John 21

John 21:1

After these things. A note of time frequent in John. See John 3:22; John 5:1, John 5:14; John 6:1; John 7:1; John 13:7; John 19:38.

After. Greek. meta. App-104.

Jesus. App-98.

shewed = manifested. Greek. phaneroo. App-106. v; not merely presented Himself, but revealed His power and glory. See John 2:11. Not the same word as John 14:21, John 14:22, which is empitanizo. App-106.

at = upon. Greek. epi. App-104.

on this wise = thus.

John 21:2

of = from. Greek. apo. App-104.

other. Greek allos. App-124.

of = out of. Greek. ek. App-104.

John 21:3

unto = to.

I go a fishing = I go forth to fish.

with. Greek. sun. App-104.

into. Greek eis. App-104.

a = the; probably that of Mat 4:21, belonging to Zebedee and his sons.

immediately. All the texts omit.

that night = in (Greek. en. App-104.) that night. caught. Greek. piazo. Used in the Gospels by John only, and always, except here and John 21:10, of “taking” the Lord (John 7:30, John 7:32, John 7:44; John 8:20; John 10:39; John 11:57).

nothing. Greek. oudeis, compound of ou. App-105.

John 21:4

now = already.

on. Greek. eis. App-104.

knew. Greek. oida. App-132.

not. Greek. ou. App-105.

John 21:5

Then = Therefore.

Children. Greek. paidion. App-108.

meat. Greek. prosphagion. Something to eat with (your bread), a relish. Occurs only here.

No. Greek. ou. App-105.

John 21:6

Cast. Greek. ballo, as in John 20:25, John 20:27.

net. A bag or purse net. Greek. diktuon, as in Matthew 4:20. Mark 1:18. Luke 5:2. For other words for “net”, see Matthew 4:18; Matthew 13:47.

now they were not = no longer (Greek. ouketi) were they.

draw. Greek. helkuo. See on John 12:32.

for = from. Greek. apo, App-104. This was the eighth sign. See App-176.

John 21:7

loved. Greek. agapao. App-135.

the Lord. App-98.

Now when = Therefore.

heard = having heard.

girt. Greek. diazonnumi. Only here and John 13:4, John 13:5.

his fisher’s coat = the upper garment. Greek. ependutes. Only here in N.T. Used in the Septuagint for the Hebrew meil, robe, in 1 Samuel 18:4. 2 Samuel 13:18.

naked. Greek gumnos. This means he had only his tunic or undergarment on. Compare Mark 14:51. Acts 19:16.

John 21:8

a little ship = the boat. Greek. ploiarion, dim. of ploion, John 21:3; John 21:6. Elsewhere in John 6:22, John 6:23 “boat”, Mark 3:9; Mark 4:36.

from. Greek. apo. App-104.

land = the land. Greek. ge. App-129.

two, &c. = about (Greek. apo. App-104.) two, &c.: i.e. one hundred yards. See App-51.

dragging. Greek suro. Only here, Acts 8:3; Acts 14:19; Acts 17:6. Revelation 12:4. Not the same word as in John 21:6.

the net with fishes = the net of fishes.

John 21:9

were come = went forth,

to = unto. Greek. eis. App-104.

saw = see. Greek. blepo. App-133.

fire of coals. Greek. anthrakia. Only here and John 18:18.

fish. Greek. opsarion, dim. of opson, cooked meat, eaten as a relish. in John 6:9, John 6:11, the only other passage where it occurs, it is in the plural as in John 21:10 below. Here it probably means a little fish,

bread = a loaf. One little fish and one loaf to feed eight persons. A beautiful variant of, and supplement to, the widow’s handful of meal and cruse of oil (1 Kings 17). It was a type of the food He would supply them with, in the strength of which they would go “many days”.

John 21:10

the fish. Here the word is opsarion in the plural. But they were great fishes (John 21:11). So it must be used in a general sense.

John 21:11

went up = went back.

to. Greek. epi. App-104., but all the texts read eis.

John 21:12

dine. Greek. aristao. Only here, John 21:15, and Luke 11:37. The ariston was the morning meal, as contrasted with the afternoon meal, which was called deipnon, translated “supper”. Compare Matthew 22:4. Luke 11:38; Luke 11:14, Luke 11:12.

none = no one. Greek. oudeis.

durst = ventured to. Contrast their freedom in questioning Him before. It marks the change in their relationship wrought by the resurrection,

ask = inquire. Only here and Matthew 2:8; Matthew 10:11.

John 21:13

then. All the texts omit.

bread = the loaf.

fish = the fish of Joh 21:9.

John 21:14

now = already.

His = the.

risen. Greek. egeiro. App-178.

from the dead. Greek. ek nekron. See App-139.

John 21:15

So = Therefore.

Simon. Peter was always addressed by the Lord as Simon except in Luke 22:34. See App-147.

more than these: i.e. than these other disciples do. Referring to his words in Matthew 26:33, Matthew 26:35.

love. Greek phileo. App-135. Note the different words used in these verses. The Lord uses agapao twice and phileo once, Peter always phileo.

Feed: i.e. provide pasture for. Greek. bosko. Save in this passage, always of swine.

lambs. Greek. arnion, a diminutive. Only here and in the Revelation, where it occurs twenty-nine times, always of the Lord, except John 13:11. The other word for “lamb”, amnos, only in John 1:29, John 1:36. Acts 8:32. 1 Peter 1:19.

John 21:16

the = a.

Feed = Shepherd. Greek poimaino. Occurs eleven times, translated “rule “in Matthew 2:6. Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15. Compare poimen, John 10:2, John 10:11, John 10:12, John 10:14, John 10:16 (Shepherd); Ephesians 4:11 (pastors).

sheep. Greek probaton.

John 21:17

grieved. Greek. lupeo. Elsewhere in John 16:20. Compare 1 Peter 1:6. The noun lupe occurs in John 16:6, John 16:20, John 16:21, John 16:22. Compare 1 Peter 2:19.

knowest. Greek ginosko. App-132.

John 21:18

Verily, verily. Twenty-fifth and last occurance of this double Amen (App-10). See on John 1:51 and p. 1511.

young. Greek. neoteros, younger. The positive neos applied to any one up to thirty. This and John 20:4 gave rise to the tradition that Peter was a middle-aged man. girdedst. Greek. zonnumi. Only here.

wouldest. Greek. thelo. App-102.

carry = lead. Greek. phero. Compare Mark 9:17. Luke 15:23. Acts 14:13.

John 21:19

what = what kind of.

glorify. Greek. doxazo. See p. 1511.

God. App-98.

when He had = having.

Follow. Greek. akoloutheo. Used of soldiers, servants, and pupils. First occurance in John 1:37.

John 21:20

Then. All the texts omit.

turning about = having turned round.

also leaned = leaned also.

on. Greek. epi. App-104.

at. Greek. en. App-104.

which = who. betrayeth. See on John 19:30, “gave up”.

John 21:21

seeing. Greek. eidon. App-133.

what, &c.: literally ’ this one, what?

John 21:22

If. App-118.

tarry. Greek meno, translated abide, remain, &c. See book comments for John.

what, &c. Peter’s curiosity rebuked. Compare Matthew 17:4.

to = with reference to. Greek. pros. App-104.

John 21:23

saying. Greek. logos. See on Mark 9:32.

among = unto. Greek eis. App-104.

that. Greek. ekeinos.

should not die = is not dying: i.e. is not going to die.

John 21:24

testifieth = beareth witness. Greek. martureo. See See book comments for John, note 4.

of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104.

testimony. Greek. marturia. Compare John 19:35, and see book comments for John.

true. Greek alethes. App-175.

John 21:25

also many, &c. = many other things also. See John 20:30.

every one = one by one. Greek. kath’ (App-104) en.

I suppose = I think. Greek. oimai, contr. for oiomai, which occurs in Philippians 1:1, Philippians 1:16. James 1:7.

even . . . not. Greek. oude, compound of ou. App-105.

world. Greek. kosmos. App-129.

contain. Greek. choreo. Elsewhere in John: John 2:6; John 8:37 (hath no place). Compare Matthew 19:12.

the books, &c. = the written books. Figure of speech Hyperbole. App-6. Amen. All the texts omit. In that case, only the double “verily” found in John. This chapter is a supplement, of the highest value, to the Gospel formally concluded in John 20:31.

The use of the first person singular in John 21:25, contrasted with the Evangelist’s modest self-effacement elsewhere, has led some to doubt the Johannine authorship of this chapter. But the evidence of the MSS. and Versions, and the attestation clause at John 21:24 is so closely allied to that in John 19:35 as to leave little room for doubt. Note further, the use of many characteristic words (see p. 1511), the expression noted in John 21:1, the double “verily” (John 21:18), and, above all, the eight signs with their wonderful structure and correspondence (see App-176).