John 21
The full text of John 21 in the Trinity Bible Version — clear modern English, translated from the original Greek. Free to read.
1 After this, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. This is how he revealed himself.
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples were together.
3 Simon Peter said to them, "I'm going fishing." They said to him, "We're coming with you too." They went out and got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
4 Just as morning was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize it was Jesus.
5 So Jesus said to them, "Friends, you haven't caught any fish, have you?" "No," they answered.
6 He said to them, "Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they threw it, and now they could not haul it in because of the great number of fish.
7 Then that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" So when Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he tied his outer garment around himself (for he was stripped) and threw himself into the sea.
8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, since they were not far from shore — only about a hundred yards.
9 When they came ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you've just caught."
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish—one hundred fifty-three of them. And though there were so many, the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast." But none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" — they knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish in the same way.
14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John,ᵃ do you truly loveᵇ me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
16 A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Shepherd my sheep."
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt that Jesus asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" He said to him, "Lord, you know all things; you see that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep."
18 Truly, truly, I tell you: when you were younger, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.
19 He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God. And after saying this, he said to him, "Follow me."
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them—the one who had leaned back on Jesus' chest at the supper and asked, "Lord, who's going to betray you?"
21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"
22 Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You — follow me."
23 So word spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus had not said to him that he would not die; he said, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?"
24 This is the disciple who testifies about these things and who has written them. We know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose even the world itself could not hold the books that would be written.
Translation notes (21)
- John 21:2a "Didymus" is a Greek word meaning "Twin."
- John 21:5a The Greek word *paidia* (παιδία) literally means "children," but here it is a familiar way of addressing the disciples, similar to saying "lads" or "friends."
- John 21:5b The Greek word *prosphagion* (προσφάγιον) refers to something eaten with bread, and in this verse it specifically means fish (compare verses 9–10). The way the question is phrased in Greek, using the word *mē* (μὴ), indicates that a negative answer is expected.
- John 21:7a The Greek word *gymnos* (γυμνός) can mean fully unclothed, stripped down to an undergarment, or poorly clothed. In the context of fishing, it most likely means Peter had taken off his outer clothes to work.
- John 21:7b The Greek word *ependytēs* (ἐπενδύτης) refers to an outer tunic worn over a *chitōn* (χιτών), which was an undergarment. This word appears only once in the New Testament.
- John 21:8a The Greek text states the distance was about two hundred cubits, which is roughly 100 yards or 90 meters.
- John 21:15a The critical Greek text reads *Iōannou* (Ἰωάννου), meaning "John," while later Byzantine manuscripts (followed by the King James Version) read *Iōna* (Ἰωνᾶ), meaning "Jonah." This difference in wording also appears in verses 16 and 17, and in John 1:42.
- John 21:15b In verses 15–17, the Greek text uses two different verbs for "love": *agapaō* (ἀγαπάω), which is rendered "truly love," and *phileō* (φιλέω), rendered "love." Scholars debate whether this difference in verbs carries a deeper meaning or is simply a matter of writing style. The English translation keeps this verbal contrast so readers can consider it themselves.
- John 21:15c The Greek phrase *pleon toutōn* (πλέον τούτων), translated as "more than these," is unclear and could mean several things: "more than these other disciples love me," "more than you love these other disciples," or "more than you love these things" (referring to boats and fishing). The English translation keeps this ambiguity.
- John 21:16a In this exchange, Jesus uses the Greek verb *agapaō* (ἀγαπάω) in his question, while Peter uses *phileō* (φιλέω) in his reply. Many scholars consider this a stylistic choice, but others interpret *phileō* as expressing a warmer, more personal affection, like "I am your friend." The text does not definitively resolve this difference.
- John 21:16b The reading "Son of John" is found in the earliest manuscripts (such as א B C* D L W). Later manuscripts and the King James Version tradition, however, read "son of Jonah."
- John 21:16c ποίμαινε ("shepherd") is broader than βόσκε ("feed") in vv. 15, 17, covering the full pastoral task — care, guidance, and oversight (cf. 1 Pet 5:2; Acts 20:28).
- John 21:17a In verses 15–17, the Greek text shows a change in verbs: Jesus uses *agapaō* (ἀγαπάω) in his first two questions, but here in the third question, he uses *phileō* (φιλέω), matching the verb Peter has used throughout. Scholars debate whether this shift carries a theological meaning or is simply a matter of writing style. The Trinity Bible Version translates both verbs as "love" but highlights the shift here because Peter's grief in verse 17 is connected to Jesus using *phileō* (φιλέω) for the third time (ὅτι εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον φιλεῖς με, "because he said to him the third time, 'Do you love me?'").
- John 21:17b Peter uses two different Greek verbs for "knowing": *oidas* (οἶδας), which refers to settled, factual knowledge, and *ginōskeis* (γινώσκεις), which refers to knowing through experience or relationship, like "seeing" or "perceiving." The Trinity Bible Version translates this pair as "know all things; you see" to preserve the distinct meanings Peter emphasizes.
- John 21:17c In verse 15, Jesus says, "Feed my lambs" (*boske ta arnia*, βόσκε τὰ ἀρνία); in verse 16, "Shepherd my sheep" (*poimaine ta probata*, ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατα); and in verse 17, "Feed my sheep" (*boske ta probata*, βόσκε τὰ πρόβατα). These terms are intentionally varied across the three commands.
- John 21:17d Jesus's third question here intentionally brings to mind Peter's three denials of Jesus, recorded in John 18:17, 25, and 27.
- John 21:18a The phrase "stretch out your hands" was understood in early Christian writings as language referring to crucifixion. Verse 19 confirms that this statement points to the way Peter would die.
- John 21:19a The Greek word sēmainōn, meaning 'indicate, signify,' echoes John 12:33 and 18:32, where this same grammatical construction foretells Jesus' own death.
- John 21:22a This can also be translated as 'stay alive until I come.' The next verse shows that the brothers understood this as a promise that this disciple would not die before Christ's return.
- John 21:22b 'Until I come' likely refers to Christ's return; cf. Rev 2:25; 3:11.
- John 21:23a This can also be translated as 'brothers and sisters'; the Greek word adelphoi can address a mixed community, even though the immediate narrative circle in 21:2 names seven male disciples.
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