John 21:4

THE MESSAGE

Fishing After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed "Twin"), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, "I'm going fishing." The rest of them replied, "We're going with you." They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn't recognize him.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not know it was Jesus.

King James Version (1611)
But when the morning was now come, Iesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knewe not that it was Iesus.

King James Version
But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

English Standard Version
Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

New American Standard Bible
But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

New Century Version
Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the followers did not know it was Jesus.

Amplified Bible
As morning was breaking, Jesus [came and] stood on the beach; however, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Legacy Standard Bible
But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Berean Standard Bible
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus.

Contemporary English Version
Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize who he was.

Complete Jewish Bible
However, just as day was breaking, Yeshua stood on shore, but the talmidim didn't know it was he.

Darby Translation
And early morn already breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; the disciples however did not know that it was Jesus.

Easy-to-Read Version
Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore. But the followers did not know it was Jesus.

Geneva Bible (1587)
But when the morning was nowe come, Iesus stoode on the shore: neuerthelesse the disciples knewe not that it was Iesus.

George Lamsa Translation
When morning came, Jesus stood by the sea side; and the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Good News Translation
As the sun was rising, Jesus stood at the water's edge, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Lexham English Bible
Now when it was already early morning, Jesus stood on the beach. However, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Literal Translation
And it now becoming early morning, Jesus stood on the shore. However, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

American Standard Version
But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

Bible in Basic English
Now very early in the morning Jesus was there by the edge of the sea (though the disciples were not conscious that it was Jesus).

Hebrew Names Version
But when day was now breaking, Yeshua stood on the beach, yet the talmidim didn't know that it was Yeshua.

International Standard Version
Just as dawn was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore. The disciples didn't realize it was Jesus.John 20:14;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
But when it was morning Jeshu stood on the sea shore; but the disciples knew not that it was Jeshu.

Murdock Translation
And when it was morning, Jesus stood on the shore of the sea: and the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But when the mornyng was nowe come, Iesus stoode on the shore: Neuerthelesse, the disciples knewe not that it was Iesus.

English Revised Version
But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: howbeit the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

World English Bible
But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn't know that it was Jesus.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
When the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

Weymouth's New Testament
When, however, day was now dawning, Jesus stood on the beach, though the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But whanne the morewe was comun, Jhesus stood in the brenke; netheles the disciplis knewen not, that it was Jhesus.

Update Bible Version
But when morning was now come, Jesus stood on the beach: yet the disciples didn't know that it was Jesus.

Webster's Bible Translation
But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

New English Translation
When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

New King James Version
But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

New Living Translation
At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was.

New Life Bible
Early in the morning Jesus stood on the shore of the lake. The followers did not know it was Jesus.

New Revised Standard
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, morning by this time drawing on, Jesus stood upon the beach; nevertheless, the disciples knew not that it was, Jesus.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

Revised Standard Version
Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But when the mornynge was now come Iesus stode on the shore: neverthelesse the disciples knewe not yt it was Iesus.

Young's Literal Translation
And morning being now come, Jesus stood at the shore, yet indeed the disciples did not know that it is Jesus;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But wha it was now morow, Iesus stode on the shore, but his disciples knewe not yt it was Iesus.

Mace New Testament (1729)
as soon as it was morning, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Early the next morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the cowboys couldn't tell who it was.

Contextual Overview

¹After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed "Twin"), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, "I'm going fishing." The rest of them replied, "We're going with you." They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn't recognize him. Jesus spoke to them: "Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?" They answered, "No." He said, "Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens." They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren't strong enough to pull it in. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Master!" When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. The other disciples came in by boat for they weren't far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it. Jesus said, "Bring some of the fish you've just caught." Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore—153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn't rip. Jesus said, "Breakfast is ready." Not one of the disciples dared ask, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Master. Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead. After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." He then asked a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Shepherd my sheep." Then he said it a third time: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, "Do you love me?" so he answered, "Master, you know everything there is to know. You've got to know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I'm telling you the very truth now: When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished, but when you get old you'll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you don't want to go." He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, "Follow me." Turning his head, Peter noticed the disciple Jesus loved following right behind. When Peter noticed him, he asked Jesus, "Master, what's going to happen to him?" Jesus said, "If I want him to live until I come again, what's that to you? You—follow me." That is how the rumor got out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn't die. But that is not what Jesus said. He simply said, "If I want him to live until I come again, what's that to you?" This is the same disciple who was eyewitness to all these things and wrote them down. And we all know that his eyewitness account is reliable and accurate. There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I can't imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books. ⁴Fishing After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed "Twin"), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, "I'm going fishing." The rest of them replied, "We're going with you." They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn't recognize him. ⁵ Jesus spoke to them: "Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?" They answered, "No." ⁶ He said, "Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens." They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren't strong enough to pull it in. ⁷Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Master!" When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. The other disciples came in by boat for they weren't far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it. ¹⁰Jesus said, "Bring some of the fish you've just caught." Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore—153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn't rip. ¹² Jesus said, "Breakfast is ready." Not one of the disciples dared ask, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Master. ¹³Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

but: John 20:14, Mark 16:12, Luke 24:15, Luke 24:16, Luke 24:31

Reciprocal: Genesis 42:8 - but they knew

Cross-References

Genesis 21:22
At about that same time, Abimelech and the captain of his troops, Phicol, spoke to Abraham: "No matter what you do, God is on your side. So swear to me that you won't do anything underhanded to me or any of my family. For as long as you live here, swear that you'll treat me and my land as well as I've treated you."

Exodus 12:48
"If an immigrant is staying with you and wants to keep the Passover to God , every male in his family must be circumcised, then he can participate in the Meal—he will then be treated as a native son. But no uncircumcised person can eat it.

Deuteronomy 12:32
Diligently do everything I command you, the way I command you: don't add to it; don't subtract from it.

Luke 1:59
On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling him Zachariah after his father. But his mother intervened: "No. He is to be called John."

Luke 2:21
When the eighth day arrived, the day of circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived.

Acts 7:8
"Then he made a covenant with him and signed it in Abraham's flesh by circumcision. When Abraham had his son Isaac, within eight days he reproduced the sign of circumcision in him. Isaac became father of Jacob, and Jacob father of twelve ‘fathers,' each faithfully passing on the covenant sign.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But when the morning was now come,.... The day began to dawn, and light to appear, very early in the morning; for Christ visits his right early, and is a present help to them in their time of trouble.

Jesus stood on the shore: on firm ground, whilst his disciples were beating about in the waves, and toiling to no purpose. So Christ, risen from the dead, is glorified, is in heaven; but not unmindful of his people amidst all their afflictions in this world:

but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus; though he was so near them that they could hear what he said; but it not being broad daylight they could not distinctly discern him, or their eyes might be held that they could not know him. So Christ is sometimes near his people, and they know it not.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Knew not that it was Jesus - Probably it was yet twilight, and in the distance they could not distinctly recognize him.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 21:4. Knew not that it was Jesus. — Probably because it was either not light enough, or he was at too great a distance, or he had assumed another form, as in Mark 16:12; otherwise his person was so remarkable that all his disciples readily knew him when he was at hand: see John 21:12.