Luke 5:6

KJV

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} when they had {G4160} this {G5124} done {G4160}, they inclosed {G4788} a great {G4183} multitude {G4128} of fishes {G2486}: and {G1161} their {G846} net {G1350} brake {G1284}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They did this and took in so many fish that their nets began to tear.

Berean Standard Bible

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear.

American Standard Version

And when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets were breaking;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 5:6 vividly describes the immediate and overwhelming consequence of Simon Peter's obedience to Jesus' command to cast his nets into the deep. Despite a night of fruitless labor, the seasoned fishermen enclosed such an immense quantity of fish that their nets began to tear under the unprecedented strain, necessitating the assistance of partners and underscoring the miraculous nature of the catch and the divine authority of Jesus.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climactic outcome of a pivotal encounter between Jesus and Simon Peter, detailed in [Luke 5:1-11](/luke/5-1-11 "Luke 5:1-11 - The Miraculous Catch of Fish and Call of Peter"). Jesus has just concluded teaching a large crowd from Peter's boat, which he had borrowed for its strategic position on the Lake of Gennesaret. Following this, Jesus issues a seemingly illogical command to Peter in [Luke 5:4](/luke/5-4 "Luke 5:4 - Jesus' Command to Peter"), "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught." Peter, a professional fisherman, expresses his experienced skepticism in [Luke 5:5](/luke/5-5 "Luke 5:5 - Peter's Reluctant Obedience"), admitting they had toiled all night and caught nothing, yet he submits, "Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net." Luke 5:6 then presents the immediate, astonishing result of that obedience, leading directly to Peter's profound response of awe and conviction in [Luke 5:8](/luke/5-8 "Luke 5:8 - Peter's Confession") and Jesus' subsequent call to discipleship in [Luke 5:10](/luke/5-10 "Luke 5:10 - The Call to be Fishers of Men").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Fishing was a primary industry in Galilee, particularly on the Sea of Galilee (also known as Lake Gennesaret or Tiberias). Fishermen like Peter, James, and John were skilled professionals, intimately familiar with the lake's depths, currents, and fish behaviors. They typically fished at night when fish were more active and less visible. Toiling all night without a catch, as Peter describes, was a common but frustrating experience. The nets used would have been large seine nets, requiring multiple people to operate and pull in. The cultural understanding of such a miraculous catch would have immediately pointed to divine intervention, as it defied all natural and professional expectations. This context highlights Peter's initial reluctance as a seasoned expert and magnifies the impact of Jesus' power, demonstrating a supernatural knowledge and control over creation that transcended human understanding and effort.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Obedience and Divine Blessing**, demonstrating that God's blessings often flow from our willingness to trust and act on His word, even when it defies human logic or experience, as seen in Peter's "nevertheless at thy word" in [Luke 5:5](/luke/5-5 "Luke 5:5 - Peter's Obedience"). Secondly, it showcases **Supernatural Abundance and Provision**, revealing Jesus' miraculous power over creation and His capacity to provide far beyond human expectation or effort. The "great multitude of fishes" in this verse, so vast that it caused the nets to break, foreshadows the abundant spiritual harvest of souls that the disciples would later gather, a theme echoed in the post-resurrection miraculous catch in [John 21:6](/john/21-6 "John 21:6 - Another Miraculous Catch"). Finally, the detail that "their net brake" emphasizes **Human Limitation and God's Overwhelming Grace**, illustrating that God's blessings can be so immense that they exceed our natural capacity to contain or manage them, requiring divine intervention and often the cooperation of others, as further detailed in [Luke 5:7](/luke/5-7 "Luke 5:7 - Calling for Help").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **inclosed (Greek, _synkleíō'_):** From G4788, meaning "to shut together, i.e. include or (figuratively) embrace in a common subjection to." In this context, it vividly describes the act of trapping or surrounding the fish, indicating the complete and successful capture of the vast multitude. It implies a deliberate and effective action that resulted in the fish being contained within the net.
* **multitude (Greek, _plēthos'_):** From G4128, meaning "a fulness, i.e. a large number, throng, populace." This word emphasizes the sheer volume and overwhelming quantity of fish caught. It's not just "many" fish, but a "multitude," conveying an extraordinary, almost uncountable, number that far exceeded any normal catch.
* **brake (Greek, _diarrhḗssō'_):** From G1284, meaning "to tear asunder." The KJV translates this as "brake," but the Greek imperfect tense (διερρήγνυτο) suggests that the net was not instantly shattered but was *in the process of breaking* or *beginning to tear* under the immense and continuous strain of the fish. This vividly portrays the overwhelming, ongoing influx of fish into the net, highlighting the extreme pressure and the miraculous, almost uncontainable, nature of the catch.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when they had this done,"**: This introductory clause connects the miraculous outcome directly to Peter's act of obedience in letting down the net "at thy word" ([Luke 5:5](/luke/5-5 "Luke 5:5 - Peter's Obedience")). It signifies the immediate and direct consequence of their action, undertaken in faith despite their prior lack of success.
* **"they inclosed a great multitude of fishes:"**: This is the central statement of the verse, describing the astonishing result. The fishermen, who had caught nothing all night, now find their nets filled beyond imagination. The phrase "great multitude" emphasizes the extraordinary, supernatural abundance of the catch, far exceeding any natural expectation or previous experience. It highlights Jesus' power over creation and His ability to provide in superabundant measure.
* **"and their net brake."**: This final, impactful clause underscores the overwhelming nature of the blessing. The sheer quantity of fish was so immense that the fishing equipment, designed for large catches, could not contain them. The imperfect tense of "brake" (as noted in Key Word Analysis) suggests the net was tearing or beginning to give way, emphasizing the ongoing, unmanageable pressure. This detail highlights the human limitation in the face of divine abundance and sets the stage for the need for assistance from their partners in the next verse ([Luke 5:7](/luke/5-7 "Luke 5:7 - Calling for Help")).

