Caught 153 fishes.

[visionary]

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.

Anyone who is a fisherman, knows that 153 fishes will not break a good net. I do not see this as a significant number unless these were super large fish. But the text gives no indication that these fish were no more than average or I am sure the fisherman's bragging rights would have kicked into gear.

 

[visionary]

In hebrew Gematria, 153 stands for "the sons of God" or the phrase "bne haElohim".... and now the number becomes significant.

 

[Optimax]

Perhaps you missed the word "great".

The word is NT:3173

1. megas NT:3173 is used (a) of external form, size, measure, e. g., of a stone, Matt 27:60; fish, John 21:11;
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)


They were very large fish.

That is what the word "great" reveals.

 

[visionary]

Now put it back into the event. The disciples of Messiah Yeshua did not recognize Him standing on the shore. When He asks them for food they answer they do not have anything, after spending a whole night fishing. He suggests that they cast their net on the other side of the ship to catch fish. Now the fishing-nets get so heavy they could hardly carry them out of the water because of the fishes they've catched and counting carefully they have 153 fishes... I can see the Jewish mind going... ding ding ding... It dawns on them this is the Messiah.

 

[visionary]

Perhaps you missed the word "great".

The word is NT:3173

1. megas NT:3173 is used (a) of external form, size, measure, e. g., of a stone, Matt 27:60; fish, John 21:11;
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)


They were very large fish.

That is what the word "great" reveals.

You could be right..

I took it to be the exact kind of fish... When a fisherman catches a fish, he quickly categorizes it as either

1.) a great catch, meaning the exact type they were after,
2.) a good catch, meaning that it will do,
3.) a poor catch, meaning that they probably would throw it back as it was not good for eating.

 

[Kelly J]

If you have never been to Lake Tiberias in the Galilee, it would be difficult to understand the size of the fish. They are quite big!!! The boats were not large either. A preserved fishing boat is available to be seen in Tiberias as well.

The key is that the number of fish are mentioned. Also, notice that Christ was involved. I recently heard a pastor say that the numbers for 153 in Hebrew mean "I am God."

"I am the Lord thy God."
Ani YHVH Elohikah

Thus, it is the Lord Who catches "the fish."
John 21

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:

2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.

6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.

12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

 

[Epiphoskei]

Anyone who is a fisherman, knows that 153 fishes will not break a good net.

How about a handmade net made of plant fibers?

This is a net made with technology from 2000 years ago, after all.

 

[Standing Up]

In hebrew Gematria, 153 stands for "the sons of God" or the phrase "bne haElohim".... and now the number becomes significant.

Sons of God possible only after Messiah, after the Lord Jesus' death burial resurrection?

 

[visionary]

Sons of God possible only after Messiah, after the Lord Jesus' death burial resurrection?

This event didn't happen until after His resurrection.

 

[Chris81]

How about a handmade net made of plant fibers?

This is a net made with technology from 2000 years ago, after all.

Exactly! 153 fish would likely be a quite a load for ancient hand made nets.

The reason that the number 153 is important is that the author wants to convey that this is a real event by providing specific details that would only be known by an eyewitness event.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

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.

Anyone who is a fisherman, knows that 153 fishes will not break a good net. I do not see this as a significant number unless these were super large fish. But the text gives no indication that these fish were no more than average or I am sure the fisherman's bragging rights would have kicked into gear.

The Oxford Annotated Bible notes that 153 may be a gematric code for Simon's name, indicating that the catch of fish is the restoration of Peter after his triple denial of Jesus (which is what the narrative is about, anyway, with Jesus' triple reaffirmation of Peter's role). This is far more likely than the above gematric explanation of "sons of God," which really isn't part of the narrative.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

Exactly! 153 fish would likely be a quite a load for ancient hand made nets.

The reason that the number 153 is important is that the author wants to convey that this is a real event by providing specific details that would only be known by an eyewitness event.

I'd just like to copy this to agree that this could also be the case.

