MRK 1:16-20

The First Disciples

16And passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. [1:17] And Jesus said to them, 'Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' [1:18] And immediately they left their nets and followed him. [1:19] And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in the boat mending the nets. [1:20] And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and went after him.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Galilean context, fishing was a vital economic activity, particularly around the Sea of Galilee. Fishermen like Simon, Andrew, James, and John were part of a labor-intensive trade, often working in family units or small cooperatives. The use of circular nets required skill and coordination, and mending nets was a routine but essential task to ensure their effectiveness. Fishing was not merely a livelihood but a deeply embedded cultural and economic practice. When Jesus calls these men to follow Him, His command is direct and authoritative, reflecting the immediacy expected in a master-disciple relationship. Leaving their nets and family—especially Zebedee, who represents the patriarchal household structure—would have been a radical act, disrupting social and economic norms. The metaphor of becoming 'fishers of men' reorients their vocation toward a new mission, one that would have resonated with their existing skills while challenging their societal roles.

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How other translations render this

MRK 1:16

KJV: Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
BSB: As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
Koinōnos: And passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen.

MRK 1:17

KJV: And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
BSB: “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
Koinōnos: And Jesus said to them, 'Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

MRK 1:18

KJV: And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
BSB: And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
Koinōnos: And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

MRK 1:19

KJV: And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
BSB: Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.
Koinōnos: And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in the boat mending the nets.

MRK 1:20

KJV: And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
BSB: Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.
Koinōnos: And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and went after him.

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

Translator's notes

MRK 1:16

of him:The word translated 'of him' here is part of a phrase that literally means 'throwing around,' referring to the casting of a fishing net. It emphasizes the active, physical nature of their work.

MRK 1:17

Come:The term translated 'Come' is a plural imperative, indicating that Jesus is addressing more than one person and issuing a direct command or invitation for them to join him.

MRK 1:18

immediately:The word translated 'immediately' is used frequently in Mark's Gospel to convey a sense of urgency, swift action, and the rapid progression of events.

MRK 1:19

boat:The word translated 'boat' here can also refer to equipping or mending something, suggesting that the disciples were not just in the boat but actively preparing or repairing their fishing gear.