Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
5. Then Jesus ] Jesus therefore; because they did not recognise Him.
Children ] Perhaps a mere term of friendly address ( paidia); not the affectionate term used Joh 13:33 ( teknia). Paidia occurs 1Jn 2:14 ; 1Jn 2:18; teknia occurs 1Jn 2:1 ; 1Jn 2:12; 1Jn 2:28 ; 1Jn 3:7; 1Jn 3:18 ; 1Jn 4:4; 1Jn 5:21.
meat ] The Greek word ( prosphagion) occurs here only. It appears to mean something eaten with bread, especially fish. Perhaps we should translate, Have ye any fish?
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Children – A term of affection and friendship, 1Jo 2:18.
Any meat – This word (Greek) means anything eaten with bread. It was used by the Greeks especially to denote fish (Schleusner).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Joh 21:5
Jesus said unto them, Have ye any meat?
The tender love of the risen Christ
The question pertained to the wants of the body. Christs resurrection body was still in sympathy with theirs. The higher He rose the deeper and more perfect were His sympathies. He could hunger no more, be weary no more: yet this made Him more keenly alive to the privations of His brethren. He did not need to put the question: yet He wishes to speak to them as a human friend interested in their welfare. He awakens their confidence as a stranger, but soon drops the strangers dress. Blessed surprise! Such as that of Mary and the Emmaus travellers; as if He delighted in the surprises of love.
I. THE WATCHFULNESS OF THE RISEN CHRIST. He marks each sheep and lamb of His flock with more than a shepherds eye. The glory with which He is surrounded does not make Him unwatchful. Amidst His plenty He remembers the penury of His own. You never lacked a meal but Jesus asked this question to supply it. You never lacked a spiritual meal but He puts the same question for the same purpose. He watches the hunger of every congregation, and asks, Children, have ye any meat?
II. THE PITY OF THE RISEN CHRIST. I have compassion on the multitudes, He once said. Such was His pity after His resurrection; and we are sure that the throne has not lessened that pity. He pities His Churchs and each saints hunger and leanness. Let us learn this and imitate it.
III. THE BOUNTY OF THE RISEN CHRIST. His is no empty pity. He does not say merely, Be ye warmed and filled: He opens His treasure-house and supplies us. His stores are boundless. He delights to dispense them; nay, to provide channels for them, as in the case of the disciples when He filled their nets, kindled the fire, and prepared the meal. He fills the cruse and barrel of His widowed Church, and feeds us with the finest of the wheat. (H. Bonar, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 5. Children] , a term of familiarity and affectionate kindness: it is the vocative case plural of , which is the diminutive of , and literally signifies little children, or beloved children. How the margin has made sirs out of it I cannot conceive.
Any meat] from , besides, and , I eat; any thing that is eaten with bread, or such like solid substances, to make the deglutition the more easy: here it evidently means any kind of fish; and our Lord seems to have appeared at first in the character of a person who wished to purchase a part of what they had caught: See Clarke on Joh 6:9.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He asketh them if they had any thing to eat, not because he knew not, but in order to what he intended to do to make them more attentive to the miracle which he by and by intended to work.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. ChildrenThis term wouldnot necessarily identify Him, being not unusual from any superior;but when they did recognize Him, they would feel it sweetly likeHimself.
have ye any meat?provisions,supplies, meaning fish.
They answered . . . NoThiswas in His wonted style, making them tell their case, and sothe better prepare them for what was coming.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then Jesus saith unto them, children,…. And still they knew him not, though he used this endearing and familiar appellation, and which they had been wont to hear from him; and he had called them by a little before his departure from them, Joh 13:33 and which he uses here as expressive of his tender affection for them, their relation to him, and that he might be known by them:
have ye any meat? that is, as the Syriac renders it, , “anything to eat”; meaning fish that they had caught; and whether they had got a sufficient quantity to make a meal of for him and them.
They answered him no; they had got nothing at all; or at least what they had was far from being enough to make a breakfast of; for so a meal early in a morning may be most properly called, though it is afterwards called dining. Christ’s children, true believers, are sometimes without spiritual food; there is always indeed enough in Christ, and he has an heart to give it; but either through prevailing iniquity they feed on something else, or do not go to him for food, or go elsewhere; but he will not suffer them to starve; for as he has made provisions for them in the ministry of the word and ordinances; and he himself is the bread of life; if they do not ask him for food, he will ask them whether they have any; will kindly invite them to the provisions he himself makes; will bid them welcome, and bless them to them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Children (). Diminutive of and used here alone by Jesus in addressing his disciples. It is a colloquial expression like “my boys.” The aged Apostle John uses it in 1John 2:13; 1John 2:18.
