# Matthew 4:19

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Verse of the New Testament

Matthew 4:19 ← 4:18 4:20 → Adriaen van de Venne's Fishing for Souls, Oil on panel (1614) Book Gospel of Matthew Christian Bible part New Testament

**Matthew 4:19** is the nineteenth verse of [the fourth chapter](/source/Matthew_4) of the [Gospel of Matthew](/source/Gospel_of_Matthew) in the [New Testament](/source/New_Testament). [Jesus](/source/Jesus) has just begun preaching in [Galilee](/source/Galilee) and has encountered the fishermen [Simon Peter](/source/Simon_Peter) and [Andrew](/source/Saint_Andrew). In this verse he calls the pair to follow him.

## Content

The original [Koine Greek](/source/Koine_Greek), according to [Westcott and Hort](/source/The_New_Testament_in_the_Original_Greek), reads:

- και λεγει αυτοις δευτε οπισω μου

- και ποιησω υμας αλιεις ανθρωπων

In the [King James Version](/source/King_James_Version) of the Bible, the text reads:

- And he saith unto them, Follow me,

- and I will make you fishers of men.

The [World English Bible](/source/World_English_Bible) translates the passage as:

- He said to them, "Come after me,

- and I will make you fishers for men."

For a collection of other versions see [BibleHub Matthew 4:19](http://biblehub.com/matthew/4-19.htm).

## Analysis

### Follow me

The term "follow me" refers to following as a disciple would a [Rabbi](/source/Rabbi). Any good Rabbi or teacher would have a group of disciples around him learning and doing tasks for their master. France notes that Jesus' statement is unusual as it invites the disciples to take an active part in his ministry.[1] While both Greek and Jewish religious leaders were traditionally surrounded by a group of disciples it was more common for the disciples to search out a teacher, and for a teacher to express indifference to their followers. This verse clearly depicts Jesus' actively recruiting his followers.[2]: 147

### Fishers of men

The phrase "[fishers of men](/source/Fishers_of_men)", also at [Mark 1:17](https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/mar/1/17/s_958017), is one of the most well known lines in the entire New Testament, and the metaphor for [evangelism](/source/Evangelism). The image probably had an important role in the adoption of the [Ichthys](/source/Ichthys) as a symbol of early Christianity. The reference has also often been moved from the disciples to Jesus, with him being called the "fisher of men",[*[example needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:AUDIENCE)*] and the image of Jesus as a fisherman is second only to that of Jesus as a [shepherd](/source/Shepherd).

The translation "fishers of men" is well known and used by most authors, but not wholly accurate in a modern context, inasmuch as the original Greek is [gender neutral](/source/Gender-neutral_language).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Translators also prefer to avoid the word *fisher*, since *[fisherman](/source/Fisherman)* has replaced it as the standard term in English, though in recent years *fisher* has gained some currency as a gender neutral term for fishermen.

A similar reference to fishing occurs at [Jeremiah 16:16](https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/jer/16/16/s_761016), upon which this passage might be based. In [Jeremiah](/source/Book_of_Jeremiah) the reference is to hunting down sinners: in the Gospels it seems to be a milder metaphor of saving souls. The basic interpretation of the metaphor as referring to the disciples working to catch souls for Jesus as they had previously caught fish is universally agreed upon, there are, however, a number of views of the exact meaning of the metaphor. The metaphor has a somewhat different meaning depending on one's view of the type of fishing the disciples participated in. Wallace argues that the common view of fishing with a line and hook and bringing each fish in individually is misplaced, Simon and Andrew would have used nets to fish and would have brought in large numbers of fish at once through grand acts.[3] Wuellner presents an alternate view, arguing that the disciples may have caught fish individually, and even by hand.[4] Jindrich Manek believes that to fully appreciate the metaphor one must understand how the sea was viewed at the time. He argues that throughout the Old Testament the sea is presented as unholy, to create life God first needed to push away the seas, and in stories, such as that of [Jonah](/source/Jonah), the depths of the sea are portrayed as being synonymous with the underworld. Thus the act of fishing brings the fish from the domain of sin and death to that of God. Similarly the disciples are tasked with bringing souls from sin and evil into the domain of God. The water reference might also be linked to the idea of [baptism](/source/Baptism), which in [Matthew 28:19](/source/Matthew_28%3A19) is explicitly linked to the disciples' mission.[5]: 138

Manek also notes that some question whether the metaphor has the universal meaning that is usually understood. Some scholars believe that Jesus only called Simon and Andrew to be fishers because they already had these skills, that is Jesus had met a teacher he would have asked them to teach for him and if he had met a soldier he would have asked him to do battle for him.[5]

## Commentary from the Church Fathers

[Glossa Ordinaria](/source/Glossa_Ordinaria): Follow me, not so much with your feet as in your hearts and your life.[6]

