John 21:6

And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

And {G1161} he said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Cast {G906} the net {G1350} on {G1519} the right {G1188} side {G3313} of the ship {G4143}, and {G2532} ye shall find {G2147}. They cast {G906} therefore {G3767}, and {G2532} now {G3765} they were {G2480} not {G3765} able {G2480} to draw {G1670} it {G846} for {G575} the multitude {G4128} of fishes {G2486}.

He said to them, “Throw in your net to starboard and you will catch some.” So they threw in their net, and there were so many fish in it that they couldn’t haul it aboard.

He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish.

And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

Commentary

John 21:6 presents a powerful scene from one of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances, illustrating the profound difference between human effort and divine instruction. After a long, fruitless night of fishing, the disciples, at the word of an unrecognized Jesus on the shore, cast their net one more time and experience an overwhelming catch.

Context

This verse is part of the final chapter of John's Gospel, detailing Jesus' third recorded appearance to His disciples after His resurrection. Following the crucifixion and resurrection, Peter, perhaps feeling adrift or returning to his former livelihood, tells some of the other disciples, "I go a fishing." (John 21:3). They fish all night, catching nothing, highlighting their human limitations and lack of success without divine guidance. Early in the morning, Jesus appears on the shore (John 21:4), but they don't immediately recognize Him. He asks if they have any food, and upon their negative reply, He gives the specific instruction found in this verse.

Key Themes

  • Obedience and Abundance: The immediate and overwhelming success that follows the disciples' obedience to Jesus' seemingly simple, yet specific, command. Their effort all night yielded nothing; a single act of obedience brought more than they could handle. This highlights that true blessing often comes not from strenuous labor alone, but from alignment with God's will.
  • Divine Knowledge and Providence: Jesus, from the shore, knew exactly where the fish were. This demonstrates His omniscience and sovereign control over creation, even after His resurrection. He guides His followers to where true fruitfulness lies.
  • Recognizing Jesus: The miraculous catch served as a powerful sign that helped the disciples, particularly John, to recognize that the stranger on the shore was indeed the Lord (John 21:7). This echoes an earlier miraculous catch at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, which led to Peter's call to be a "fisher of men" (Luke 5:10), and where they also caught so many fish their nets broke (Luke 5:6).
  • Restoration and Re-commissioning: For Peter, who had denied Jesus three times, this miracle served as a tender prelude to his restoration and reaffirmation of his call to leadership and pastoring (John 21:15-17). It reminded him that despite his failures, Jesus still had a purpose for him, and that purpose would be fruitful through Christ's guidance.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "right side of the ship" (Greek: ek dexiōn tou ploiou) is a literal instruction. While some may seek symbolic meaning, its primary significance here is Jesus' precise knowledge and specific direction, contrasting with the disciples' generalized, unfruitful efforts. The sheer "multitude of fishes" (Greek: plēthos ichthyōn) emphasizes the overwhelming, abundant blessing that results from obedience to divine counsel.

Practical Application

This verse encourages believers to trust in God's specific guidance, even when their own efforts have failed or when the instruction seems counter-intuitive. It reminds us that our labor, however diligent, becomes truly fruitful when it is aligned with Christ's direction. We may toil all night in our ministries, careers, or personal lives, but it is the Lord's word that brings the breakthrough and abundance. It also offers hope for restoration, showing that even after setbacks or failures, Jesus is ready to meet us, guide us, and re-commission us for His purposes, leading us to unexpected and overflowing blessings.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 5:4

    Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

  • Luke 5:7

    And they beckoned unto [their] partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

  • Acts 2:41

    Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls.

  • Acts 4:4

    Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

  • John 2:5

    His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do [it].

  • Hebrews 2:6

    But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

  • Hebrews 2:9

    But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
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