John 21:4

KJV

But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} when the morning {G4405} was {G1096} now {G2235} come {G1096}, Jesus {G2424} stood {G2476} on {G1519} the shore {G123}: but {G3305} the disciples {G3101} knew {G1492} not {G3756} that {G3754} it was {G2076} Jesus {G2424}.

Complete Jewish Bible

However, just as day was breaking, Yeshua stood on shore, but the talmidim didn’t know it was he.

Berean Standard Bible

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus.

American Standard Version

But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 21:4 captures a poignant moment at dawn on the Sea of Tiberias, where the resurrected Jesus appears to His disciples after a night of fruitless fishing. Despite His physical presence, the disciples, weary and perhaps disheartened, fail to recognize Him, setting the stage for a miraculous encounter that will reveal His identity and underscore His continued care for them.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the beginning of John Chapter 21, which serves as an epilogue to John's Gospel, providing a final, intimate encounter between the resurrected Jesus and His disciples. While some scholars have debated its original inclusion, its thematic and theological coherence with the rest of the Gospel, particularly in its emphasis on discipleship, love, and Peter's restoration, strongly supports its canonical place. Following the initial post-resurrection appearances in Jerusalem where Thomas famously declared, [My Lord and my God!](/john/20-28 "John 20:28 - Thomas's Confession")," this chapter finds several disciples, led by Peter, returning to their former occupation of fishing on the Sea of Galilee (also known as the Sea of Tiberias). Their decision to fish, perhaps out of habit, necessity, or uncertainty about their future ministry, provides the ordinary backdrop against which Jesus' extraordinary appearance unfolds, echoing a similar miraculous catch of fish at the beginning of His ministry in [Luke 5:1-11](/luke/5-1-11 "Luke 5:1-11 - The Miraculous Catch of Fish and Call of Disciples").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Fishing was a primary industry in Galilee, and many of Jesus' disciples, including Peter, Andrew, James, and John, were professional fishermen. Their toil through the night without catching anything was a common, frustrating experience for those dependent on the sea for their livelihood. The "morning" (KJV: "prōḯa") signifies the end of a long, arduous shift, typically the time when fishermen would return to shore to sell their catch or clean their nets. The Sea of Tiberias, or Sea of Galilee, was a central location for much of Jesus' earthly ministry, making it a familiar and significant setting for this post-resurrection appearance. The disciples' weariness and the dim light of dawn would contribute to their lack of immediate recognition, but also highlight the profound nature of Jesus' appearance in their mundane, often challenging, reality.
* **Key Themes:** John 21:4 contributes significantly to several key themes within John's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. One prominent theme is the **Divine Presence in Mundane Life**, illustrating that Jesus is not confined to sacred spaces or extraordinary moments but actively engages with His followers in their everyday struggles and occupations, even when they feel unproductive or discouraged, as seen in the disciples' fruitless night of fishing. Another crucial theme is **Unrecognized Lordship**, where the disciples' initial inability to discern Jesus' identity mirrors earlier instances in the resurrection narratives, such as Mary Magdalene mistaking Him for the gardener in [John 20:14](/john/20-14 "John 20:14 - Mary Magdalene's Encounter") or the Emmaus disciples failing to recognize Him until He broke bread in [Luke 24:16](/luke/24-16 "Luke 24:16 - Emmaus Disciples' Eyes Opened"). This recurrent motif suggests a temporary spiritual or perceptual blindness, perhaps due to the transformed nature of Jesus' resurrected body or a divine purpose in delaying full recognition. This lack of recognition also serves as a **Foreshadowing of Revelation**, setting the stage for the subsequent miraculous catch of fish and the eventual, joyful realization of Jesus' identity by John, the "disciple whom Jesus loved," as described in [John 21:7](/john/21-7 "John 21:7 - John Recognizes Jesus").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **morning (Greek, _prōḯa'_):** This word, derived from a term for "day-dawn," signifies the early hours of the day, specifically the time just before or at sunrise. In the context of fishing, it marks the end of the night's labor. Its use here emphasizes the disciples' weariness after a long, unproductive night, making Jesus' appearance at this specific time particularly poignant. It is a moment of transition, from darkness and futility to the light of a new day and, implicitly, new hope.
* **shore (Greek, _aigialós'_):** This term refers to the beach or coastline where waves break. Jesus standing on the "shore" while the disciples are in their boat highlights a subtle separation—physical and perceptual—between Him and them. The shore is a place of arrival and departure, a boundary between the known and the unknown, the land and the sea. Here, it is the point from which divine intervention reaches into their human struggle.
* **knew (Greek, _eídō'_):** This verb, often used in the perfect tense to denote a state of knowing or being aware, refers to knowledge gained by perception, intuition, or inward realization, rather than intellectual understanding or experiential knowledge (which would be `ginōskō`). The disciples "knew not" (`ouk eídōsan`) implies a failure of immediate spiritual or visual perception. It suggests that their inability to recognize Jesus was not due to a lack of factual information about Him, but a temporary obscuring of His identity, perhaps due to distance, the dim light, or a divine purpose in delaying their full recognition.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But when the morning was now come":** This clause establishes the temporal setting, emphasizing the transition from the darkness of night to the light of dawn. The word "but" (Greek: `dé`) introduces a shift in the narrative, moving from the disciples' fruitless toil to Jesus' unexpected appearance. The "morning" signifies the culmination of their efforts and their exhaustion, making Jesus' arrival at this precise moment significant.
* **"Jesus stood on the shore":** This describes Jesus' physical presence and location. He is on land, distinct from the disciples who are still in their boat on the water. His standing implies a deliberate, watchful posture, indicating His awareness of their situation and His intention to intervene. The "shore" serves as the boundary where the divine intersects with human labor.
* **"but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus":** This is the pivotal point of the verse, highlighting the disciples' lack of recognition. The conjunction "but" (Greek: `méntoi`) introduces a contrast, underscoring the irony of Jesus being present yet unrecognized. Their inability to "know" (Greek: `eídō`) Him suggests a perceptual or spiritual blindness, perhaps due to the distance, the dim light of dawn, or a divine veil over their eyes, preparing them for a revelation that would confirm His identity through a miraculous sign.

