Luke 5:5
New International Version
Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

New Living Translation
“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.”

English Standard Version
And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

Berean Standard Bible
“Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”

Berean Literal Bible
And Simon answering, said, "Master, having toiled through whole night, we have taken nothing; but at Your word, I will let down the nets."

King James Bible
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

New King James Version
But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

New American Standard Bible
Simon responded and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.”

NASB 1995
Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.”

NASB 1977
And Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at Your bidding I will let down the nets.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Simon answered and said, “Master, we labored all night and caught nothing, but at Your word, I will let down the nets.”

Amplified Bible
Simon replied, “Master, we worked hard all night [to the point of exhaustion] and caught nothing [in our nets], but at Your word I will [do as you say and] lower the nets [again].”

Christian Standard Bible
“Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.”

American Standard Version
And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.

Contemporary English Version
"Master," Simon answered, "we have worked hard all night long and have not caught a thing. But if you tell me to, I will let the nets down."

English Revised Version
And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Simon answered, "Teacher, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I'll lower the nets."

Good News Translation
"Master," Simon answered, "we worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will let down the nets."

International Standard Version
Simon answered, "Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I'll lower the nets."

Majority Standard Bible
“Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”

NET Bible
Simon answered, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the nets."

New Heart English Bible
Simon answered him, "Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the nets."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Simon answering said to him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net.

Weymouth New Testament
"Rabbi," replied Peter, "all night long we have worked hard and caught nothing; but at your command I will let down the nets."

World English Bible
Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night and caught nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Simon answering said to Him, “Master, through the whole night, having labored, we have taken nothing, but at Your saying I will let down the net.”

Berean Literal Bible
And Simon answering, said, "Master, having toiled through whole night, we have taken nothing; but at Your word, I will let down the nets."

Young's Literal Translation
and Simon answering said to him, 'Master, through the whole night, having laboured, we have taken nothing, but at thy saying I will let down the net.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Simon having answered, said to him, Commander, wearied for the whole night, we took nothing: but at thy word I will slacken the net.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Simon answering said to him: Master, we have labored all the night, and have taken nothing: but at thy word I will let down the net.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And in response, Simon said to him: “Teacher, working throughout the night, we caught nothing. But on your word, I will release the net.”

New American Bible
Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.”

New Revised Standard Version
Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Simon answered and said to him, Teacher, we have toiled all night, and have caught nothing; but just because of your word, I will cast the net.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Shimeon answered and he said to him, “Rabbi, we worked all night, and we have not caught anything, but at your word, I will cast the net.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And Simon answered and said to him: Master, we have toiled all night and have caught nothing; but at thy command, I will let down the net.

Godbey New Testament
And Simon responding said to Him, Master, having toiled all night, we caught nothing: but at thy word I will spread the net.

Haweis New Testament
And Simon answering, said unto him, Sir, we have been toiling all night, and have taken nothing: but at thy command I will shoot the net.

Mace New Testament
master, said Simon, we have toil'd all the night, without any prize: however, since you give the word, I will throw the net.

Weymouth New Testament
"Rabbi," replied Peter, "all night long we have worked hard and caught nothing; but at your command I will let down the nets."

Worrell New Testament
And Simon, answering, said, "Master, having toiled through the whole night, we took nothing; but at Thy word I will let down the nets."

Worsley New Testament
And Simon answered and said unto Him, Master, we have been toiling all the night, and have caught nothing; however at thy word I will cast the net.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The First Disciples
4When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5“Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” 6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear.…

Cross References
John 21:3-6
Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they said. So they went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night. / Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus. / So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered. ...

Matthew 4:18-20
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. / “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” / And at once they left their nets and followed Him.

Mark 1:16-18
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. / “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” / And at once they left their nets and followed Him.

John 6:68
Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Matthew 17:27
“But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”

John 2:5
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

Matthew 14:28-29
“Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to You on the water.” / “Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

Mark 16:7
But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’”

John 15:14
You are My friends if you do what I command you.

Acts 5:29
But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

1 Kings 17:13-16
“Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her. “Go and do as you have said. But first make me a small cake of bread from what you have, and bring it out to me. Afterward, make some for yourself and your son, / for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain upon the face of the earth.’” / So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and there was food every day for Elijah and the woman and her household. ...

2 Kings 4:1-7
Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!” / “How can I help you?” asked Elisha. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” / “Go,” said Elisha, “borrow empty jars from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few. ...

Exodus 4:10-12
“Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.” / And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD? / Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”

Genesis 6:22
So Noah did everything precisely as God had commanded him.

Genesis 22:1-3
Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. / “Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” / So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated.


Treasury of Scripture

And Simon answering said to him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at your word I will let down the net.

we.

