The argument that 153 is the 17th triangular number, and that since 10 (Law) + 7 (grace) = 17, that this is a picture of the Law and grace. Certainly, the number 153 is interesting mathematically, as are a bunch of other numbers. Mt 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. Well, everywhere. Bible points to the context. Wouldn’t God want us to know about it? A representation of the Tetragrammaton which allegedly appears 153 times in the book of Genesis. [11] He is placing his judgement in God's hands. This has become known popularly as the "153 fish" miracle. What does it mean for a Linux distribution to be stable and how much does it matter for casual users? Now the healing parallels the history of Israel: just as the nation waited 38-years with the Law in hand, the invalid had been waiting 38-years to enter the pool first. Joh 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. Why was Hagrid expecting Harry to know of Hogwarts and his magical heritage? Joh 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. For example, when Jesus called his disciples, he said that he would make them fishers of men. "Large quantities of ink have gone into explaining why there should be 153 fish. T… These similarities suggest the significance of the number 153 is to be found in the roles men will have in the judgement process. [15], Jesus emphasizes Peter's role with a special miracle. This is likely because the pastor gives his particular take on the meaning of the catch, and they want to see if it’s true. And, Jesus is shown to be its source. p. 266. 1+2+3+4…+36 = 666. That is why Jesus ask Peter three times did he love him. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. "153 fish? There were seven present, and they had been fishing all night with no results. Joh 21:7 ...Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt [his] fisher’s coat [unto him], (for he was naked,). 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, O Elohim, before whom This may have been a larger-than-average catch (especially in context of the following phrase - the net didn't tear under the load), This may be indicative of blessing in following obedience to Jesus, The precise number is indicative of an eye-witness account, [70] Feed my lambs (21:15) – exercise judgement on witnessing, [13] Tend my sheep (21:16) – tend to the other disciples, [70] Feed my sheep (21:17) – exercise judgement on the 12 tribes. How to explain the gap in my resume due to cancer? The number 153 is associated with the geometric shape known as the Vesica Piscis or Mandorla. Doing so can lead us astray of the intended, plain meaning of the text. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. "Gedi" has the numerical value 17, and "Eglaim" has the numerical value 153, and 153 = 1+2+3+4+.....+17. What did John mean by “second sign” (δεύτερον σημεῖον) in John 4:54? I should point out that one can find additional significance in the passage. 1. Seven is recognized as symbolic because seven has previously been identified as a symbol. Hmm, I wonder. The Kingdom of Heaven parable is drawn from the catching fish used in the context of judgement found in the Old Testament: The sovereign LORD confirms this oath by his own holy character: “Certainly the time is approaching when you will be carried away in baskets, every last one of you in fishermen’s pots. How to budget a 'conditional reimbursement'? Joh 21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the [sons] of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. The meaning of the number 153 centers around the New Testament event sometimes referred to as the miraculous draughtor catch of fishes (John 21:1 - 11). Also the 2 70’s can be arranged in the same sequence of Jesus instructions to Peter: All of the symbolism “works” and serves to support the primary meaning of the passage. The Bible explicitly tells us that there were 153 fish. [19], Paul says that the woman should learn from her husband. The evangelist seems to have structured some, though certainly not all, aspects of the narrative in groups of seven: seven signs, seven “I Am” sayings, and sometimes seven scenes in a given episode. 153 is the triangular of 17. There are 144 (12 x 12) for the dual-natured 12, God's people in the flesh and spirit, and 9 (3 x 3) more for the duel-natured 'fullness of God incarnate'; Christ in flesh and spirit. They did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. Next, consider the man “born” blind whose age is never stated. For the purpose of this answer, I will call this composition feature "logonumerical structure", from "logos" = word. Numbers may acquire significance through association with the central images, persons, and actions in an episode, but the primary meaning of an episode never depends upon a number. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. The “153 Fish” represent all revealed wisdom. This means he not only selected the specific sign, he chose the number (seven), and determined their arrangement. It simply means if you consciously fish you can catch all types of fishes. 