Lexical Summary halieus: Fisherman Original Word: ἁλιεύς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fisherman. From hals; a sailor (as engaged on the salt water), i.e. (by implication) a fisher -- fisher(-man). see GREEK hals NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom hals (the sea) Definition a fisherman NASB Translation fishermen (3), fishers (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 231: ἁλεευς[ἁλεευς, ὁ, T WH uniformly for ἁλιεύς, see Tdf.'s note on Mark 1:16 and N. T. edition 7, Proleg., p. 1; especially edition 8, Proleg., p. 82f; WHs Appendix, p. 151.] STRONGS NT 231: ἁλιεύςἁλιεύς, (έως (ὁ (ἅλς, ἁλός, the sea) (from Homer down); a fisherman, fisher: Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16; Luke 5:2 — in all which passages T and WH have ἁλεεῖς from the form ἁλεεύς, which see. Occupational Profile in the First Century Fishing on the Sea of Galilee was a demanding year-round vocation requiring strength, teamwork, and business acumen. Fishermen worked primarily with circular casting nets or large drag nets, often at night when fish swam closer to the surface. Catches were salted or dried for export to cities such as Jerusalem and Sepphoris, making the trade economically significant and socially respectable. Successful crews owned boats, hired servants (Mark 1:20), and paid taxes and tolls to Herod Antipas and the Roman administration. Fishermen Among the Disciples Four of the Twelve—Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John—are explicitly called fishermen. Matthew 4:18–19 records: “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers… They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow Me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ ” Their occupation equipped them with qualities the Lord would redirect: perseverance, cooperative labor, willingness to risk, and familiarity with the unpredictable. Luke 5:2 pictures them mending nets, a humble scene that highlights their readiness to leave ordinary work for Kingdom service when Christ calls. The Call of the Kingdom: From Nets to Nations Jesus’ promise to make His followers “fishers of men” is more than a wordplay; it foretells the global mission inaugurated at Pentecost (Acts 2:41) and sustained through the church’s evangelistic witness. Mark 1:17 parallels Matthew’s account, reinforcing the immediacy of obedience: “At once they left their nets and followed Him” (Mark 1:18). The metaphor portrays evangelism as purposeful, skillful, and patient harvesting of souls, requiring Spirit-directed strategy analogous to choosing appropriate nets, reading waters, and laboring through long nights (compare John 21:6). Old Testament Foreshadowing Jeremiah 16:16 anticipates a day when God will “send for many fishermen… and they will fish for them,” a prophetic backdrop for the Gospel call. Ezekiel 47:10 envisions fishermen along the revitalized river flowing from the temple, symbolizing abundant life issuing from divine presence. These passages set a canonical trajectory that culminates in Christ, integrating old and new covenants in a unified redemptive storyline. Historical and Cultural Insights Archaeological discoveries of first-century boats (e.g., the 1986 “Jesus Boat”) confirm Gospel descriptions of vessels large enough for crews and catches yet vulnerable to sudden squalls (Luke 8:23). Galilean fishing cooperatives are attested by records of licenses and syndicates, explaining why multiple families (Zebedee’s household) shared labor and profits. Such structures fostered the relational networks through which early Christian witness spread rapidly. Theological Significance 1. Divine Initiative: Jesus chooses ordinary laborers to demonstrate that the Gospel’s power rests in God, not human status (1 Corinthians 1:26–29). Practical Ministry Implications • Evangelism requires training and persistence; not every cast yields immediate results (Luke 5:5). Summary Strong’s Greek 231 portrays fishermen whose daily routines became a living parable of the Gospel’s advance. Christ’s authoritative call transformed tradesmen into apostles, illustrating how God redeems vocation and redirects skill for eternal impact. Their account challenges every generation to leave lesser securities, embrace the Master’s mission, and labor together until the final net is drawn to shore. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 4:18 N-NMPGRK: ἦσαν γὰρ ἁλιεῖς NAS: into the sea; for they were fishermen. KJV: for they were fishers. INT: they were indeed fishermen Matthew 4:19 N-AMP Mark 1:16 N-NMP Mark 1:17 N-AMP Luke 5:2 N-NMP |
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