The Meaning of John 21:7 Explained

John 21:7

KJV: Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

YLT: That disciple, therefore, whom Jesus was loving saith to Peter, 'The Lord it is!' Simon Peter, therefore, having heard that it is the Lord, did gird on the outer coat, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea;

Darby: That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved says to Peter, It is the Lord. Simon Peter therefore, having heard that it was the Lord, girded his overcoat on him (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea;

ASV: That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his coat about him (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore  that  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved  saith  unto Peter,  It is  the Lord.  Now  when Simon  Peter  heard  that  it was  the Lord,  he girt  [his] fisher's coat  [unto him], (for  he was  naked,  ) and  did cast  himself  into  the sea. 

What does John 21:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The reader has already suspected that "the disciple whom Jesus loved" was John himself. This identification fits because John was one of the disciples in the boat ( John 21:2). Again John realized something about Jesus before Peter did (cf. John 20:8). Probably he sensed that a miracle had happened, and he remembered that a few years earlier Jesus had performed a similar miracle ( Luke 5:1-11). True to the pictures we have of them in the New Testament, John exhibited quick insight and Peter quick action.
Peter had learned that John"s instincts about these things were better than his. He accepted John"s conclusion and jumped into the water. Apparently he wanted to get to Jesus faster than his boat and net, now full of fish, would allow. He showed no concern for the fish; he willingly let them go. His only desire was to get to Jesus.
Fishermen usually worked in their light undergarments (Gr. chiton, long shirts, not underwear). Peter evidently put his outer garment (Gr. ependytes) on so when he reached land he would be properly clothed albeit soaking wet. Normally people take unnecessary clothing off before going swimming. Peter"s somewhat irrational behavior seems to be another indication of his strong desire to get to Jesus quickly. He was again demonstrating his characteristic extravagant loyalty to his Lord (cf. John 20:6).

Context Summary

John 21:1-9 - The Miraculous Draught Of Fishes
It would almost seem as if the Apostles thought that the radiant vision of Christ was withdrawn forever; or did they think that they would glorify Him best, and be most likely to encounter Him, if they returned to the paths of ordinary toil? This miracle closely corresponds to that recorded in Luke 5:1-39, and proves that the methods of the risen Lord are not unlike those of His earthly ministry. Still He stands on the shore in the morning haze, to comfort the hearts of discouraged workers, telling them where to cast their net and revealing the certainty of His help. The eyes that love as John loved are the quickest to descry his presence. He thinks not only of our spoils, but of us, and provides for our sustenance and comfort-not bread only, but fish and a fire. Is not this a picture of the believer's death?-the plunge into the cold stream of dividing water; the welcome on the other shore; the discovery that Christ had expected and prepared; and the feast with the Lord Himself, as He girds Himself to minister. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 21

1  Jesus appearing again to his disciples is known of them by the great catch of fish
12  He dines with them;
15  earnestly commands Peter to feed his lambs and sheep;
18  foretells him of his death;
22  rebukes his curiosity
24  The conclusion

Greek Commentary for John 21:7

It is the Lord [ο κυριος εστιν]
John‘s quick insight appears again. Girt his coat about him First aorist middle (indirect) indicative with which note διεζωσεν εαυτον — diezōsen heauton in John 13:4. Apparently Peter threw on the upper garment or linen blouse (επενδυτην — ependutēn) worn by fishers over his waistcloth and tucked it under his girdle. [source]
Fisher's coat [ἐπενδύτην]
An upper garment or blouse. Only here in the New Testament. In the Septuagint, 1 Samuel 18:4, the robe which Jonathan gave to David. 2 Samuel 13:18, the royal virgin garment of Tamar. The kindred verb, ἐπενδύομαι , occurs twice (2 Corinthians 5:2, 2 Corinthians 5:4), meaning “to be clothed upon,” with the house which is from heaven, i.e., clothed as with an upper garment. See on that passage. [source]
Naked []
Not absolutely, but clothed merely in his undergarment or shirt. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 21:7