153 Large Fish in John Bible - John explains his purpose for the use of 153 Fish, 153 large fish in John 21:11, as a metaphor. If it has a deeper significance, no one can be faulted for searching it out. The symbols also work to support the three instructions Peter receives. One other triangular number appears explicitly in the NT: the number of the beast 666 (Rev. 6.At the first light, Jesus appears to them. John also uses this imagery from Ezekiel 47 in Revelation 22. Not fond of time related pricing - what's a better way? As noted by Richard Bauckham among others, it is clear that John (or whoever one may think is the final author/editor of John's Gospel and of Revelation) used the total quantity of occurrences of key words as a mathematical reinforcement or "signature" of the message of the text. Jesus begins the reconciliation with a meat offering, which is a fellowship offering. How to make a story entertaining with an almost unkillable character? I wonder if Jesus is trying to tell us something and where would we find what He is trying to tell us? In his article, Bauckham notes a number of other examples within John that also fit the 17 / 153 pattern. ( Log Out /  6,8,13,14,15,17). The contrast between Elijah and Elisha are quite stunning. Previously we discerned that the fish represent 'every word which proceeds from the mouth of God. [Commentaries on John 5:2] Jesus chose a man who had been unable to walk for 38-years (not one who had been blind) in the House of Mercy with a representation of the Mosaic Law. Why do animal cells "mistake" rubidium ions for potassium ions? Regarding your take on the catch, I’m not sure what to make of it. And we like to share our latest findings, to be the first to find what no one else has been able to locate (I’m not above committing this error myself). The ichthus isn’t really two half circles, but two arcs. Craig R. Koester, Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel, Augsburg Fortress, 1995, p. 264 Clearly 38 is more than "just a number" of years and has been used to support the meaning of the overall passage. ( Log Out /  Tribe B and Morality: A Comparison of Non-theistic and Christian Approaches, Trump, the 2020 Election, and a Most Awful Dilemma, Saul and God’s Sovereignty (or, what happens when a movable object meets an irresistible force), The Ultimate Question Revisited: A Non-Calvinist Objection Answered, Christianity and Homosexuality, pt 4: The Gay Marriage / Interracial Marriage Comparison, Why I Don’t Believe in a Pretribulational Rapture of the Church, The Same God? So there is good reason to see a pattern. Joh 21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? Craig R. Koester says: The significance of numbers has long fascinated and frustrated interpreters of John’s Gospel. 1 D.A. In John the main element is the exchange between Jesus and Peter where Jesus asks Peter three questions. Fish Gate (AKA Ephraim Gate): Northwest, just northwest of the temple. Well, I wondered for years myself and by studying and looping 1 Samuel through Esther in my GoBible for almost three years during my daily workouts, I think that's why 153 is significant. They do so and they catch so many fish they are not able to haul them onto the boat. For some reason this post about the 153 fish has gotten far more views than anything else I’ve written. The vast majority of the Bible is plain, and can be understood by using a solid translation and grasping the context and the literary genre. Likewise, if the man blind from birth was not the sixth sign, the symbolism fades. According to Bauckham, Johns entire Gospel is structured around the numbers 17 and 153. Bread represents the cross [14] and 'every word which proceeds from the mouth of God'. I searched through some of the apocryphal books too. But 38 and 153 are specific suggesting they are not chance numbers and since these numbers are hardly (if at all) used elsewhere in Scripture, prior use contributes little to the question of how John uses these numbers. Any seven-fold pattern recalls the seven days of creation and John’s choices may be compared to the events of creation: This would stand out to the ancient readers who would not be familiar with that spring but familiar with the literary use of numbers. As Jesus is standing on the shore, He can be removed from the 13 and Paul could be added. 2c. In his book Koester sets forth his guidelines for understanding symbols: Our approach has been to distinguish core from supporting symbols, so that if numbers do function symbolically, it is in a supporting capacity. This is what the evangelist means by "big fishes". What is the evidence of this glory? Or Christianity will be able to accommodate all types of people and still it can stay unbroken. Knowing that all scripture in the Bible has a meaning and is not wasted, the account of the 153 fish in John 21:3-12 has been a mystery as to its meaning. Here we have translated it “fish to eat” since some of the species of fish in the Sea of Galilee were not considered edible, and that is the point of Jesus’ question here. The creation of man took place on the sixth day. The sign comes after Jesus spits on the ground, makes mud, and tells the man to go wash in the pool of Siloam. At the purely historical level, it is unsurprising that someone counted them, either as part of dividing them up amongst the fishermen in preparation for sale, or because one of the men was so dumbfounded by the size of the catch that he said something like this: ‘Can you believe it? Many scholars have noted John’s use of symbols. A new covenant, a new age or as Paul says in Ephesians, a dispensation of grace. The clean animal ruminates (meditates) on teh word of God and it produces a separated/holy (split hoof) walk/life. ( Log Out /  This is unlikely to be accidental. Peter would teach 'every word which proceeded from the mouth of God. More specifically, is there a hidden meaning behind certain numbers, which yield extra knowledge of God and his ways? the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been I read no more into 153 fish, than I do into the 2000 donkeys in 1 Chr 5:21. I wonder if that number means anything to the only eleven people in the world who were told to make disciples? The 153 fish in John 