Christ and His followers, inviting them to contribute to a meal already prepared by the Lord.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** John 21:10 is situated within the final chapter of John's Gospel, detailing one of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to His disciples, specifically at the Sea of Tiberias (also known as the Sea of Galilee). The narrative begins with seven disciples, including Peter, Thomas, and Nathanael, returning to their former occupation of fishing. After a night of fruitless toil, Jesus appears on the shore, unrecognized by them, and directs them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. This results in an overwhelming catch of 153 large fish, so numerous that they could not haul the net in [John 21:6](/john/21-6 "John 21:6 - The Miraculous Catch"). Upon John's recognition of the Lord, Peter impulsively jumps into the water to reach Him. As the disciples bring the boat to shore, they discover Jesus has already prepared a charcoal fire with fish and bread [John 21:9](/john/21-9 "John 21:9 - Jesus Prepares Breakfast"), setting the stage for Jesus' invitation for them to bring some of their fresh catch. This entire episode serves as a powerful restoration of Peter and a commissioning of the disciples for their future ministry as "fishers of men."

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Fishing was a primary industry in Galilee, providing a livelihood for many, including several of Jesus' disciples before their call to ministry. The Sea of Tiberias was a bustling center for this trade. Shared meals held immense cultural and spiritual significance in ancient Jewish society, symbolizing fellowship, covenant, and reconciliation. For the disciples, this meal with the resurrected Jesus would have been particularly poignant, evoking memories of past meals, especially the Last Supper, and solidifying the reality of His resurrection. The act of sharing food, particularly after a miraculous provision, underscored the host's generosity and the guests' acceptance into a community. Furthermore, the fish itself, `opsárion`, was a staple food, often salted and dried, and was a common accompaniment to bread, forming a complete meal.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in John and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the theme of **Divine Provision and Human Participation**. Even though Jesus had already prepared a meal, He invites the disciples to bring their contribution, demonstrating that God's abundant grace often incorporates and validates human effort and obedience [John 15:5](/john/15-5 "John 15:5 - Abiding in Christ"). Secondly, the shared meal underscores the theme of **Fellowship and Communion** with the resurrected Christ, emphasizing the intimate and ongoing relationship believers have with their Lord [Revelation 3:20](/revelation/3-20 "Revelation 3:20 - Jesus Knocks at the Door"). It is not merely a passive reception but an active participation in His presence. Thirdly, the miraculous catch and the subsequent sharing of the fish serve as a powerful **Symbol of Ministry and Harvest**. Recalling Jesus' initial call to Peter and Andrew to become "fishers of men" [Matthew 4:19](/matthew/4-19 "Matthew 4:19 - Fishers of Men"), this event foreshadows the abundant spiritual harvest the disciples would gather through their future evangelistic ministry, all under the ultimate provision and direction of Christ.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **saith (Greek, _légō'_):** From G3004, a primary verb meaning to "lay forth" or relate in words, often implying systematic or set discourse. Here, it denotes Jesus' authoritative yet inviting command, not merely a casual utterance but a significant instruction in this post-resurrection encounter.
* **Bring (Greek, _phérō'_):** From G5342, a primary verb meaning to "bear" or carry. This direct command emphasizes the disciples' active role and participation. It's an invitation to contribute what they have received through His miraculous provision, integrating their effort into His prepared meal.
* **fish (Greek, _opsárion'_):** From G3795, a neuter noun referring to a relish to other food, specifically fish, often implying it is cooked, salted, or dried, and typically eaten with bread. Its use here for the freshly caught fish highlights its purpose for immediate consumption as part of the meal Jesus is preparing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Jesus saith unto them,"**: This opening clause establishes the speaker's authority and the recipients of the command. It is the resurrected Lord, who has just demonstrated His divine power through the miraculous catch, speaking directly to His disciples, setting the tone for an important instruction.
* **"Bring of the fish"**: This is the core command. Despite having fish already prepared on the fire, Jesus asks the disciples to bring some of *their* newly caught fish. This is not a request born of need on Jesus' part, but an invitation for the disciples to participate and contribute from the abundance He has just provided, fostering a sense of ownership and shared experience.
* **"which ye have now caught."**: This specifying clause emphasizes the origin and freshness of the fish. It connects their recent, divinely-enabled labor directly to the communal meal. The phrase "now caught" highlights the immediate context of the miraculous provision, reinforcing that their contribution is a direct result of Jesus' intervention.

