JHN 21:1-14

Jesus Appears by the Sea of Tiberias

1After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias — and he revealed himself in this way: [21:2] Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. [21:3] Simon Peter said to them: 'I am going to fish.' They said to him: 'We ourselves are coming with you.' They went out and climbed into the boat, and during that night they caught nothing. [21:4] But when morning had already come, Jesus stood on the shore — the disciples, however, did not know that it was Jesus. [21:5] Jesus therefore said to them: 'Children, you do not have anything to eat with bread, do you?' They answered him: 'No.' [21:6] And he said to them: 'Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.' They cast therefore, and no longer were they able to haul it in from the multitude of the fish. [21:7] That disciple therefore, whom Jesus was loving, said to Peter: 'It is the Lord.' Simon Peter therefore, having heard that it is the Lord, put on his outer garment — for he was naked — and cast himself into the sea. [21:8] But the other disciples came in the small boat — for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away — dragging the net with the fish. [21:9] When therefore they got out onto the land, they see a fire of coals laid, and fish placed on it, and bread. [21:10] Jesus said to them: 'Bring some of the fish you have just caught.' [21:11] Simon Peter went up and hauled the net to the land, full of large fish — a hundred and fifty-three. And though there were so many, the net was not torn. [21:12] Jesus said to them: 'Come, have breakfast.' None of the disciples dared to ask him: 'Who are you?' — knowing that it was the Lord. [21:13] Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. [21:14] This was already the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples, having been raised from the dead.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Galilean context, fishing was both a livelihood and a symbol of sustenance. The Sea of Tiberias (Galilee) was a vital economic resource, and fishing was often done at night when fish were more active. The disciples’ return to fishing reflects a return to their former occupation, a common practice when followers of a rabbi were uncertain of their next steps. The term , though literally 'children,' was a term of endearment used by a teacher addressing his disciples, emphasizing intimacy and care. The mention of (something eaten with bread, often fish) highlights the simplicity of meals in this region, where fish and bread were staples. Peter’s state of being (lightly clothed) was typical for fishermen working in boats, as outer garments hindered movement. The meal Jesus prepares, described with (to eat breakfast), underscores hospitality and provision, key values in Mediterranean culture. This scene would have resonated with listeners familiar with the rhythms of Galilean life and the symbolic weight of shared meals in affirming community and divine presence.

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How other translations render this

JHN 21:1

KJV: After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
BSB: Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples. He made Himself known in this way:
Koinōnos: After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias — and he revealed himself in this way:

JHN 21:2

KJV: There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
BSB: Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
Koinōnos: Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

JHN 21:3

KJV: Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
BSB: Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they said. So they went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night.
Koinōnos: Simon Peter said to them: 'I am going to fish.' They said to him: 'We ourselves are coming with you.' They went out and climbed into the boat, and during that night they caught nothing.

JHN 21:4

KJV: But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
BSB: Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus.
Koinōnos: But when morning had already come, Jesus stood on the shore — the disciples, however, did not know that it was Jesus.

JHN 21:5

KJV: Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
BSB: So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered.
Koinōnos: Jesus therefore said to them: 'Children, you do not have anything to eat with bread, do you?' They answered him: 'No.

JHN 21:6

KJV: 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.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: And he said to them: 'Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.' They cast therefore, and no longer were they able to haul it in from the multitude of the fish.

JHN 21:7

KJV: Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
BSB: Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it) and jumped into the sea.
Koinōnos: That disciple therefore, whom Jesus was loving, said to Peter: 'It is the Lord.' Simon Peter therefore, having heard that it is the Lord, put on his outer garment — for he was naked — and cast himself into the sea.

JHN 21:8

KJV: And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
BSB: The other disciples came ashore in the boat. They dragged in the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards.
Koinōnos: But the other disciples came in the small boat — for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away — dragging the net with the fish.

JHN 21:9

KJV: As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
BSB: When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread.
Koinōnos: When therefore they got out onto the land, they see a fire of coals laid, and fish placed on it, and bread.

JHN 21:10

KJV: Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
BSB: Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
Koinōnos: Jesus said to them: 'Bring some of the fish you have just caught.

JHN 21:11

KJV: 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.
BSB: So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many, the net was not torn.
Koinōnos: Simon Peter went up and hauled the net to the land, full of large fish — a hundred and fifty-three. And though there were so many, the net was not torn.

JHN 21:12

KJV: Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
BSB: “Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said to them. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord.
Koinōnos: Jesus said to them: 'Come, have breakfast.' None of the disciples dared to ask him: 'Who are you?' — knowing that it was the Lord.

JHN 21:13

KJV: Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
BSB: Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and He did the same with the fish.
Koinōnos: Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

JHN 21:14

KJV: This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
BSB: This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.
Koinōnos: This was already the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples, having been raised from the dead.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

JHN 21:5

Children,:The word translated 'Children' here is a diminutive term, often used as a tender or affectionate address, similar to 'little ones' or 'dear children,' rather than simply stating their age.
fish:The term translated 'fish' here specifically refers to something eaten with bread, a side dish or relish, rather than just any fish.

JHN 21:7

naked:The word translated 'naked' could mean completely unclothed, but in this context, it more likely refers to being lightly clad, perhaps only in an undergarment, rather than fully dressed.

JHN 21:12

do have breakfast.:The phrase 'do have breakfast' refers to the first meal of the day, typically eaten in the morning, which could be light or substantial.