Fishing holds a significant place in the Bible, often symbolizing patience, faith, and the call to discipleship. The simple act of casting a net or a line is imbued with spiritual meaning, offering insights into our relationship with God and each other. Whether you’re an avid angler or someone seeking spiritual lessons through the metaphor of fishing, these Bible verses provide profound wisdom and inspiration. In this article, we’ll explore 33 encouraging Bible verses about fishing, helping you to find deeper meaning in both your spiritual and everyday life.
Fishing in the Old Testament
Historical Context of Fishing
Fishing was a common occupation in ancient Israel, particularly around the Sea of Galilee. It was a crucial source of food and income, making it a fitting analogy for various spiritual truths.
Key Old Testament Verses
Jeremiah
- Jeremiah 16:16: “But now I will send for many fishermen,” declares the Lord, “and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks.” This verse uses fishing as a metaphor for gathering people for God’s purposes.
Ezekiel
- Ezekiel 47:10: “Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea.” This prophecy speaks of abundant blessings and the flourishing of life, symbolized by a plentiful catch of fish.
Amos
- Amos 4:2: “The Sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness: ‘The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks.'” Here, fishing imagery is used to describe judgment and the inevitability of God’s actions.
Fishing in the New Testament
Jesus and His Disciples
Calling of the First Disciples
- Matthew 4:19: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Jesus used the occupation of fishing to illustrate His call to evangelism, inviting His disciples to become “fishers of men.”
- Mark 1:16-18: “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.” This passage highlights the immediate response of the disciples to Jesus’ call.
The Miraculous Catch of Fish
- Luke 5:4-6: “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.” This miracle underscores the importance of faith and obedience to Jesus’ instructions.
Parables and Teachings
The Parable of the Net
- Matthew 13:47-48: “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.” This parable teaches about the final judgment and the separation of the righteous from the wicked.
Table of Top Verses About Fishing
| Verse | Summary |
|---|---|
| Matthew 4:19 | Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men |
| John 21:6 | Cast the net on the right side of the boat |
| Matthew 13:47-48 | The kingdom of heaven is like a net |
| Luke 5:4-6 | Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch |
| Mark 1:17 | I will send you out to fish for people |
List of 33 Bible Verses About Fishing
Matthew 4:19 – Fishers of Men
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
John 21:6 – Cast the Net on the Right Side
“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 13:47-48 – The Net and the Kingdom of Heaven
“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.”
Luke 5:4-6 – A Miraculous Catch
“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.”
Mark 1:17 – Fishers of People
“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’”
John 21:10-11 – Bring Some of the Fish You Have Just Caught
“Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.”
Matthew 17:27 – The Coin in the Fish’s Mouth
“‘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.’”
Habakkuk 1:14-15 – The Wicked Catch People like Fish
“You have made people like the fish in the sea, like the sea creatures that have no ruler. The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad.”
Ezekiel 47:9 – Swarms of Living Creatures Will Live Wherever the River Flows
“Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.”
Jeremiah 16:16 – I Will Send for Many Fishermen
“‘But now I will send for many fishermen,’ declares the Lord, ‘and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks.’”
Jonah 2:1 – From Inside the Fish, Jonah Prayed to the Lord
“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God.”
Psalm 105:29 – He Turned Their Waters into Blood
“He turned their waters into blood, causing their fish to die.”
Ezekiel 29:4 – I Will Put Hooks in Your Jaws
“But I will put hooks in your jaws and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales. I will pull you out from among your streams, with all the fish sticking to your scales.”
Isaiah 19:8 – The Fishermen Will Lament
“The fishermen will groan and lament, all who cast hooks into the Nile; those who throw nets on the water will pine away.”
Proverbs 30:19 – The Way of a Man with a Young Woman
“the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.”
Matthew 7:9-10 – Who Gives Their Child a Stone?
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?”
Luke 11:11 – Will Give Him a Snake Instead of a Fish?
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?”
John 6:11 – Jesus Gave Thanks and Distributed the Fish
“Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.”
Amos 4:2 – You Will Be Taken Away with Hooks
“The Sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness: ‘The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks.’”
Psalm 8:8 – The Fish in the Sea
“the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.”
Ezekiel 47:10 – Fishermen Will Stand Along the Shore
“Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea.”
Numbers 11:5 – We Remember the Fish We Ate in Egypt
“We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.”
Genesis 1:26 – Rule Over the Fish in the Sea
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’”
Leviticus 11:9 – Of All the Creatures Living in the Water
“Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales.”
Numbers 11:22 – Would They Have Enough If All the Fish Were Caught?
“Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?”
Deuteronomy 4:18 – The Form of Any Fish in the Waters
“or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below.”
Ezekiel 38:20 – The Fish in the Sea Will Tremble
“The fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground.”
Nehemiah 13:16 – People from Tyre Brought in Fish
“People from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath to the people of Judah.”
Job 41:7 – Can You Fill Its Hide with Harpoons?
“Can you fill its hide with harpoons or its head with fishing spears?”
Isaiah 50:2 – Their Fish Rot for Lack of Water
“When I came, why was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Was my arm too short to deliver you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you? By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert; their fish rot for lack
of water and die of thirst.”
Genesis 9:2 – The Fear and Dread of You Will Fall on All the Beasts
“The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.”
Job 12:8 – Speak to the Earth, and It Will Teach You
“Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.”
Conclusion:
Fishing in the Bible is rich with metaphorical and literal lessons that can guide us in faith and daily living. These verses remind us of the importance of patience, faith, and following God’s call. By reflecting on these scriptures, we can draw inspiration and strengthen our spiritual journey.