Have ye aught to eat? ( ;). The negative answer is expected by this polite inquiry as in 4:29. The rare and late word from the root (, to eat) and (in addition) was used for a relish with bread and then for fish as here. So in the papyri. Nowhere else in the N.T.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Children [] . Or, little children. Used also by John, in address, twice in the First Epistle (ii. 13, 18), where, however, the more common word is teknia, little children.
Have ye any meat [ ] ? The interrogative mh ti indicates that a negative answer is expected : you have not, I suppose, anything. Prosfagion is equivalent to ojyarion, what is added to bread at a meal, especially fish. See on 6 9. Only here in the New Testament. Wyc, any supping – thing. 55
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Jesus saith unto them,” (legei oun autois lesous) “Then Jesus said to them,” spoke to them, called directly to them from the shore nearby, to the seven who had gone fishing, Joh 21:2.
2) “Children, have ye any meat?” (paidia me ti prosphagion echete) “Children, do you all not have anything to eat, any fish?” on His mercy, men must learn to lean or trust, for in Him we live, move, and have our being, or existence, La 3:22; Act 17:28.
3) “They answered him, No.” (apekrithesan auto ou) “They replied to him, no,” not at all, not a thing, for the record. It was so similar to that experience they had once before, as recounted Luk 5:3-7.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(5) Children, have ye any meat?The word rendered Children (or, as the margin has it, Sirs), is used in addressing others only by St. John among the New Testament writers (1Jn. 2:13; 1Jn. 2:18). It is not the word used in Joh. 13:33, where we have an expression denoting His affectionate tenderness for the disciples, which would not have been appropriate here, for He does not at once reveal His identity to them. It is a word which, indeed, may express His love for them (comp. Joh. 4:49), but which appears also to have been used as an address to workmen or inferiors, not unlike our own words boys or lads. They seem to take it in this sense, as though some traveller passing by asked the question because he wished to purchase some of their fish.
The word rendered meat occurs here only in the New Testament. It means anything eaten with bread, and was used as equivalent to the fish which was the ordinary relish. (Comp. Note on Joh. 6:9.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Children A term of endearment, translated little children in 1Jn 2:18. It marks the absent Saviour’s love for his Church on earth. He is the Ancient of Days; they are ever being successively born into life.
Have ye any meat? The word meat signifies any food eaten additionally to bread, and here fish. Chrysostom says our Lord addresses them as though he were one who wanted to buy fish. No The question was to bring out their complete failure, preparatory to his giving the command that would ensure success. It is when we have fully realized our own insufficiency that we receive of the fulness of Christ.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Joh 21:5-6 . ] Not un-Johannean (1Jn 2:14 ; 1Jn 2:18 ), although in Joh 13:33 is used.
. ] The emphasis lies, as frequently, on the concluding word: you are not, I suppose , (already) in possession of something to eat? The question presupposes the opinion of the questioner, that they had probably as yet taken nothing, as well as the thought that in the opposite case He need not step in. That, however, He designates fishes exactly by , is grounded on the fact that He intends to take a breakfast with the disciples on the fishes, after which He inquires. On . itself, which is, like the Attic , used especially of fishes (comp. , Moeris, p. 204. 24; , Athen. iv. p. 162 C, vii. p. 276 E), see Sturz, Dial. Al . p. 191; Fischer, de vitiis, Lex . p. 697 f.
The disciples simply answer: no; they have therefore taken Him for an entire stranger, who perhaps wishes to buy fishes for breakfast. The , intended by Jesus in the sense of fatherly love, they may have regarded , in the mouth of the unknown, as a friendly designation of the state of service (Nonnus: ; Euth. Zigabenus: ). Comp. on Joh 6:6 .
.] They had the net then in the lake, on quite another side of the boat.
] no more , as previously, when it was empty and light. Observe the pictorial imperf. (see the critical notes).
] draw , draw up the submerged net. On the other hand, , Joh 21:8 : tugging, dragging forth . See Tittmann, Synon . p. 57 f.
] on account of . See Bernhardy, p. 224.