21 is an allusion to Ezekiel 47 and the vision of the Spirit of God going out to water the earth. Of course all three numbers must have significance to judgment and relate to 153. The most obvious and straightforward interpretation of the 153 fish, is that it is meant to serve as an evidence that it truly was a large number of fish caught. Archimedes, in his Measurement of a Circle, referred to this ratio (153/265), as constituting the "measure of the fish", this ratio being an imperfect representation of 1/ √ 3.. As a triangular number, 153 is the sum of the first 17 integers, and is also the sum of the first five positive factorials This takes place in the House of Mercy on the Sabbath and Jesus is accused of profaning the Sabbath. Joh 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Reading the text this way is legitimate and beneficial, whereas seeking the hidden meaning behind a number benefits us none. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt [his] fisher’s coat [unto him], (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. I would strongly recommend getting Richard Bauckham's "The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple" and reading the last chapter, "The 153 Fish and the Unity of the Fourth Gospel." They do as instructed and the catch is so large that they can barely pull it out of the water. Here is an important point about the word “Eglaim.” Scholars don’t know where “En Eglaim” is. That would have been not only miraculous, but beyond believable. So the mention of this number is John 21 is not a coincidence. He was leading 6 others (total 7) into the dark. There are other connections to the Old Testament: But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. Their biggest need is “tending” not “feeding.”. The first one he was heard, the second he was seen (examined his scars), and the third one he walked with Peter down the beach. But these are in the minority. It may have a very special significance for the Apostles. That is why Jesus could command Peter to bring him some. Why did Peter et. Did Hugh Jackman really tattoo his own finger with a pen in The Fountain? With that background we can see the 153 fish. https://www.umass.edu/wsp/publications/alpha/v1/a1-33-gematria.pdf, [3] Brian Pivik, Gematria and the Tanakh, Lulu.com, Jul 13, 2017. One of the interesting aspects of Scripture is its use of numbers. Jesus fed the 4000, the 5000, and now the disciples on the shore, bread and fish. Certain digits in particular seem to repeat often. If you have strong religious beliefs, you can not be lead astray. 153 exactly. But this is undefined, and the intersection can be anywhere (long tail, medium tail, short tail). What is the significance of the number 17? Therefore, let us rightly divide the word of truth, laying aside our appetites for secret knowledge. Point 2 – Ezekiel’s Vision with En Gedi and En Eglaim: Bauckham, as well as others, connect the 153 in John 21 to Ezekiel 47 and Ezekiel’s vision of the river of water flowing from the Temple. As the two previous answers to this questions illustrate well, this numerological method allows for several different interpretations of the same passage. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Since Peter has fed them, he is better able to judge them. I found a GREAT answer at this website.....very interesting :) Praise God!!! So, this verse would read “Spring of Gedi” to the “spring of Eglaim.” (Ein is also the Hebrew word for eye and fountain). Bauckham notes that “triangular” numbers are quite rare and attracted great interest: “both types of numbers – triangular and perfect – are quite rare and they were of considerable interest for ancient mathematics and numerical speculation”. Evagrius Ponticus considered 153 to represent a harmonization of contrasts, since 153 = 100 + 28 + 25 , with 100 representing a square, 28 a triangle and 25 a circle. (5:2-3,5 ESV). Eating is a metaphor for learning. John 7:37-39. Similarly "tend My sheep" refines the interpretation when seen in the context of Peter's role as the leading disciple. What is the evidence of this glory? God desires us to be strengthened in faith and love. And we love our mysterious, cryptic codes just waiting to broken! I believe Jesus pointed to that part of the Scriptures to basically "dump" the disciples at the place where they should begin to fulfill their commission; a place that surrounds them in "before" and "after" chaisms between Elijah and Elisha, the center of the huge chain or chaistic structure being 2 Kings 2:11, something easy to miss but incredibly important; "as they were walking along and talking together...". 2e. (20:30-31 ESV). More likely, they didn’t know if it had a deeper significance or not. The potential flaw in failing to study 153 as symbolic is really based on works of others, not what John has done. 8 On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. God told Abraham in a vision, just as the sun was setting to begin Nisan 15 on the Hebrew calendar, that his descendants would end up as slaves in a foreign country (Egypt). The account is about Peter's reconciliation to Jesus. One Hundred and fifty three fish of John Chapter 21 Jacob blesses Ephraim over Manasseh Genesis 48:14-16 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim's head, though he was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. I believe this reasoning fails to give proper consideration to the uniqueness of John’s work. The number 153 is the numerical total for the Hebrew words "Ani Elohim"--I AM G-D. The 153 fish in John 21 is an allusion to Ezekiel 47 and the vision of the Spirit of God going out to water the earth. The number 15 in the Bible pictures rest, which comes after deliverance, represented by fourteen. This is reminiscent of the resurrection (a new beginning) [7], And fishing (making his livelihood) in the flesh [9]; on the left side [10] (in the flesh). Each of the words in the Bible, both Greek and Hebrew, adds up to a number. The main entrance for fish mongers from the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee. John 21:15-17 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? Both versions of the story are rife with symbolism and meaning. Joh 21:15 ¶ ... Feed my lambs. [13]. The word “En” (Ein), in this context, means spring. Why certain numbers have more significance than others is a bit of a mystery. rev 2021.2.17.38595, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. Moreover, larger numbers were usually treated as the sum or product of smaller numbers; and since various combinations could produce the same result, the interpretative possibilities expanded accordingly. I believe there are numerous times in Scripture where certain numbers are used symbolically, to emphasize, and those include 10’s, 12’s, 100’s, and 1000’s being used in calculations. (Amos 4:2 NET), Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the LORD, and they shall catch them... (Jeremiah 16:16 ESV). As noted in a comment to the original question, Richard Bauckham has a chapter regarding the 153 in his book, “The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple.” I will provide quotes from an article in Neotestamentica, Vol. The number 153 has a key multible numerical value, found in the mathematics of the Pyramids in Giza. 13:18).”. John recognizes the voice now. Finally, 153 is the gematria value of "sons of God" in Hebrew ("benei haElohim") [3], so that the catching of 153 fish can be additionally understood as adding a textual signature to the 1st stage of the Gospel's conclusion as I indicate below within []: "Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of [1] Richard Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation, Cambridge University Press, Mar 4, 1993. Short Answer: Many have come up with various numerological interpretations of the number 153 in John. In John 21:1-14 we learn about the third appearance of the post-resurrection Jesus to his disciples. He isn’t going to make it harder by expecting us to treat his word like a puzzle waiting to be solved. This is perplexing because water in the desert is life. One may dismiss 5,000 as just a number especially since it is used in Matthew, Mark, and Luke in a similar context. Ps 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Why 153? Another interpretation I found is that there were 153 nations known to the Greek/Romans at the time. First the healing at Bethesda: Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. I wonder how many there are?'". If an investor does not need an income stream, do dividend stocks have advantages over non-dividend stocks? For Peter, John, James, and possibly others, their place within the collective Gospel narrative ends in a similar fashion to how it begins: with a miraculous catch after an unsuccessful night of fishing. ... Joh 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. And like Jesus, he makes you think it out for yourself like He did so many times throughout the gospels. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.. John 21.11 I discussed this matter with my professor, Dr. Carl Rasmussen, who himself has published a Biblical atlas, and he said nothing can be identified for certain about the location of En Eglaim. In John 21:7, is Peter naked, and does he put on a coat before diving into the water? cit. Augustine and others saw five as symbolic, representing the Mosaic Law. You’re obviously very confident in your interpretation, My question to you is exactly how you came to believe it to be the correct understanding, against all of the others. Hi Ken, welcome to the site. One of the best known is called Gematria. 2a. In John 7:38 we find Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles making a comment on “living water.”. Is it dangerous to use a gas range for heating? (See Raphael Patai, Man and Temple), What is the meaning of “the Scripture has said?” This is not a direct quote of a passage of Scripture, but as Bauckham notes, to two different texts: Ezekiel 47 and Zechariah 14:8. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.” John 21:11 (ESV). Although it isn't mentioned in John, I would imagine there was a pregnant, "So now what do we do Lord?" Except for the Gentile widow's son's resurrection, Elijah was an instrument God used to execute judgment or deliver bad news prophesies to kings, mostly to Ahab; the very last being the Ahaziah death episode in 2 Kings 2. I think your explanation is best, though. The meaning of this would be to communicate the completeness of the river of life bringing life to the world. The fish and loaves might intend no symbolism at all. No reason to follow rabbit trails to Wonderland. There are common and different elements. Jesus has a fire prepared on shore and invites them to eat. The mention of "153" large fish is simply part of a sentence intended to remind the reader of the miracle; that "although there were so many, the net was not torn.". In conclusion, we must use caution when reading the Bible. The myriad interpretations of the catching of the 153 fish serve as a great reminder why we must not look for hidden messages in the Scriptures. Is there any significance to the number 153? I think the 153 might symbolize the total of 120 (12, just 10 times) with Jesus’ 33 added. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.