Psalm 127:1,2
A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain…

Ezekiel 37:11,12
Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts…

John 21:3
Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

nevertheless.

Luke 6:46-48
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? …

2 Kings 5:10-14
And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean…

Ezekiel 37:4-7
Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD…

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Luke 5
1. Jesus teaches the people out of Peter's ship;
4. shows how he will make them fishers of men;
12. cleanses the leper;
16. prays in the desert;
17. heals a paralytic;
27. calls Matthew the tax collector;
29. eats with sinners, as being the physician of souls;
33. foretells the fasting and afflictions of the apostles after his ascension;
36. and illustrates the matter by the parable of patches.














Simon replied
In this opening phrase, we see Simon Peter, a central figure among Jesus' disciples, responding to Jesus. The name "Simon" is of Hebrew origin, derived from "Shim'on," meaning "he has heard." This is significant as Simon Peter often acts as the spokesperson for the disciples, indicating his role as one who listens and responds. Historically, Simon Peter is a fisherman by trade, and his interactions with Jesus often reflect his journey from a simple fisherman to a foundational leader in the early Church.

Master
The term "Master" here is translated from the Greek word "epistates," which is used in the Gospel of Luke to denote someone with authority or command. This title reflects Simon Peter's recognition of Jesus' authority, even though he may not yet fully understand Jesus' divine nature. In the cultural and historical context of the time, addressing someone as "Master" would indicate respect and acknowledgment of their superior knowledge or position.

we have worked hard all night
This phrase highlights the effort and toil of Simon and his companions. The Greek word for "worked hard" is "kopiao," which implies laboring to the point of exhaustion. Fishing at night was common practice in the ancient world, as fish were more active and easier to catch. This statement underscores the futility of their efforts without divine intervention, setting the stage for the miraculous catch that follows.

and caught nothing
The phrase "caught nothing" emphasizes the fruitlessness of their labor. In the Greek, "nothing" is "ouden," which is absolute, indicating complete failure. This sets a stark contrast to the abundance that Jesus will provide, illustrating the theme that human efforts without God's blessing can often result in emptiness. It also serves as a metaphor for spiritual barrenness without Christ.

But because You say so
Here, Simon Peter's obedience is highlighted. The Greek word "rhema" is used for "say," which refers to a spoken word or command. Despite his own experience and understanding, Simon chooses to trust Jesus' word. This act of faith is pivotal, demonstrating a willingness to submit to Jesus' authority even when it defies human logic or experience.

I will let down the nets
This final phrase signifies action based on faith. The Greek word for "let down" is "chalao," which means to lower or release. Simon Peter's decision to let down the nets despite previous failure is an act of obedience and trust. This action foreshadows the miraculous catch of fish, symbolizing the blessings and abundance that follow when one acts in faith and obedience to God's word. It serves as an inspirational reminder that faith in Jesus' commands can lead to unexpected and miraculous outcomes.

(5) Master, we have toiled all the night.--The word translated Master (epistates) is not the same as that (didaskalos, teacher) in the other Gospels, and often in this also, and is peculiar to St. Luke. It implies a less distinct recognition of our Lord's character as a teacher or Rabbi, and was more the language of general respect, such as workmen might use of their master. Here, however, St. Peter's language implies the previous discipleship which we learn from John 1:35-43.

Verse 5. - Master. The word in the original so rendered is not Rabbi, as in the other Gospels, but ἐπίστατα, Teacher. The Jewish term would not have been understood by the Gentile reader for whom the story was especially intended.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“Master,”
Ἐπιστάτα (Epistata)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1988: Master, teacher, chief, commander. From epi and a presumed derivative of histemi; an appointee over, i.e. Commander.

Simon
Σίμων (Simōn)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4613: Simon. Of Hebrew origin; Simon, the name of nine Israelites.

replied,
ἀποκριθεὶς (apokritheis)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.

“we have worked
κοπιάσαντες (kopiasantes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2872: From a derivative of kopos; to feel fatigue; by implication, to work hard.

through
δι’ (di’)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

[the] night
νυκτὸς (nyktos)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3571: The night, night-time. A primary word; 'night'.

[without] catching
ἐλάβομεν (elabomen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

[anything].
οὐδὲν (ouden)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing.

But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

because
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

You
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

say so,
ῥήματί (rhēmati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4487: From rheo; an utterance, ; by implication, a matter or topic; with a negative naught whatever.

I will let down
χαλάσω (chalasō)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 5465: To let down, lower, slacken, loosen. From the base of chasma; to lower.

the
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

nets.”
δίκτυα (diktya)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1350: A fishing-net. Probably from a primary verb diko; a seine.


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NT Gospels: Luke 5:5 Simon answered him Master we worked all (Luke Lu Lk)
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