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John 21 · a question people ask

Why does John's Gospel give the number of fish?

In the text

It gives the number and no meaning for it: "Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of one hundred fifty-three great fish. Even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn." (21:11). The verse goes straight on from the number to the net. Before that, "they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish" (21:6). These notes give the number no meaning, and do no arithmetic with it.

The verses

“He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish.”
John 21:6 · World English Bible
“Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of one hundred fifty-three great fish. Even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.”
John 21:11 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of John 21

John 21: Follow me

In the WEB's John, Jesus says "Follow me" to one man in the first chapter, to Philip (1:43), and not again until the last, to Peter (21:19, 21:22). And as John 20 said there were "many other signs" not written (20:30), the book's last verse says, "There are also many other things which Jesus did" (21:25).

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions