While fishing is not a central theme in the Bible, there are several instances where fishing is mentioned, often in the context of Jesus’ teachings. Here are twenty Bible verses about fishing:
Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’”
Luke 5:4-6 (NIV)
“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.”
Luke 5:10 (NIV)
“and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.'”
John 21:6 (NIV)
“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.”
Mark 1:17 (NIV)
“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’”
Matthew 17:27 (NIV)
“But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
Luke 5:2-3 (NIV)
“He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.”
John 21:3 (NIV)
“Simon Peter said, ‘I’m going out to fish.’ And they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’ So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”
Matthew 13:47-48 (NIV)
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.”
Mark 1:16-18 (NIV)
“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.”
Luke 5:7 (NIV)
“So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.”
Matthew 13:48 (NIV)
“When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.”
Matthew 4:18-19 (NIV)
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.'”
Mark 1:19-20 (NIV)
“When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.”
John 21:3-6 (NIV)
“Simon Peter said, ‘I’m going out to fish.’ And they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’ So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No,’ they answered. 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.”
Matthew 13:47 (NIV)
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.”
Luke 5:5 (NIV)
“Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.'”
Matthew 4:18 (NIV)
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.”
John 21:11 (NIV)
“Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.”
Luke 5:9-10 (NIV)
“For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.'”
These verses depict various instances of fishing in the Bible, often with deeper spiritual meanings intertwined with the act of fishing itself.