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Hyperbole** is evident in the description of the catch: "a great multitude of fishes" and the subsequent detail that "their net brake." While literally true, the language exaggerates the scale of the blessing to emphasize its miraculous, almost unbelievable nature, far surpassing any normal fishing experience. This hyperbole serves to highlight Jesus' divine power and authority. Additionally, there is profound **Symbolism** at play. The "great multitude of fishes" often symbolizes the vast harvest of souls that the disciples would later gather for the Kingdom of God, a direct parallel drawn by Jesus Himself in [Luke 5:10](/luke/5-10 "Luke 5:10 - The Call to be Fishers of Men") when He tells Peter, "from henceforth thou shalt catch men." The breaking net, while a literal consequence, also symbolizes the overwhelming nature of God's blessing and the inadequacy of human efforts or structures to contain the full measure of divine provision without divine assistance or expansion.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 5:6 is a potent demonstration of God's sovereign power and His capacity to bless beyond human comprehension or limitation. It encapsulates the principle that obedience to Christ, even when it seems counter-intuitive, unlocks supernatural provision and purpose. The miraculous catch serves as a tangible sign, not merely of Jesus' power over nature, but as a prophetic glimpse into the spiritual harvest that would characterize the ministry of His disciples. This event profoundly impacts Peter, moving him from a professional fisherman to a humble worshiper, recognizing Jesus' holiness and his own sinfulness, and ultimately preparing him for a new, greater calling as a "fisher of men." The breaking net is a powerful reminder that God's abundance often exceeds our capacity, resources, and even our ability to contain it, necessitating reliance on Him and cooperation within the body of Christ.

* [John 21:6](/john/21-6 "John 21:6 - Another Miraculous Catch")
* [Psalm 37:4](/psalms/37-4 "Psalm 37:4 - Delight in the Lord")
* [Ephesians 3:20](/ephesians/3-20 "Ephesians 3:20 - God's Abundant Power")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene in Luke 5:6 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It challenges us to examine areas in our lives where we might be relying solely on our own experience, logic, or effort, rather than on the authoritative word of Christ. Like Peter, we may toil in vain in certain areas, only to find breakthrough when we lay aside our skepticism and obey Jesus' seemingly illogical commands. The "great multitude" and the "breaking net" remind us that God's blessings are not merely incremental but can be superabundant, exceeding our expectations and even our capacity to manage them. This can manifest as an overwhelming sense of His presence, an outpouring of spiritual gifts, or an unexpected expansion of ministry. Such abundance often requires us to humble ourselves, acknowledge our limitations, and seek the help of others in the body of Christ, just as Peter called his partners. Ultimately, this passage encourages us to trust in God's provision, embrace radical obedience, and be prepared for His blessings to stretch us beyond our comfort zones, equipping us for His greater purposes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you relying on your own experience and efforts rather than trusting in Jesus' word?**
* **How might God be inviting you to "launch out into the deep" in an area where you've previously experienced failure or skepticism?**
* **What does the "breaking net" signify about God's blessings and your capacity to receive or manage them? How might this require you to seek help or expand your vision?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the net breaking in Luke 5:6?**

Answer: The breaking net in [Luke 5:6](/luke/5-6 "Luke 5:6 - The Breaking Net") signifies the overwhelming, unprecedented abundance of the miraculous catch of fish. It highlights that the quantity of fish was so immense that the fishing equipment, designed for large hauls, could not contain them. This detail serves several purposes: it underscores the supernatural power of Jesus, as such a catch defied all natural expectations; it demonstrates the human limitation in the face of divine provision, as the fishermen's resources were insufficient; and it sets the stage for the need to call for help from their partners in [Luke 5:7](/luke/5-7 "Luke 5:7 - Calling for Help"), emphasizing the communal aspect of handling God's overflowing blessings. The net breaking illustrates that God's blessings can be so vast they stretch us beyond our current capacity and resources.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 5:6, with its miraculous catch and breaking nets, serves as a powerful Christ-centered prefigurement of the gospel's expansive reach and the church's mission. Jesus, the Lord of creation, demonstrates His divine authority not only over nature but also over the destinies of men. This overwhelming catch of fish is a living parable, foreshadowing the immense spiritual harvest of souls that would be gathered through the ministry of the apostles and the church. When Jesus declares to Peter in [Luke 5:10](/luke/5-10 "Luke 5:10 - Jesus' Call to Peter"), "from henceforth thou shalt catch men," He redefines Peter's purpose from catching fish to bringing people into the Kingdom of God. The breaking nets symbolize the overwhelming abundance of the gospel message, so vast that it cannot be contained by human efforts or traditional structures alone, necessitating the expansion of the church and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to gather the multitude. This event points directly to the Great Commission in [Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19-20 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission"), where Christ commands His followers to make disciples of all nations, promising His presence and power to enable a harvest far exceeding human capacity, ultimately fulfilled through the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost in [Acts 2:41](/acts/2-41 "Acts 2:41 - Pentecost and the First Converts") and the subsequent explosive growth of the early church.

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 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.

John 21:11

Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

1 Corinthians 15:58

¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Ecclesiastes 11:6

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both [shall be] alike good.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

2 Kings 4:3

Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, [even] empty vessels; borrow not a few.

2 Kings 4:7

Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.