#### Literary Devices
John 21:4 employs several potent literary devices. **Irony** is central, as the disciples, who have spent years intimately with Jesus, fail to recognize Him immediately after His resurrection, even though He is physically present. This creates a dramatic tension, highlighting the transformed nature of His resurrected body or a divine purpose in their delayed recognition. **Symbolism** is also evident: the "morning" (dawn) can symbolize new beginnings, hope after darkness, and the dawning of spiritual understanding. The "shore" acts as a liminal space, a boundary between the disciples' world of toil and Jesus' realm of divine intervention, a place where the earthly and heavenly meet. Furthermore, the disciples' lack of recognition serves as a form of **Foreshadowing**, preparing the reader for the subsequent miraculous catch of fish and the eventual, joyful revelation of Jesus' identity, which will confirm His Lordship and presence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 21:4 profoundly illustrates the persistent, compassionate presence of the resurrected Christ in the midst of human toil and disappointment. Even when His followers are weary, unproductive, and spiritually unseeing, Jesus is watching, waiting to reveal Himself and provide. This moment underscores that the Lord is not distant from our mundane struggles but often meets us precisely where we are, in our ordinary lives and even in our failures. The disciples' temporary blindness serves as a theological reminder that spiritual discernment is not always immediate or automatic, but often requires a divine unveiling or a catalyst, such as a miraculous sign or direct revelation, to truly perceive God's active presence and identity.

* [Luke 24:16](/luke/24-16 "Luke 24:16 - The Emmaus Disciples' Eyes Were Held")
* [John 20:14](/john/20-14 "John 20:14 - Mary Magdalene Mistook Jesus")
* [Matthew 28:20](/matthew/28-20 "Matthew 28:20 - Jesus' Promise of Presence")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 21:4 offers a powerful and comforting message for believers today. It reminds us that Jesus is present in our lives even when we are not fully aware of Him. Just as the disciples toiled fruitlessly through the night, we too experience seasons of struggle, disappointment, and perceived unproductivity in our work, ministries, or personal lives. This verse encourages us to cultivate a spiritual sensitivity, to look beyond the immediate circumstances and our own weariness, recognizing that Christ often stands on the "shore" of our lives, observing, caring, and ready to intervene. Our inability to recognize Him immediately does not diminish His presence or power; rather, it highlights our need for spiritual eyes to see Him at work, often in unexpected ways. It calls us to trust that even in our moments of greatest frustration or spiritual dimness, Jesus is near, preparing to reveal Himself and transform our efforts into abundance, reminding us that His grace is sufficient even when our vision is clouded.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you feel like you are toiling without success, similar to the disciples' night of fishing?**
* **How might Jesus be present in your "ordinary" or "unproductive" moments, even if you don't immediately recognize Him?**
* **What might prevent you from recognizing Jesus' presence or work in your life today?**
* **How can cultivating spiritual awareness help you to perceive God's activity more readily, even in challenging circumstances?**