#### Literary Devices
John 21:10 is rich with **Symbolism**. The "fish" itself is a potent symbol, not only representing the disciples' former livelihood but also foreshadowing their future role as "fishers of men" in the Great Commission. The miraculous catch symbolizes the abundant harvest of souls that will come through their Spirit-empowered ministry. The shared "meal" on the beach symbolizes intimate **Fellowship** and renewed **Communion** with the resurrected Christ, a theme consistent throughout the Gospels where meals often signify reconciliation and community. There is also a subtle **Irony** or paradox: Jesus, the ultimate provider, who has already prepared food, asks His disciples to contribute from their catch. This seemingly redundant request highlights the principle of **Inclusion** and **Participation**, demonstrating that God desires human involvement in His divine plan, even when He is fully capable of accomplishing it alone.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 21:10 beautifully illustrates the profound theological truth that while God is the ultimate source of all provision and blessing, He often chooses to involve humanity in His divine economy. Jesus' request for the disciples to bring their fish, even though He had already prepared food, signifies a partnership where human effort, even when initially fruitless or seemingly insignificant, is integrated into God's greater, abundant plan. This act fosters a deeper sense of fellowship and co-laboring with Christ, transforming passive recipients into active participants in His ongoing work in the world. It underscores that our contributions, when offered to the Lord, are not merely tolerated but valued and incorporated into His perfect design, leading to a richer communion.

* [Matthew 14:17-21](/matthew/14-17-21 "Matthew 14:17-21 - Feeding the Five Thousand")
* [Luke 5:4-7](/luke/5-4-7 "Luke 5:4-7 - The First Miraculous Catch")
* [1 Corinthians 3:9](/1_corinthians/3-9 "1 Corinthians 3:9 - God's Fellow Workers")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 21:10 offers a powerful invitation for personal reflection on our role in God's kingdom. It challenges us to consider what "fish" we are holding onto—our talents, resources, time, or even our struggles and failures—that Jesus might be asking us to "bring" to Him. This verse reminds us that our contributions, however small or seemingly unnecessary in light of God's infinite capacity, are valued and desired by our Lord. He invites us into a partnership, not out of His need, but out of His love for us and His desire for us to experience the joy of co-laboring with Him. By offering what we have, we participate in His divine provision and deepen our fellowship with Him, finding purpose and meaning in His grand design. It encourages us to surrender our efforts, trusting that He will multiply and integrate them into His perfect plan, just as He did with the disciples' fish.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "fish" (talents, resources, experiences, struggles) might Jesus be asking me to bring to Him today, even if I feel He doesn't "need" them?**
* **How does the idea of Jesus inviting my participation, even when He has already provided, deepen my understanding of my relationship with Him?**
* **In what areas of my life can I more actively participate in God's work, trusting that He will integrate and bless my efforts?**

### FAQ

**Why did Jesus ask for their fish when He already had some prepared on the fire?**

Answer: Jesus' request in [John 21:10](/john/21-10 "John 21:10 - Jesus Asks for Fish") was not born out of necessity, as He had already prepared fish and bread [John 21:9](/john/21-9 "John 21:9 - Jesus Prepares Breakfast"). Instead, this command served several profound purposes. Firstly, it was an invitation for the disciples to participate actively in the meal and, by extension, in His ongoing work. It transformed them from passive recipients of His provision into co-laborers, fostering a sense of ownership and shared experience. Secondly, it validated their recent miraculous catch, which was a direct result of Jesus' instruction, thereby affirming His power and their obedience. Thirdly, it symbolized the integration of human effort (their fishing) with divine provision (Jesus' prepared meal), illustrating that God often chooses to work through and incorporate our contributions, even when He is fully capable of acting alone. It deepened their fellowship and underscored the reality of His resurrection by sharing a tangible meal.

**What is the significance of the phrase "now caught" in this verse?**

Answer: The phrase "now caught" (`G3568 nŷn` and `G4084 piázō`) emphasizes the immediate and fresh nature of the disciples' miraculous haul. It directly links their recent, divinely-enabled labor to the communal meal Jesus is preparing. This highlights that the fish they are bringing are a direct result of Jesus' intervention and power, not their own skill or previous fruitless efforts. It serves as a tangible reminder of His provision and their obedience, drawing a clear connection between the miraculous event in [John 21:6](/john/21-6 "John 21:6 - The Miraculous Catch") and the fellowship meal that follows. It underscores the reality of the resurrected Lord's active presence and interaction with His disciples.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 21:10, though a simple command, profoundly points to Christ's nature and His ongoing redemptive work. Jesus, the resurrected Lord, who has triumphed over death and holds all authority [Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - All Authority Given to Jesus"), demonstrates His continued care and provision for His disciples. His act of preparing a meal on the shore, reminiscent of His role as the Bread of Life [John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), signifies His ultimate ability to sustain and nourish His people. Yet, His request for *their* fish, the fruit of His miraculous intervention, foreshadows the New Covenant reality where believers are called to participate in His mission, not out of human strength, but as recipients and co-laborers in His divine power. This scene anticipates the Great Commission, where disciples, empowered by the Spirit, would become "fishers of men" [Matthew 4:19](/matthew/4-19 "Matthew 4:19 - Fishers of Men"), bringing in a great harvest of souls, which would then be offered back to Christ for His glory. The shared meal on the beach, initiated by Christ and contributed to by His disciples, serves as a beautiful prefigurement of the heavenly banquet, the marriage supper of the Lamb [Revelation 19:9](/revelation/19-9 "Revelation 19:9 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb"), where believers will share in eternal fellowship with their resurrected Lord, partaking of His endless provision and celebrating the fruit of His redemptive work through them.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.