Q: What’s the significance of the number 153, the number of fish that the disciples caught? —Safy
A: John 21 tells us that the resurrected Christ appeared to several of his disciples beside the Sea of Galilee—showing them that he was alive and then restoring Peter to ministry. The disciples had gone back to their fishing trade, but throughout the night, they caught nothing. At dawn, Jesus told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. This time their net was full and Peter later counted 153 large fish (v.11).
There’s no symbolism or special significance in the number 153. It was normal for fisherman to count the number of fish they had caught before they sold them at the market. The counting was also intended to divide the catch equally among the fishermen. It was simply the customary record of a fisherman’s work.
The Gospel writer John, however, was trying to emphasize that it was a miraculous catch by stating the large quantity. He was revealing Jesus’ generous provision for his disciples and others, just as He done on previous occasions (See John 2:1-12, and 6:1-15). —K.T. Sim
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mike wittmer on June 25, 2013 at 1:37 pm
This is an interesting question. Scripture usually gives round numbers (Jesus fed 5,000 men), so it’s surprising to give such a specific number. Then again, I doubt that it has any special significance–except maybe to show that Peter was so impressed with the miracle that he counted them all–which is just what a fisherman would do!
daisymarygoldr on June 27, 2013 at 7:56 pm
There is nothing in the Bible that has no significance. The Holy Spirit certainly has a special purpose in including the number 153. It proves this to be an actual eye witness account and not a fishy tale. And to know the importance of the number, you don’t have to get into numerology and all of its crazy calculations. The meaning is not some mystery but simple and straight when considered in context: “There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.”
This means fishermen know that under natural conditions the net breaks when 153 big fish is hauled onto the shore. Earlier in Luke 5:6, the nets full of fish began to tear. It must have caused some of the fish to slip back into the water. This is what happens when you evangelize by human efforts. Man-made programs like the 12 steps or any other cannot save souls. People saved by such means soon slip back into the world and then live the rest of their lives with no assurance of salvation.
In John 21 however, the net did not break, indicating that this was no ordinary thing but was the Lord’s doing—as John had rightly recognized. This supernatural catch signifies the saving power of Jesus Christ who confidently stated: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.” John 18:8
Why only 153? Why not 152 or 154? The significance here is not in the number but in its precision. This symbolically refers to the specific number of souls that are saved. During Noah’s floods, God saved 8 souls. Similarly, the church started with 120 believers, and as the Lord added to their fellowship daily those who were being saved, the number became 3000 and then increased to 5000.
Although, for the human mind the number of saved souls is too great to count but God knows the exact number of the stars in the sky and every grain of sand on the shore. And the Lord knows all those who are His and keeps a count of every single name that is recorded in the Lamb’s book of life.
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Do you understand all these things?”