Matthew 14:30 He was afraid []
“Although,” says Bengel, “a fisherman and a good swimmer” (John 21:7). [source]
John 6:68 Simon Peter []
Assailants of the authenticity of John's Gospel have asserted that it reveals an effort on the part of the writer to claim for the disciple whom Jesus loved a pre-eminence above Peter. The assertion is effectually contradicted by the narrative itself. See John 1:42; John 6:68; John 13:6; John 18:10, John 18:16; John 20:2, John 20:7; John 21:3, John 21:7, John 21:11, and notes on those passages. Peter's replying for the twelve, in this passage, is a case in point. [source]
John 20:2 Loved [ἐφίλει]
The word for personal affection. In John 13:23; John 21:7, John 21:20, ἠγάπα is used. See on John 5:20. [source]
John 13:4 Girded [διέζωσεν]
Only in this chapter and John 21:7. The compound verb means to bind or gird all round. [source]
John 13:4 Riseth from supper [εγειρεται εκ του δειπνου]
Vivid dramatic present middle indicative of εγειρω — egeirō From the couch on which he was reclining. Layeth aside Same dramatic present active of τιτημι — tithēmi His garments The outer robe ταλλιτ — tallith Jesus had already rebuked the apostles for their strife for precedence at the beginning of the meal (Luke 22:24-30). A towel Latin word linteum, linen cloth, only in this passage in the N.T. Girded himself First aorist active indicative of διαζωννυω — diazōnnuō (-υμι — umi), old and rare compound (in Plutarch, lxx, inscriptions, and papyri), to gird all around. In N.T. only in John (John 13:4, John 13:5; John 21:7). Did Peter not recall this incident when in 1 Peter 5:5 he exhorts all to “gird yourselves with humility” (την ταπεινοπροσυνην εγκομβωσαστε — tēn tapeinophrosunēn egkombōsasthe)? [source]
John 13:23 Was at the table reclining in Jesus‘ bosom [ην ανακειμενος εν τωι κολπωι του Ιησου]
No word for “table” in the text. Periphrastic imperfect of ανακειμαι — anakeimai to lie back, to recline. Κολπος — Kolpos usual word for bosom (John 1:18). Whom Jesus loved Imperfect active of αγαπαω — agapaō John‘s description of himself of which he was proud (John 19:26; John 20:2; John 21:7, John 21:20), identified in John 21:24 as the author of the book and necessarily one of the twelve because of the “explicit” (Bernard) language of Mark (Mark 14:17; Luke 22:14). John son of Zebedee and brother of James. At the table John was on the right of Jesus lying obliquely so that his head lay on the bosom of Jesus. The centre, the place of honour, Jesus occupied. The next place in rank was to the left of Jesus, held by Peter (Westcott) or by Judas (Bernard) which one doubts. [source]
John 20:2 Runneth [τρεχει]
Vivid dramatic present indicative of τρεχω — trechō John deals only with Mary Magdalene. She left the tomb at once before the rest and without seeing the angels as told in the Synoptics (Mark 16:2-8; Matthew 28:5-8; Luke 24:1-8). Luke (Luke 24:9-12) does not distinguish between the separate report of Mary Magdalene and that of the other women. To Simon Peter Full name as usual in John and back with John and the other disciples. The association of Peter and the other disciple in John 18-21 is like that between Peter and John in Acts 1-5. Loved Imperfect of πιλεω — phileō for which see John 5:20; John 11:3 and for distinction from αγαπαω — agapaō see John 11:5; John 13:23; John 21:7, John 21:15, John 21:17. They have taken away First aorist active indicative of αιρω — airō indefinite plural. We know not Mary associates the other women with her in her ignorance. For ετηκαν — ethēkan (have laid) see John 19:42. Mary fears a grave robbery. She has no idea of the resurrection of Jesus. [source]
2 Corinthians 5:2 To be clothed upon [ἐπενδύσασθαι]
Only here and 2 Corinthians 5:4. Compare ἐπενδύτης fisher'scoat, John 21:7(see note). Lit., to put on over. The metaphor changes from building to clothing, a natural transformation in the mind of Paul, to whom the hail-cloth woven for tents would suggest a vesture. [source]
James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked [εαν αδελπος η αδελπη γυμνοι υπαρχωσιν]
Condition again of third class (supposable case) with εαν — ean and present active subjunctive of υπαρχω — huparchō to exist, in the plural though η — ē (or) is used and not και — kai (and). Hence γυμνοι — gumnoi is masculine plural in the predicate nominative. It does not here mean absolutely naked, but without sufficient clothing as in Matthew 25:36.; John 21:7; Acts 19:16. [source]

What do the individual words in John 21:7 mean?

Says therefore the disciple that whom loved - Jesus - to Peter Lord it is Simon Peter having heard that the outer garment put on he was for naked and he cast himself into the sea
Λέγει οὖν μαθητὴς ἐκεῖνος ὃν ἠγάπα Ἰησοῦς τῷ Πέτρῳ Κύριός ἐστιν Σίμων Πέτρος ἀκούσας ὅτι τὸν ἐπενδύτην διεζώσατο ἦν γὰρ γυμνός καὶ ἔβαλεν ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν

Λέγει  Says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
μαθητὴς  disciple 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: μαθητής  
Sense: a learner, pupil, disciple.
ἐκεῖνος  that 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐκεῖνος  
Sense: he, she it, etc.
ὃν  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἠγάπα  loved 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀγαπάω  
Sense: of persons.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
τῷ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Πέτρῳ  to  Peter 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Πέτρος  
Sense: one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
Κύριός  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
ἐστιν  it  is 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
Σίμων  Simon 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Σίμων  
Sense: Peter was one of the apostles.
Πέτρος  Peter 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Πέτρος  
Sense: one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
ἀκούσας  having  heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἐπενδύτην  outer  garment 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐπενδύτης  
Sense: an upper garment.
διεζώσατο  put  on 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: διαζώννυμι  
Sense: to bind or gird all around.
ἦν  he  was 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
γυμνός  naked 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: γυμνός  
Sense: properly.
ἔβαλεν  he  cast 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: βάλλω 
Sense: to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls.
ἑαυτὸν  himself 
Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἑαυτοῦ  
Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
θάλασσαν  sea 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: θάλασσα  
Sense: the sea.