### FAQ
**Why didn't the disciples recognize Jesus immediately?**

Answer: The text doesn't explicitly state the reason, but several factors likely contributed. The dim light of dawn and the distance between the boat and the shore would have made visual identification difficult. Furthermore, Jesus' resurrected body, while physical, may have possessed qualities that made Him not immediately recognizable, as seen in other post-resurrection appearances (e.g., Mary Magdalene in [John 20:14](/john/20-14 "John 20:14 - Mary Magdalene's Encounter") and the Emmaus disciples in [Luke 24:16](/luke/24-16 "Luke 24:16 - The Emmaus Disciples' Eyes Were Held")). The disciples' weariness after a long night of fruitless labor might also have dulled their perception. Theologically, their delayed recognition serves a narrative purpose, setting the stage for Jesus to reveal Himself through a miraculous sign, mirroring His earlier call to them in [Luke 5:1-11](/luke/5-1-11 "Luke 5:1-11 - The Miraculous Catch of Fish and Call of Disciples").

**What is the significance of Jesus appearing "on the shore" at "morning"?**

Answer: Jesus appearing "on the shore" emphasizes His position as both distinct from and accessible to the disciples. The shore represents a boundary between their world of labor (the sea) and His divine initiative (the land). It's a place of transition and encounter. The timing, "morning" or dawn, is also significant. It marks the end of a long, unproductive night of toil, symbolizing the human experience of struggle and futility. Jesus' arrival at this specific moment highlights His compassion and His ability to bring light, hope, and abundance even after periods of darkness and disappointment, transforming their failure into a profound revelation of His power and presence, much like He did in [John 6:16-21](/john/6-16-21 "John 6:16-21 - Jesus Walks on Water") when He met them in the midst of a storm.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 21:4, with its depiction of the unrecognized Christ standing on the shore, points powerfully to the broader Christ-centered narrative of God's redemptive plan. Just as the disciples, weary from their toil, failed to discern the Lord in their midst, humanity often remains spiritually blind to the ever-present work of Christ. This scene foreshadows the ongoing reality that Christ, though ascended and seated at the right hand of God, continues to be intimately involved in the lives of His followers, even when they are engaged in mundane tasks or experiencing spiritual barrenness. His appearance on the shore, ready to provide and reveal Himself, anticipates His role as the Good Shepherd who seeks out His lost sheep ([Luke 15:4-7](/luke/15-4-7 "Luke 15:4-7 - The Parable of the Lost Sheep")) and the High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")). The subsequent revelation of His identity through the miraculous catch of fish serves as a microcosm of His ultimate work: to open the eyes of the spiritually blind ([John 9:39](/john/9-39 "John 9:39 - Jesus Came to Give Sight")) and to gather a harvest of souls for His kingdom ([Matthew 9:37-38](/matthew/9-37-38 "Matthew 9:37-38 - The Harvest is Plentiful")). This encounter on the shore ultimately culminates in Peter's restoration and call to "feed my sheep" ([John 21:15-17](/john/21-15-17 "John 21:15-17 - Jesus Restores Peter")), demonstrating Christ's ongoing work of equipping and empowering His disciples for mission, even after their failures, thereby fulfilling His promise to be with them always, to the very end of the age ([Matthew 28:20](/matthew/28-20 "Matthew 28:20 - The Great Commission")).

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.

Cross-References

John 20:14

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Luke 24:15

And it came to pass, that, while they communed [together] and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

Luke 24:16

But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

Luke 24:31

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Mark 16:12

After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.