To regard the above fruitless toils (on the left , it is thought), and this abundant take on the right , as a figure of the apostolic activity, in relation first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles (Grotius, Weitzel, Hengstenberg, Godet, Hilgenfeld, and several others), is too special, and not even conformable to history (Gal 2:9 ; Act 22:20 , et al ., comp. Luthardt), without prejudice, moreover, to the symbolism of the draught of fishes in itself; see note after Joh 21:14 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? they answered him, No. (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. (7) Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved, saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. (8) And the other disciples came in a little ship, (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
It is rather surprizing, that when Jesus called to them by so tender a name, and which was the very same words, little children, as he had used before, (see Joh 13:33 ) that they had not immediately discovered who it was. But this was reserved for the miracle which he added, and which produced the effect. I pray the Reader to notice, from all these tender incidents of the Lord Jesus, how near his heart his people are. He saith now as much as then, Children, have ye any meat? Cast on the right side, and ye shall find. If we are backward to seek our spiritual sustenance from him, Jesus will be found of them that seek him not. And how often doth Jesus make himself known by his gracious acts, as here to John, when outward revelations do not always effect it. Is not the Lord known by his providence, and by his grace, in numberless instances where we least expected him?
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
Ver. 5. Children, have ye any meat? ] This he saith as seeming to be some housekeeper, who passing by fishermen, calls to them, as willing to buy their fish for the use of his family. Galeacius Caracciolus, that noble marquis of Vico (that left all for Christ, preferring the blessing of God before the world’s warm sun), would go into the market at Geneva and cater for his household; grieving for nothing more than that he had not wherewithal to keep a better house for the relief of the poor. And in that respect only he wished himself as great a man at Geneva as he was in Italy. (His Life by Crashaw.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
5. ] . is in John’s manner.
] See reff. In ch. Joh 13:33 we have .
is said by the grammarians to be the Hellenic form equivalent to the Attic , signifying any thing eaten as an additament to bread, but especially fish . So that here the best rendering would be as in A.V.R., Have ye any fish?
Joh 21:5 . ; The is not merely continuative, but indicates that what Jesus said was in some respect prompted by their ignorance of His identity. This is neglected by Lcke when he says that is not Johannine, and that is the regular term used by Jesus in addressing the disciples. Yes, when He openly addresses them; but here He uses the word any stranger might use, and the rendering “children” retained even in R.V [98] is wrong. It should be “lads”; being the common term of address to men at work, see Aristophanes, Clouds , 137, Frogs , 33; Euthymius, . Jesus appeared as an intending purchaser and cries, ; “Have you taken any fish?” (R.V [99] : “have ye anything to eat?” misapprehends both the words and the situation). , as its composition shows, means anything eaten as seasoning or “kitchen” to bread; being the Hellenistic word used instead of the Attic or . Athenaeus and Plutarch both tell us that fish was so commonly used in this way that came to mean “fish”. has its quasitechnical sense, “have ye caught?” For this sense, see Aristophanes, Clouds , 705 (723, 731), where Socrates asks Strepsiades under the blanket, ; on which the Scholiast remarks, , , . So that the words of Jesus are: “Lads, have ye caught no fish?” , “ ”. “They answered Him, ‘No,’ ” without any or .
[98] Revised Version.
[99] Revised Version.
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.
5.] . is in Johns manner.
] See reff. In ch. Joh 13:33 we have .
is said by the grammarians to be the Hellenic form equivalent to the Attic , signifying any thing eaten as an additament to bread, but especially fish. So that here the best rendering would be as in A.V.R., Have ye any fish?
Joh 21:5. , Children, Little sons) A name of age [i.e. such as would be used by an aged person]. He addresses them as though He were one unknown, lovingly, from an elevation above them, as being the eternal Wisdom.[400]-, meat) as for instance a fish.-, no) Human art is not always consistent with itself [cannot always produce the same results]: but Joh 21:6, the Divine blessing always is [always can].
[400] Aeterna, referring to the previous tatis. He had used a name applied by age to youth, being indeed Himself the Wisdom, who has existed through all ages.-E. and T.
Joh 21:5
Joh 21:5
Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat?-He calls them children, an affectionate and familiar style of address. Still they did not recognize him. [He meant have you caught any fish? His manner was that of a householder, desiring to purchase for the morning meal.]
They answered him, No.-[Evidently without a suspicion of his identity. There was nothing in his question that made the disciples suspect who he was.]
Children: or, Sirs, 1Jo 2:13, 1Jo 2:18,*Gr.
have: Psa 37:3, Luk 24:41-43, Phi 4:11-13, Phi 4:19, Heb 13:5
Reciprocal: 1Ki 19:6 – cake 2Ki 4:38 – Set on the great pot Pro 23:15 – My son Mat 9:2 – Son Mar 8:7 – fishes Mar 10:24 – Children
5
Children is from PAIDION, and its literal meaning is “little ones.” It is not used literally in this verse, but is spoken “in affectionate address” according to Thayer. The margin renders it “sirs,” and Moffatt translates it “lads.” Have ye any meat meant to ask if they had been successful in their fishing, which they had not.
Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
[Children.] By what word soever Christ expressed this children to them, it seems to be a very familiar and gentle compellation, that his disciples, from that very salutation of his, might discern him. They did not know him by sight, as appears, Joh 21:4; he would have them know him, therefore, by the title he gave them.
[Any meat.] Very usual amongst the Rabbins may not unfitly be rendered meat for one single repast; as if Christ should have said, “Children, have ye any meat with you sufficient for a breakfast or a dinner?” But if any meat should signify any sort of meat that must be eaten with bread; as Camerarius thinks, then Christ’s words seem to have this meaning: “Here, I have bread with me: have you taken any thing, that we may eat this bread?” and so meat may be distinguished from bread.
Joh 21:5. Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye anything to eat? They answered him, No. It is hardly possible to imagine that the word children is here used because Jesus is addressing Himself as a master to his workmen, or because He is. Speaking with the dignity of a superior. It is a word of tenderness and affection. At the same time it may perhaps have a deeper meaning, for the word brethren of chap. Joh 20:17, which now expresses the relation of Jesus to His disciples, rather leads directly to the supposition that, in a certain sense, He speaks as One standing on a footing of equality with themselves. There is at least a striking coincidence between the word (children) here used and that used in Heb 2:13 (Isa 8:18). He who speaks is engaged in the same occupation, takes the same position, is called to the same work as they. The question which He asks is important, especially the word which is rendered in the Authorised Version meat, but which we have rendered by to eat. For thus we observe the true point of the question,not, Have you caught fish? but, Have you fish to eat? The term, however, was commonly used of fish. Here it seems to refer to provision of fish taken by them for eating when they started. It ought to be carefully noted also that, as is shown by the particular form of the question, it is the meal that is before the mind of Jesus: only when we see this do we gain the true point of view from which to contemplate the whole narrative. To the question of Jesus the disciples answer, No. They thus acknowledge the fruitlessness of their labours, and their need of further light and guidance.
Vv. 5, 6. Jesus says to them, Children, have you anything to eat? They answered him, No. 6. He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you shall find. They cast it therefore;and they were not able to draw it because of the multitude of the fishes.
The term , young people, boys, is not foreign to the language of John (1Jn 2:13; 1Jn 2:18). If the more tender term , little children, is not used, as in Joh 13:33, it is because Jesus could not have expressed Himself thus without making Himself known. He uses the expression of a master speaking to his workmen. The negative sense of the interrogative form may, as in Joh 6:67, be rendered thus: You have nothing then …? The sequel will explain this question. Jesus does not look merely at a catching of fish, as in Luke 5, but at a meal. It is not necessary, therefore, to suppose, with Chrysostom, Tholuck and others, that Jesus wished to present Himself to them as a trader who was desirous of purchasing fish.
The word is not found again in John; it denotes literally what is added to bread at a meal; in this case, the fish.
The apostles suppose that this stranger understands fishing, and that he has noticed some indication fitted to give occasion for his advice. It has been thought that the opposition between the left side of the boat, where they had cast the net during the night to no purpose, and the right side, where they were about to make their magnificent draught, typified the contrast between the failure of the work of evangelization in Israel and its infinitely rich fruits in the Gentile world. But, besides the fact that this seems contrary to what is related in Acts 2-5 and Act 21:20 (), it is necessary to hold to the general idea of the immense success which will be gained in the world by the preaching of the Gospel, at every time when the apostles shall suffer themselves to be directed by the Lord, and shall work with Him. This meaning could not escape them, provided they remembered the terms of the original call: I will make you fishers of living men. They could understand it, however, only after having recognized Jesus.
Verse 5
Meat; food.
Jesus addressed the disciples with an affectionate masculine greeting (Gr. paidia). The translation "boys" captures the spirit of His word. The form of Jesus’ question in the Greek text assumed a negative answer; He expected that they had caught nothing. One can sense the discouragement and mild embarrassment in the disciples’ "no." Jesus was in the process of teaching these men their personal inadequacy even in the type of work they knew best and had most experience with. It was important that they articulate their failure.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)