I merely noted the gematric interpretation in my previous post because A. it is one of the few times when the Oxford annotation actually suggests that gematria is at work in the New Testament (as opposed to the "GEMATRIA is EVERYWHERES!!11" perspective of many Messianics), and thus may have some weight behind it, and B. because if we're going to gematric (since it was already brought up), then better to go with something that fits the narrative (Simon's name) rather than something kinda random (Sons of God).

I think my natural inclination, though, would be just to say that it is a large catch of fish when working with first century equipment and techniques.

 

[Standing Up]

This event didn't happen until after His resurrection.

Mk. 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

153 fish. 200 hundred cubits out. Net not broken.

 

[narnia59]

My Ignatious Study Bible has this explanation:

The number of fish hauled ashore is symbolic. St. Jerome claims that Greek zoologists had identified 153 different kinds of fish. If this is the background, the episode anticipates how the apostles, made fishers of men by Christ will gather believers from every nation into the church.

On a side note, another striking aspect of this story is that in verse 6, we're told that "they" were not able to haul it in because of the number of fish. Yet when Christ gave the command to bring the net ashore, Peter alone goes aboard and manages the task.

 

[Steve Petersen]

or 153 fishes may mean NOTHING.

Crying out loud vis, NOT EVERYTHING IS SIGNIFICANT, much to your chagrin, I'm sure.

Oh well, you can alway FORCE MEANING INTO THE TEXT.

Great fun. Everyone should do it. We could make a game of it.

Who can create the most inane meaning from a simple text.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

or 153 fishes may mean NOTHING.

Crying out loud vis, NOT EVERYTHING IS SIGNIFICANT, much to your chagrin, I'm sure.

Oh well, you can alway FORCE MEANING INTO THE TEXT.

Great fun. Everyone should do it. We could make a game of it.

Who can create the most inane meaning from a simple text.

Quoted for sanity.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

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.

In hebrew Gematria, 153 stands for "the sons of God" or the phrase "bne haElohim".... and now the number becomes significant.

It could be connected to Dan's time, times and half a time which would be the completion of all this written....just throwing that out there

Question on word Time in Dan 7 and 12 - Christian Forums
Question on word Time in Dan 7 and 12

Scripture4All - Greek/Hebrew interlinear Bible software

Daniel 7:25 And matters to set aside of the most-high-one he shall declare, and to holy-ones of Most-high-ones he shall wear out and he is meaning to alter of stated-times and law
and they shall be granted in hand of him till a time/05732 `iddan and times/05732 `iddan and dividing-of time

Daniel 12:7 And I am hearing the man clothed of the linens who from above to waters of the waterway and he is high right-of-him and left-of-him to the heavens and he is swearing in life of the age that for appointed-time/04150 mow`ed, appointed-times/04150 mow`ed and half and as to be concluded of to shatter of Hand/03027 yad of people of holiness they are concluded all these
[Reve 10:5]

Reve 10:5 And the messenger whom I saw standing upon the sea, and upon the land, lifts the right hand of him into the heaven,
6 and swears in the One-living into the ages of the ages, who creates the heaven and the in it, and the land and the in ti, and the sea and the in it--that time not still shall be,

 

[Knee V]

This will be a repeat for someone, but I liked it enough to post it publicly:

1+5+3=9, 9=3^2, 3 & 2, 2 & 3, 23, THE NUMBER 23!!!

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

This will be a repeat for someone, but I liked it enough to post it publicly:

1+5+3=9, 9=3^2, 3 & 2, 2 & 3, 23, THE NUMBER 23!!!

Ummm...what is the significance of that #

Blue Letter Bible - Search Results for KJV
"twenty" AND "three"
occurs in 24 verses in the KJV
Page 1 / 1 inexact matches (Exd 38:26 - 1Cr 10:8)

 

[Knee V]

Ummm...what is the significance of that #

Blue Letter Bible - Search Results for KJV
"twenty" AND "three"
occurs in 24 verses in the KJV
Page 1 / 1 inexact matches (Exd 38:26 - 1Cr 10:8)

The Number 23 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia