What about those 153 fish in John 21

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Omegatime

Guest
#1
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Many have suggested many meanings for the 153 fish, such as species of fish, a name, number of nations, and numerous others. I see the fire representing the judgement seat of Christ, and the bread as the Word of God.

15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

What do you think????
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
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#2
That can make a lot of fish fingers...
 

soberxp

Senior Member
May 3, 2018
2,511
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83
#3
Genesis 7:24
And the waters were mighty on the earth for a hundred and fifty days.

1 Corinthians 15:4
And he was buried and raised on the third day according to the Bible,

150+3=153
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,243
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Tennessee
#4
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Many have suggested many meanings for the 153 fish, such as species of fish, a name, number of nations, and numerous others. I see the fire representing the judgement seat of Christ, and the bread as the Word of God.

15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

What do you think????
I think that every word is significant in scripture including numbers. The 153 fish number has meaning too but don't it could relate to.
 

Webers.Home

Well-known member
May 28, 2018
5,132
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Oregon
cfbac.org
#5
.
Jesus performed a very similar miracle early in his association with the Peter
(Luke 5). In that incident, the number of fish were basically unlimited and
exceeded the net's capacity

In the latter incident, the number of fish were limited, and the net held.

I don't exactly know why, but Jesus wasn't easily recognized by his friends
after his resurrection. On occasion it took some doing to convince them that
it was really him back from the dead. Well for sure the incident with the fish
did the trick that day.

Acts 1:2-3 . .The apostles whom he had chosen: to whom also he showed
himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs; being seen of them
forty days.

I have never once been shown what might be called an infallible proof that
Jesus came back from death, nor have I even once seen him for a moment let
alone continuously forty days. But then again, maybe I should be grateful
because he reserved proofs and visits for people who became his
missionaries. Well; I don't want to be a missionary. I'm okay with being a
plain old garden variety pew warmer.
_
 
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Omegatime

Guest
#6
In Luke 3:23-38 we see 76 generations from Adam to Jesus, with Jesus being the 77th generation.

If we take another 76 generation and divide it into 2000 years since the Lord was crucified we come up with about 26 years to a generation which is reasonable.

So, it is possible that the fish equal 153 generations with the smaller fish representing those who are yet to come during the 1000 year reign of Christ'

76 + 1 + 76 = 153
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,195
6,508
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#9
.
Jesus performed a very similar miracle early in his association with the Peter
(Luke 5). In that incident, the number of fish were basically unlimited and
exceeded the net's capacity


In the latter incident, the number of fish were limited, and the net held.

I don't exactly know why, but Jesus wasn't easily recognized by his friends
after his resurrection. On occasion it took some doing to convince them that
it was really him back from the dead. Well for sure the incident with the fish
did the trick that day.


Acts 1:2-3 . .The apostles whom he had chosen: to whom also he showed
himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs; being seen of them
forty days.


I have never once been shown what might be called an infallible proof that
Jesus came back from death, nor have I even once seen him for a moment let
alone continuously forty days. But then again, maybe I should be grateful
because he reserved proofs and visits for people who became his
missionaries. Well; I don't want to be a missionary. I'm okay with being a
plain old garden variety pew warmer.
_
During the forty days to His ascent to the right had of the Father, His Body was being glorified. As is written in Isaiah, He was not one that people would gaze upon for His beauty, however He was being glorified to be the most wondrous in beauty than any other. That is our Lord and God, Jesus Yeshua, amen.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
11,729
4,776
113
#10
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Many have suggested many meanings for the 153 fish, such as species of fish, a name, number of nations, and numerous others. I see the fire representing the judgement seat of Christ, and the bread as the Word of God.

15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

What do you think????
I think it shows the power and certainty of Gods word before Jesus shows up they fetch nothing he tells them to do something they do it and receive a reward of abundance

“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.”
‭‭John‬ ‭21:6‬ ‭

they heard Gods sure word and obeyed
 
S

SophieT

Guest
#11
and sometimes it really is just a fish story

that's what I think

I just prayed about not knowing how to change the time (yeah I'm late doing it) on my Bose cd player...can't find the book

so I said 'dear Lord can you please just help me know how to change the time on this thing?' so I sat down in front of it with the remote, tried a few things...nope...then my eyes fell on the 'time' buttons....which were there all the time, but I guess I can be as myopic as the next person, and voila...time changed. Thank you God!

it's just really simple sometimes. God is a mystery to those who do not know Him. Let us not make Him a mystery that He is not

ps: God does stuff like that for me all the time. just ask...He will answer just like with the disciples...He knows where the fish are ;)
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,195
6,508
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#12
Me too! The most recent forme was finding my bathroom with a lot of water coming out from under the bid'e after a very heavy raing.
I mopped up the mess but a very few minutes later it came back. I asked if it was the Father's will to help me fix it. or if He would. I had no idea what exactly to do, so I put some drain cleaner in all draqins in the room. After a proper wait I rn hot watr through each of them, and everything worked fine after that.

God did it! I was just there to serve. Of course I benefitted from it, but I gave and give all glory to our Popp, amen.
 
S

SophieT

Guest
#13
Me too! The most recent forme was finding my bathroom with a lot of water coming out from under the bid'e after a very heavy raing.
I mopped up the mess but a very few minutes later it came back. I asked if it was the Father's will to help me fix it. or if He would. I had no idea what exactly to do, so I put some drain cleaner in all draqins in the room. After a proper wait I rn hot watr through each of them, and everything worked fine after that.

God did it! I was just there to serve. Of course I benefitted from it, but I gave and give all glory to our Popp, amen.

yeah we gotta be practical otherwise it's all just theory! after all, Jesus said He sees the sparrow fall and we are his premier creation after all....but I love the little sparrows also

oh ~ and the hairs on our head are numbered also

fathom that
 

Mofastus

Active member
May 23, 2019
400
225
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#14
During the forty days to His ascent to the right had of the Father, His Body was being glorified. As is written in Isaiah, He was not one that people would gaze upon for His beauty, however He was being glorified to be the most wondrous in beauty than any other. That is our Lord and God, Jesus Yeshua, amen.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,094
113
#15
I think that every word is significant in scripture including numbers. The 153 fish number has meaning too but don't it could relate to.
17 + 16 + 15 + 14 + . . . + 3 + 2 + 1 = 153
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,094
113
#16
I think that every word is significant in scripture including numbers. The 153 fish number has meaning too but don't it could relate to.
John describes 7 specific miracles.
in the last statement of ch. 20, he writes that he has chosen these things in order to prove who Jesus Christ is, so the reader may believe.
many of the most powerful dirct statements of Christ declaring His deity are in John, and each miracle shows His power and authority over all of creation and identifies Him as the Creator.

then, with those 7 recorded, and the explanation given that they are proof,
John tells us about an 8th thing, involving 153 fish, and Jesus making breakfast on the shore, having fish, plural, and bread already on the coals.

the 153 fish are significant, and so is the fact we don't actually know that Jesus had at least 2 fish of His own to share - and loaves?
and it was the fish and bread Jesus had already prepared that they had for breakfast.
and it's the 3rd time He appeared to them after the resurrection.

all these things together are necessary to understand the 153 fish. they're part of a larger pattern in John


so i mean it's interesting that the 8 miracles in John are broken into 7 then 1, that Hebrew is written right to left, and that the natural numbers from 17 to 1 added together = 153.
but i don't know how to codify that into something meaningful, or understand why i should be adding up the sum from 1 to n of anything and what it signifies.
what i do know is that to understand why it has to be 153, why 153 is the perfect number of fish to be in that net, i have to understand the situation that leads up to the netful of fish and what Christ does when they count the fish. those things necessarily explain it.
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
5,675
1,619
113
#17
17 + 16 + 15 + 14 + . . . + 3 + 2 + 1 = 153
153 is the 17th triangular number in a series of triangular numbers...and 153 is associated with the Vescica Piscis or Mandorla...and is also the some of the first 5 factorials (wikipedia).
:unsure:
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
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#18
I think that every word is significant in scripture including numbers. The 153 fish number has meaning too but don't [know what] it could relate to.
Fish represent souls (according to one of the parable of Christ), and these 153 represented saved souls. Peter and the apostles (who were fishermen) were told that they would be fishers of men. they had forgotten this temporarily. So it would appear that 153 (or approximately 150) is the ideal number of souls within one local church. And practical experience has shown that once that number is reached, a new local church should be planted. The concept of mega churches is detrimental to the growth and strength of believers.
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
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#19
I think 153 fish is oddly specific for the Bible. Given that numbers very often have symbolic meaning in the Bible, I don't think it's unreasonable to try to read into this a bit.

153 is symbolic of God. 153 is God's blessing.

Why would God give 153 fish? God is giving through the power of His creation.

Why would God give providence through the power of His creation? It's the power of His providence, blessing, glory, giving nature, grace, power, love, and mercy.

153 is the number for the Hebrew words "Ani Elohim" and that means "I am God."
 

Sipsey

Well-known member
Sep 27, 2018
1,335
640
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#20
Here is some commentary concerning the fish:

v 8The rest of the disciples make it to shore: But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.
This tells us also how far Peter swam, the boat was 100 yards off shore so Peter swam 100 yards. Not a small task.
v 9-10The Lord was there, waiting for them:
And so when they got out upon the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid, and fish placed on it, and bread.
Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty- three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus had made preparation for them. Everything was set for their arrival.
NOW SOMETHING IS LITTLE FISHY HERE.
1.The word FISH in verse 8 is ICQUS , the common word for fish.
2.The word FISH in verses 9 and 10 is the word OPSARION
3.That word can mean small fish (like smelt) or the sauce that is prepared before hand that is like a relish that was eaten with fish.
This was a delicacy in the ancient world
4.In verse 11 the word ICQUS is again used for FISH.
LET'S RECONCILE THESE WORDS AND GET SOME PRINCIPLES.
1.Jesus Christ was there waiting for them. The fire which He built looks at judgment, judgment only he could undertake for us.
2.Bread is a common picture in the scriptures of the Word of God. And the disciples, tired as they were, obeyed the Word of the Lord in casting their nets on the other side of the ship.
3.The relish is the relish of life, that which makes everything, even our production in Christ's power and by His word, better.
Life goes better with Christ, He is the one who refreshes.
4.The Lord them summons His disciples as He summons us today. He tells them to add some of there little fish to the fire.

5.Notice verse 11: Peter, the one who should be worn out having just broken the record in the 100 yard swim is the one who pulls in the net. This pictures his strength being in the Lord, not in Himself.
6.The disciples add to what the Lord had prepared what they now possessed, the fish. And they all benefitted, they would all eat.
They only had to haul in the catch, the Lord had done everything else.
7.But even that was possessed by them because they obeyed the Lord's Word and the fish were theirs because of His power.
PARRALELS: And there are a few.
1.Even our fruit, our production, must be in the power of the Lord as we obey His Word.
2.The Lord gives us the power to produce but the enjoyment, the relish of life is found in His presence.
3.What we produce, the fruit of our labor, is returned to the Lord and all are blessed.
4.We can also see a picture of the Fish being those we catch for Christ or win to the Lord, and they are to be brought to Him.
5.And although we may be tired in the flesh, as was Peter after His swim, when we serve the Lord, obey His word, operate in His strength, we not faint, nor will we be weary.
v 12-13A Picture of intimate Fellowship.
Jesus said to them, Come and have breakfast. None of the disciples ventured to question Him, Who are You? knowing that it was the Lord.
The invitation is given. The disciples chose to have fellowship with their Savior and Friend Jesus.
They know Him, they need not ask any questions. He is the WHO and that sets asides the many WHY's of life.
Jesus came and took the bread, and gave them, and the fish likewise.
The bread looks at Jesus provision of the Word of God to his children.
The Fish looks at the believer's production which is in the hands of the Lord and by His authority and power.
The eating together looks at the fellowship the believer can have with the Lord Jesus Christ.
v 14This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.
And from this fellowship is going to come service and from that service will come suffering