Luke 5:6

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

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}.

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

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

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

Luke 5:6 KJV Commentary: The Miraculous Catch and Breaking Nets

Context

Luke 5:6 describes the immediate result of Simon Peter's obedience to Jesus' seemingly illogical command. After teaching the crowds from Peter's boat, Jesus instructs the experienced fisherman to "launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught" (Luke 5:4). Peter, having toiled all night without success, expresses his professional doubt but yields to Jesus' word (Luke 5:5). This verse, therefore, highlights the dramatic outcome of that act of faith, leading directly to Peter's profound realization of Jesus' divine authority and his call to discipleship.

Key Themes

  • Obedience and Divine Blessing: The immense catch of fish is a direct consequence of Peter's obedience to Jesus' command, despite his initial skepticism. It illustrates that God's blessings often flow from our willingness to trust and act on His word, even when it defies human logic or experience.
  • Supernatural Abundance: The "great multitude of fishes" demonstrates Jesus' miraculous power over creation. This abundance far exceeded what was naturally possible, signifying divine provision and a blessing beyond human capacity. This miraculous provision foreshadows the vast spiritual harvest of souls that the disciples would later gather, a theme also seen in another miraculous catch after Christ's resurrection.
  • Human Limitations Revealed: The detail that "their net brake" emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the blessing. The sheer quantity of fish was so great that it strained their equipment to its breaking point, requiring them to call for help from their partners (Luke 5:7). This underscores the idea that God's blessings can be so vast they exceed our natural ability to contain or manage them.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "their net brake" uses a verb (Greek: διερρήγνυτο, dierrēgnyto) that is in the imperfect tense. This tense 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.

The word "inclosed" (Greek: συνέκλεισαν, synekleisan) means to shut up together or to enclose completely, indicating the success of the net in trapping a vast number of fish once it was deployed under Jesus' direction.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful lessons for believers today:

  • Trust in Christ's Word: It encourages us to trust in Jesus' instructions and promises, even when they seem counter-intuitive or when our own experience suggests otherwise. Obedience to Christ often unlocks blessings beyond our comprehension.
  • God's Abundant Provision: The breaking net reminds us that God's provision and blessings can be so abundant that they exceed our expectations, resources, and even our capacity to handle them alone. This may require us to rely more fully on Him and to seek assistance from others in the body of Christ.
  • Preparation for Greater Service: This miraculous event served as a powerful sign for Peter and his companions, preparing them for a greater calling. It demonstrated Jesus' power and authority, which would soon transform them from "fishers of fish" into "fishers of men" (Luke 5:10). It teaches us that divine encounters often precede and equip us for our true purpose in God's Kingdom.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.
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