[Pseudo-Chrysostom](/source/Pseudo-Chrysostom): Fishers of men, that is, teachers, that with the net of God's word you may catch men out of this world of storm and danger, in which men do not walk but are rather borne along, the Devil by pleasure drawing them into sin where men devour one another as the stronger fishes do the weaker, withdrawn from hence they may live upon the land, being made members of Christ's body.[6]

## Literary usage

The words of this famous verse have appeared a number of times in art and culture. Literary works which refer to the verse include [Geoffrey Chaucer](/source/Geoffrey_Chaucer)'s "[Summoner's Tale](/source/The_Summoner's_Tale)", [Byron](/source/George_Gordon_Byron%2C_6th_Baron_Byron)'s *[Don Juan](/source/Don_Juan_(Byron))*, [Tennyson](/source/Alfred_Tennyson%2C_1st_Baron_Tennyson)'s *Harold*, [Joyce](/source/James_Joyce)'s *[A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man](/source/A_Portrait_of_the_Artist_as_a_Young_Man)*, and [G.K. Chesterton](/source/G.K._Chesterton)'s "[The Innocence of Father Brown](/source/Father_Brown)".[7]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** France, R.T (1985). *The Gospel According to Matthew: an Introduction and Commentary*. Leicester: Inter-Varsity.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Keener, Craig S. (1999). *A commentary on the Gospel of Matthew*. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Wallace, Daniel B. - Fishing in the New Testament: A Misunderstood Analogy for Evangelism](http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1246)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Wuellner, Wilhelm H. (1967). *The Meaning of "Fishers of Men"*. Westminster Press.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-manek1957_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-manek1957_5-1) Manek, Jindrich (1957). "Fishers of Men". *Novum Testamentum*. **2** (2): 138–141. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/1560099](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1560099). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1560099](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1560099).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Commentary_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Commentary_6-1) Aquinas, Thomas (1874). ["Catena Aurea: commentary on the four Gospels; collected out of the works of the Fathers"](https://archive.org/details/p1catenaaureacom01thomuoft/page/n19/mode/2up). Oxford: Parker. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the [public domain](/source/Public_domain).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Jeffrey, David Lyle, ed. (1992). "Fisher's of Men". *A Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature*. Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans.

## Bibliography

- Carson, D.A., "The Limits of Functional Equivalence in Bible Translation - and other Limits Too", *The Challenge of Bible Translation: Communicating God's Word to the World.* edited by Glen G Scorgie, Mark L. Strauss, Steven M. Voth.

Preceded by Matthew 4:18 Gospel of Matthew Chapter 4 Succeeded by Matthew 4:20

v t e Gospel of Matthew chapter 4 Verse Matthew 4:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14-15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Places Beyond Jordan Capernaum Decapolis Galilee Jerusalem Jordan River Judea Nazareth Samaria Sea of Galilee Syria People Andrew Isaiah James Jesus Christ John Satan Simon Peter Zebedee Phrases/Events First disciples of Jesus Ministry of Jesus Temptation of Jesus Sources Greek Text Latin Vulgate Wycliffe Version King James Version American Standard Version World English Version ← chapter 3 Gospel of Matthew chapter 5 →

v t e Gospel of Matthew Bible (New Testament) Chapters Matthew 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Verses Matthew 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16:2b–3,19 27:1–12; 52–66 28 Events and phrases Jesus' birth Star of Bethlehem Magi Flight into Egypt Massacre of the Innocents Return to Nazareth Kingdom of heaven Baptism Temptation Galilean ministry Fishers of men Behold the bridegroom Sermon on the Mount Beatitudes Lord's Prayer Golden Rule Jesus preaches in a ship Calming the storm Feeding the multitude Walking on water Transfiguration Great Commandment Olivet Discourse Ten Virgins Anointing Passion of Jesus Last Supper Crucifixion of Jesus Burial Empty tomb Resurrection Great Commission People Andrew Bartholomew Caiaphas Herod James James, son of Alphaeus Jeremiah Jesus Christ John John the Baptist Joseph Judas Iscariot Jude Mary Mary Magdalene Mary, sister of Martha Matthew Philip Pontius Pilate Rachel Simon Peter Simon the Zealot Thomas Zebedee Groups Angels Pharisees Sadducees Sanhedrin Places Bethany Bethlehem Bethsaida Capernaum Egypt Galilee Jerusalem Jordan River Judea Samaria Sea of Galilee Related Q source M source Gospel of Mark Textual variants Augustinian hypothesis Two-gospel hypothesis Matthean Posteriority Genealogy of Jesus Five Discourses of Matthew Calling of Matthew Kingdom of heaven Immanuel Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew Rabbinical translations Shem Tob Joseph Smith–Matthew In culture St Matthew Passion (Bach, 1727/29) Structure The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964 film) Godspell (1971 musical) Godspell (1973 film) The Visual Bible: Matthew (1993 film) Manuscripts Papyrus 1 4 19 21 25 35 37 44 45 53 62 70 71 73 77 83 86 96 101 102 103 104 105 110 Magdalen papyrus Sources Greek Text Latin Vulgate Wycliffe Version King James Version American Standard Version World English Version

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