Luke 5

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,

And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

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.

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

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.

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

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.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

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.

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.

And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?

And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.

And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

What does Luke 5:6 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 5:6 depicts a miraculous event in the life of Jesus and his first disciples.

It is a part of the narrative where Jesus instructs Simon Peter to let down his nets for a catch after a fruitless night of fishing.

Obedient to Jesus' command, Peter and his companions lower their nets into the water, resulting in such a tremendous haul of fish that their nets begin to tear from the quantity.

The literal meaning clearly illustrates an extraordinary catch of fish following Jesus' direction, which symbolizes a divine intervention in their daily work.

The deeper significance also suggests themes of abundance, faith, and transformation.

Peter's faith in Jesus' words leads to an abundance that exceeds expectations, and this serves as a pivotal moment that transitions Peter and his fellow fishermen from their old lives into their new roles as "fishers of men," following Jesus.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Luke 5:6 belongs to the Gospel of Luke, which is believed to have been written around A.D. 80-110.

The story takes place on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, a freshwater lake in northern Israel, which was known for its fishing industry during the time of Jesus.

This was the center of Jesus' early ministry and the place where he called his first disciples, primarily fishermen by trade.

Fishing was a common profession, and it was integral to the local economy and culture.

In these times, a great catch would have been seen as a sign of God's blessing or favor.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the verse is rich with symbolism:

Divine Provision and Abundance: This event is traditionally understood to prefigure the spiritual abundance that Jesus will provide to his followers.
Obedience and Faith: The disciple's obedience to Jesus' command, despite their own expertise suggesting otherwise, is an act of faith that results in unexpected blessings.
Jesus' Authority Over Nature: The extraordinary catch shows Jesus' dominion over the natural world, pointing to his divine identity.
Miracles as Signs: The miraculous haul of fish serves as a sign to the disciples of Jesus' divine mission and foreshadows their own work in bringing people to God.

Practical Applications

Trust in Divine Guidance: This verse encourages individuals to trust in God's guidance, even when it defies conventional wisdom or personal expertise.
Stepping Out in Faith: Just as the disciples were called to trust Jesus and cast their nets, believers are challenged to take leaps of faith in their own lives.
Availability for God's Use: The disciples' willingness to obey sets an example for being open to God's work in unexpected ways.

Cross-References

Matthew 4:19: "And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
John 21:6: "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."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "net" (δίκτυον, diktyon) denotes a fishing net, which is symbolic of the tools used in the disciples' profession.

The phrase "their net brake" (διέρρηγνυ δίκτυον, dierrēgnyn to diktyon) conveys a sense of bursting or tearing due to the number of fishes (ἰχθύων, ichthyōn), implying an overwhelming abundance that surpasses the disciples' capacity to contain it.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, including the Near East, the sea often represented chaos and the fish were seen as part of the bounty that comes from conquering that chaos.

The miraculous catch of fish in the Bible carries a similar notion of harnessing the chaotic and being rewarded with abundance.

Comparatively, in some mythologies, deities demonstrating control over the sea or aquatic creatures symbolized their divine authority.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific viewpoint, one could consider the patterns of fish in the Sea of Galilee and how fishermen of the time understood these patterns.

While some might attempt to provide a natural explanation for the event, such as knowledge of fish behaviors or migrations, the text suggests a supernatural occurrence beyond the natural expertise of the fishermen.

Commentaries

Commentators have varied in their interpretations:

Historicity: Some maintain the historicity of the event as a literal miracle showcasing Jesus' power.
Symbolic Interpretation: Others view the story as symbolically rich, emphasizing the transformation of the disciples' roles and Jesus' teaching on the kingdom of God.
Faith and Call to Ministry: Several theologians focus on the aspect of faith and the disciples' response to Jesus' call, making analogies to the calling of believers to spiritual service.

Each of these interpretations reflects a different facet of the verse's meaning and its significance within the Gospel narrative.

Luke 5

Luke 5

What does Luke 5:6 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 5:6 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?