1Now it happened that as the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. [5:2] And he saw two boats moored at the shore of the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. [5:3] Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And sitting down, he taught the crowds from the boat. [5:4] When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and lower your nets for a catch." [5:5] And Simon answered, "Master, we labored through the whole night and caught nothing. But at your word I will lower the nets." [5:6] And when they had done this, they enclosed a massive number of fish, and their nets were beginning to tear. [5:7] They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. [5:8] When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at the knees of Jesus, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord." [5:9] For amazement had seized him and all those with him over the catch of fish that they had taken, [5:10] and likewise James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive." [5:11] And when they had brought the boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
LUK 5:1-11
The First Disciples
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Galilean context, fishing on the Sea of Gennesaret (also known as the Sea of Galilee) was a vital economic activity. Fishermen like Simon (Peter) worked in cooperatives, often laboring through the night and repairing their nets during the day. The crowd pressing on Jesus reflects the intense social dynamics of honor-seeking and curiosity in a culture where itinerant teachers drew large followings. Simon’s boat, a workplace tool, becomes a makeshift platform for Jesus’ teaching, highlighting the integration of sacred and mundane spaces. Jesus’ command to ‘put out into the deep’ challenges Simon’s professional expertise, as nighttime was the optimal fishing period. The miraculous catch, described with (to catch alive), evokes imagery of divine provision and authority over creation. Simon’s response, addressing Jesus as (Master), acknowledges Jesus’ superior knowledge and leadership, while his confession of sinfulness reflects the Jewish understanding of encountering divine holiness. The call to ‘catch people’ redefines Simon’s vocation, shifting it from economic survival to a mission of gathering lives.
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How other translations render this
LUK 5:1
- KJV
- And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
- BSB
- On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God,
- Koinōnos
- Now it happened that as the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.
LUK 5:2
- KJV
- And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
- BSB
- He saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.
- Koinōnos
- And he saw two boats moored at the shore of the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.
LUK 5:3
- KJV
- And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
- BSB
- Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.
- Koinōnos
- Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And sitting down, he taught the crowds from the boat.
LUK 5:4
- KJV
- Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
- BSB
- When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
- Koinōnos
- When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and lower your nets for a catch.
LUK 5:5
- KJV
- And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
- BSB
- “Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”
- Koinōnos
- And Simon answered, "Master, we labored through the whole night and caught nothing. But at your word I will lower the nets.
LUK 5:6
- KJV
- And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
- BSB
- When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear.
- Koinōnos
- And when they had done this, they enclosed a massive number of fish, and their nets were beginning to tear.
LUK 5:7
- KJV
- And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
- BSB
- So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
- Koinōnos
- They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.
LUK 5:8
- KJV
- When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
- BSB
- When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesusʼ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.”
- Koinōnos
- When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at the knees of Jesus, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.
LUK 5:9
- KJV
- For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
- BSB
- For he and his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,
- Koinōnos
- For amazement had seized him and all those with him over the catch of fish that they had taken,
LUK 5:10
- KJV
- And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
- BSB
- and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.”
- Koinōnos
- and likewise James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.
LUK 5:11
- KJV
- And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
- BSB
- And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.
- Koinōnos
- And when they had brought the boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 5:1
- pressing on:The word translated 'pressing on' suggests a crowd that was not just present, but actively pushing and crowding in on Jesus, making movement difficult.
LUK 5:5
- said:The term used here, translated 'said,' is a title of respect and authority, often used for a master or overseer. It indicates Peter's recognition of Jesus's position.
- whole:The word translated 'whole' implies not just a long period of time, but also the strenuous effort and exhaustion that came from working hard all night.
LUK 5:10
- catching.:The word translated 'catching' specifically means to capture alive, often used in the context of taking prisoners in battle rather than killing them. It emphasizes preserving life.