Luke 5:2

And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing [their] nets.

And ^{G2532} saw ^{G1492} two ^{G1417} ships ^{G4143} standing ^{G2476} by ^{G3844} the lake ^{G3041}: but ^{G1161} the fishermen ^{G231} were gone ^{G576} out of ^{G575} them ^{G846}, and were washing ^{G637} their nets ^{G1350}.

he noticed two boats pulled up on the beach, left there by the fishermen, who were cleaning their nets.

He saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.

and he saw two boats standing by the lake: but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

Commentary

Luke 5:2 introduces the scene of Jesus by the Lake of Gennesaret, setting the stage for a pivotal moment in His ministry. This verse describes the presence of fishing boats and the activities of the fishermen after a night of work.

Context

This verse immediately follows Luke 5:1, where a large crowd is pressing in on Jesus, eager to hear the word of God. The setting is the Lake of Gennesaret, also known as the Sea of Galilee. It was a bustling center for fishing, and Jesus often taught by its shores. The two ships (small fishing boats) mentioned here likely belonged to the local fishermen, including Simon Peter and his partners, as revealed in the subsequent verses. Their act of "washing their nets" indicates the conclusion of a night's work, suggesting a period of rest or preparation for the next fishing expedition, often after an unsuccessful catch.

Key Themes

Daily Toil and Preparation: The image of fishermen washing their nets speaks to the laborious and often mundane aspects of their daily lives. This was a necessary task to clean and mend the nets, ensuring their readiness for future use. It highlights the diligence required in their profession.
Availability and Opportunity: The fact that the fishermen were "gone out of them" and engaged in washing their nets meant their boats were temporarily unoccupied and available. This simple detail becomes crucial as Jesus soon utilizes one of these boats as a platform for teaching the multitudes, demonstrating how ordinary circumstances can become vessels for divine purpose.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "ships" here is ploia (πλοῖα), which refers to boats, typically the small, open fishing vessels common on the Sea of Galilee. The "lake" (λίμνη - limnē) specifically identifies the body of water as the Sea of Galilee or Lake of Gennesaret. The phrase "washing their nets" (ἀποπλύνειν τὰ δίκτυα - apoplynein ta diktya) describes the process of cleaning the fishing nets. This was essential to remove debris, fish scales, and algae, preventing rot and ensuring the nets remained effective for future catches. It also implies a period of winding down after a night's work, which, as we see in Luke 5:5, had been unfruitful.

Practical Application

Luke 5:2 offers several insights for contemporary life:

God Meets Us in Our Daily Routine: The verse reminds us that God often encounters us not in extraordinary settings, but in the midst of our ordinary work and daily responsibilities. Just as Jesus approached the fishermen at their boats, He is present in our routines.
Preparation for What's Next: The act of washing nets, though tedious, was an act of preparation. Similarly, our diligent attention to seemingly mundane tasks can prepare us for greater opportunities God has in store.
Availability to God's Call: The empty boats signify availability. We are called to be ready and available for God's use, even when we feel tired, have experienced failure (like an empty catch), or are simply engaged in winding down from our efforts. It's in these moments that God can often transform our work into something miraculous, as He did with the miraculous catch of fish that followed.

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Cross-References

Mark 1:19

And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
Matthew 4:21

And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.