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John 21:5

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does John 21:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No.
John 21:5 — American Standard Version

Context — John 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2There was together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the [sons] of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing.
4But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No.
6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7That 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.
8But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off), dragging the net [full] of fishes.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then Jesus saith unto them, children, etc.] And still they knew him not, though he used this endearing and familiar appellation, and which they had been wont to hear from him; and he had called them by a little before his departure from them, (<431333>John 13:33) and which he uses here as expressive of his tender affection for them, their relation to him, and that he might be known by them: have ye any meat? that is, as the Syriac renders it, s[lml µdm, “anything to eat”; meaning fish that they had caught; and whether they had got a sufficient quantity to make a meal of for him and them. They answered him no; they had got nothing at all; or at least what they had was far from being enough to…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Children--This term would not necessarily identify Him, being not unusual from any superior; but when they did recognize Him, they would feel it sweetly like Himself. have ye any meat?--provisions, supplies, meaning fish. They answered . . . No--This was in His wonted style, making them tell their case, and so the better prepare them for what was coming.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Children - A term of affection and friendship, 1 John 2:18. Any meat - This word (Greek) means anything eaten with bread. It was used by the Greeks especially to denote fish (Schleusner). return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Children: or, Sirs, Jo1 2:13, Jo1 2:18 \*Gr. have: Psa 37:3; Luk 24:41-43; Phi 4:11-13, Phi 4:19; Heb 13:5 John 21:6”
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Related study paths

Read John 21 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification