John 21 · Verse 5

John 21:5

Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
John 21:5, King James Version

John 21:5 in other translations

BSBSo He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered.
WEBJesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
ASVJesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No.
YLTJesus, therefore, saith to them, ‘Lads, have ye any meat?'
DARBYJesus therefore says to them, Children, have ye anything to eat? They answered him, No.
BBESo Jesus said to them, Children, have you taken any fish? They made answer, No.
WebsterThen Jesus saith to them, Children, have ye any victuals? They answered him, No.

What does John 21:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 21:3-6

3-6. Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing--(See on Lu 5:11). that night ... caught nothing--as at the first miraculous draught (see on Lu 5:5); no doubt so ordered that the miracle might strike them the more by contrast. The same principle is seen in operation throughout much of Christ's ministry, and is indeed a great law of God's spiritual procedure with His people.

Read the full comment on John 21:3-6 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. Children. A term of affection and friendship, 1Jn 2:18.

Any meat. This word (Greek) means anything eaten with bread. It was used by the Greeks especially to denote fish (Schleusner)

(d) "Jesus saith unto them" Lk 24:41 (1) "Children" or, "Sirs"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Children - Παιδια, a term of familiarity and affectionate kindness: it is the vocative case plural of παιδιον, which is the diminutive of παις, and literally signifies little children, or beloved children. How the margin has made sirs out of it I cannot conceive. Any meat - Προσφαγιον from προς, besides, and φαγω, 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 the note on Joh 6:9.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 21:1-14

Christ makes himself known to his people, usually in his ordinances; but sometimes by his Spirit he visits them when employed in their business. It is good for the disciples of Christ to be together in common conversation, and common business. The hour for their entering upon action was not come. They would help to maintain themselves, and not be burdensome to any. Christ's time of making himself known to his…

Read the full comment on John 21:1-14 →

John 21:5 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΛέγειLegeiSaysG3004
οὖνounthereforeG3767
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
ὁho<the>G3588
Ἰησοῦς·IēsousJesus;G2424
παιδία,paidiaChildren,G3813
μήmēSurely notG3361
τιtianyG5100
προσφάγιονprosphagionfishG4371
ἔχετε;echetehave you?G2192
ἀπεκρίθησανapekrithēsanThey answeredG611
αὐτῷ·autōto Him;G846
οὔ.ouNo.G3756

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 21:5

  • Philippians 4:19

    But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

  • Philippians 4:11-13

    Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

  • Psalms 37:3

    Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

  • Luke 24:41-43

    And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.

  • 1 John 2:13

    I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

  • Hebrews 13:5

    Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

  • 1 John 2:18

    Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Children. or, Sirs.
1Jo 2:13,18; *Gr:
have.
Ps 37:3; Lu 24:41-43; Php 4:11-13,19; Heb 13:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 21:4

    But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

  • John 21:5

    Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

  • John 21:6

    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.

Read all of John 21

John 21:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y díjoles: Mozos, ¿tenéis algo de comer? Respondiéronle: No.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Jésus donc leur dit: Enfants, avez-vous quelque chose à manger? Ils lui répondirent: Non.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jesus spricht nun zu ihnen: Kindlein, habt ihr wohl etwas zu essen? Sie antworteten ihm: Nein.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixit ergo eis Jesus: Pueri, numquid pulmentarium habetis? Responderunt ei: Non.