The Meaning of John 21:10 Explained

John 21:10

KJV: Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

YLT: Jesus saith to them, 'Bring ye from the fishes that ye caught now;'

Darby: Jesus says to them, Bring of the fishes which ye have now taken.

ASV: Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now taken.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Jesus  saith  unto them,  Bring  of  the fish  which  ye have  now  caught. 

What does John 21:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Even though there was already one fish (Gr. opsarion, singular) on the fire Jesus instructed the disciples to bring some of the fish (plural) that they had caught. He would not provide for their physical needs by multiplying the food miraculously as He had done in the past. Now He would use the product of their labor to satisfy their need. Nevertheless it was clear that their fish had been the result of His miraculous provision. Perhaps this was all symbolic of how Jesus would carry out His mission through His disciples in the future compared with how He had done it during His pre-cross ministry.

Context Summary

John 21:10-19 - "lovest Thou Me?"
Christ thrice questioned Peter's love, thus giving him the opportunity of canceling his threefold denial. There are two Greek words for "love." In His questions our Lord chose the higher, while Peter in his replies humbly chose the lower till in His third question our Lord came down to his level. Christ forecasted the hatred and opposition of the world, and suggested to Peter and the rest that the only way to combat and overcome was in the fervent love that they had for Him. Only this could give them the necessary tenderness and delicacy in leading and feeding the flock. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 21

1  Jesus appearing again to his disciples is known of them by the great catch of fish
12  He dines with them;
15  earnestly commands Peter to feed his lambs and sheep;
18  foretells him of his death;
22  rebukes his curiosity
24  The conclusion

Greek Commentary for John 21:10

Which [ων]
Ablative case by attraction from α — ha to agree with οπσαριων — opsariōn They had caught the fish by Christ‘s direction. [source]
Of the fish [τῶν ὀψαρίων]
As in John 21:9. Emphasizing the fish as food. [source]
Ye hate caught [ἐπιάσατε]
See on John 21:3. Bengel says: “By the Lord's gift they had caught them: and yet, He courteously says, that they have caught them.” [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 21:10

Luke 3:14 Wages [ὀψωνίοις]
From ὄψον ,cooked meat, and later, generallyprovisions. At Athens, especially, fish. Compare ὀψάριον ,fish, John 21:9, John 21:10, John 21:13. Hence ὀψώνιον is primarily provision-money, and so used of supplies and pay for an army. With this understanding the use of the word at Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin,” becomes highly suggestive. [source]
John 21:3 Caught [ἐπίασαν]
So John 21:10. The verb means to lay hold of, and is nowhere else used in the New Testament of taking fish. Elsewhere in this Gospel always of the seizure of Christ by the authorities (John 7:30, John 7:39, John 7:44; John 8:20; John 10:39; John 11:57). Of apprehending Peter and Paul (Acts 12:4; 2 Corinthians 11:32). Of the taking of the beast (Revelation 19:20). Of taking by the hand (Acts 3:7). [source]
John 21:12 Break your fast [αριστησατε]
First aorist active imperative of αρισταω — aristaō from αριστον — ariston first to breakfast, as here and then later to dine as in Luke 11:37. What a delightful breakfast of fresh broiled fish just caught (John 21:10) with the hush of joyful surprise in the presence of the Risen Lord. Durst (ετολμα — etolma) Imperfect active of τολμαω — tolmaō The restraint of silence continued. [source]

What do the individual words in John 21:10 mean?

Says to them - Jesus Bring [some] of the fish that you have caught now
Λέγει αὐτοῖς Ἰησοῦς Ἐνέγκατε ἀπὸ τῶν ὀψαρίων ὧν ἐπιάσατε νῦν

Λέγει  Says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
Ἐνέγκατε  Bring 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: φέρω  
Sense: to carry.
ἀπὸ  [some]  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἀπό 
Sense: of separation.
ὀψαρίων  fish 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: ὀψάριον  
Sense: fish.
ὧν  that 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἐπιάσατε  you  have  caught 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: πιάζω  
Sense: to lay hold of.
νῦν  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: νῦν  
Sense: at this time, the present, now.

What are the major concepts related to John 21:10?

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