The Meaning of John 21:9 Explained

John 21:9

KJV: As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

YLT: when, therefore, they came to the land, they behold a fire of coals lying, and a fish lying on it, and bread.

Darby: When therefore they went out on the land, they see a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

ASV: So when they got out upon the land, they see a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

As soon  then  as they were come  to  land,  they saw  a fire of coals  there, and  fish  laid  thereon,  and  bread. 

What does John 21:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

While the other disciples struggled to get their catch to shore, Jesus was preparing breakfast for them. John noted that it was a charcoal fire (Gr. anthrakia) that Jesus had laid. The reader may remember that it was specifically a charcoal fire at which Peter had stood when he denied Jesus ( John 18:18). Jesus was setting the stage for a lesson He was about to teach the disciples and especially Peter. The traditional site of this event is Tabgha, on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee between Capernaum and Gennesaret.
Bread and fish were common staples, but again they recall earlier miracles that Jesus had performed. He had miraculously provided meals for5 ,000 and later4 ,000 males plus women and children with bread and fish. Notice that He had already provided some fish for them before the disciples got out of their boat and pulled the fish they had caught to shore.
Before His crucifixion, Jesus had served His disciples by washing their feet ( John 13:1-17). Now He continued to serve them as their risen Lord by providing them with a warm fire and breakfast (cf. John 21:13).

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It would almost seem as if the Apostles thought that the radiant vision of Christ was withdrawn forever; or did they think that they would glorify Him best, and be most likely to encounter Him, if they returned to the paths of ordinary toil?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 21:9

Got out [απεβησαν]
As in Luke 5:2. They see Vivid historical present. A fire of coals See John 18:18 for this word. Cf. our “anthracite.” There Lying as placed, present middle participle of κειμαι — keimai Fish As in John 6:9, John 6:11, like προσπαγιον — prosphagion above. Laid thereon So broiling with bread ready (toast). [source]
They were come to land [ἀπέβησαν εἰς τὴν γῆν]
Not of the arrival of the boat, but of the going ashore of the boatmen. Rev., therefore, correctly, they got out upon the land. [source]
A fire of coals []
Charcoal. See John 18:18. [source]
Fish [ὀψάριον]
See on John 6:9. [source]
Bread [ἄρτον]
Or, a loaf. See on Matthew 4:1; see on Matthew 7:9. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 21:9

Luke 3:14 Wages [ὀψωνίοις]
From ὄψον ,cooked meat, and later, generallyprovisions. At Athens, especially, fish. Compare ὀψάριον ,fish, John 21:9, John 21:10, John 21:13. Hence ὀψώνιον is primarily provision-money, and so used of supplies and pay for an army. With this understanding the use of the word at Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin,” becomes highly suggestive. [source]
Luke 5:1 Pressed upon him [επικεισται]
Luke in this paragraph (Luke 5:1-11; Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 4:18-22) does not follow the chronology of Mark as he usually does. It seems reasonably clear that the renewed call of the four fishermen came before the first tour of Galilee in Luke 4:42-44. It is here assumed that Luke is describing in his own way the incident given in Mark and Matthew above. Luke singles out Simon in a graphic way. This verb επικεισται — epikeisthai is an old one and means to λιε υπον — lie upon rest upon as of a stone on the tomb (John 11:38) or of fish on the burning coals (John 21:9). So it is used of a tempest (Acts 27:20) and of the urgent demands for Christ‘s crucifixion (Luke 23:23). Here it vividly pictures the eager crowds around Jesus. Εν τωι επικεισται — En tōi epikeisthai is a favourite idiom with Luke as we have already seen, εν — en with the articular infinitive in the locative case. [source]
John 6:9 Fishes [ὀψάρια]
The word occurs only here and at John 21:9. The Synoptists use ἰχθυές . The A.V., small fishes, is intended to render the diminutive. The word means anything that is eaten with bread, and may apply to meat generally, or to what is eaten with bread as a relish. Homer speaks of an onion as a relish ( ὄψον ) for drink (“Iliad,” 11,630). The term was applied to fish par excellence. Fish became among the Greeks a chief dainty to gourmands, so that Demosthenes describes a glutton and spendthrift as one who is extravagant in fish. [source]
John 21:10 Of the fish [τῶν ὀψαρίων]
As in John 21:9. Emphasizing the fish as food. [source]
John 18:18 Fire of coals [ἀνθρακιὰν]
Only here and John 21:9. Matthew does not mention the fire. Mark has τὸ φῶς , strictly, the light of the fire. Luke says they had kindled a fire ( πῦρ ). [source]
John 11:38 Again groaning in himself [παλιν εμβριμωμενος εν εαυτωι]
Direct reference to the use of this same word (present middle participle here) in John 11:33, only with εν εαυτωι — en heautōi (in himself) rather than τωι πνευματι — tōi pneumati (in his spirit), practically the same idea. The speculation concerning his power stirred the depths of his nature again. Cometh to the tomb Vivid historical present. A cave Old word (from σπεος — speos cavern). Cf. Matthew 21:13. Lay against it Imperfect middle of επικειμαι — epikeimai old verb to lie upon as in John 21:9 and figuratively (1 Corinthians 9:16). Note repetition of επι — epi with locative case. The use of a cave for burial was common (Genesis 23:19). Either the body was let down through a horizontal opening (hardly so here) or put in a tomb cut in the face of the rock (if so, επι — epi can mean “against”). The stones were used to keep away wild animals from the bodies. [source]
John 18:18 A fire of coals [αντρακιαν]
Old word, in lxx, only here and John 21:9 in N.T. A heap of burning coals Cf. our “anthracite.” It was cold “There was coldness.” The soldiers had apparently returned to their barracks. Were warming themselves Direct middle imperfect indicative of τερμαινω — thermainō (from τερμος — thermos). So as to τερμαινομενος — thermainomenos about Peter. “Peter, unabashed by his lie, joined himself to the group and stood in the light of the fire” (Dods). [source]
John 6:9 A lad here [παιδαριον ωδε]
Old word, diminutive of παις — pais here only in N.T., not genuine in Matthew 11:16. How he came to have this small supply we do not know. Barley Adjective, here and John 6:13 only in N.T., in the papyri, from κριτη — krithē barley (Revelation 6:6). Considered an inferior sort of bread. Fishes Late diminutive of οπσον — opson common in papyri and inscriptions for delicacies with bread like fish. In N.T. only here, John 6:11; John 21:9-13. Synoptics have ιχτυας — ichthuas f0). [source]

What do the individual words in John 21:9 mean?

When therefore they got out onto the land they see a fire of coals lying and fish lying on [it] bread
Ὡς οὖν ἀπέβησαν εἰς τὴν γῆν βλέπουσιν ἀνθρακιὰν κειμένην καὶ ὀψάριον ἐπικείμενον ἄρτον

ἀπέβησαν  they  got  out 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀποβαίνω  
Sense: to come down from, i.
εἰς  onto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
γῆν  land 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: γῆ  
Sense: arable land.
βλέπουσιν  they  see 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: βλέπω  
Sense: to see, discern, of the bodily eye.
ἀνθρακιὰν  a  fire  of  coals 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀνθρακιά  
Sense: a heap of burning coals.
κειμένην  lying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: κεῖμαι  
Sense: to lie.
ὀψάριον  fish 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ὀψάριον  
Sense: fish.
ἐπικείμενον  lying  on  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἐπίκειμαι  
Sense: to lie upon or over, rest upon, be laid or placed upon.
ἄρτον  bread 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄρτος  
Sense: food composed of flour mixed with water and baked.