Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4600 Living beings  »  4642 fish

A basic ingredient of diet in biblical times. Fishing was regarded as a trade rather than a recreation.

Fish as part of God's creation

Genesis 1:20-22 See also Genesis 1:26; Genesis 9:2; 1 Kings 4:33; Psalm 8:8; 1 Corinthians 15:39

Fish as food

Matthew 7:9-10 pp Luke 11:11 Matthew 14:17 pp Mark 6:38 pp Luke 9:16 pp John 6:9 See also Numbers 11:5; Nehemiah 13:16; Matthew 15:34 pp Mark 8:7; Luke 24:42; John 21:13

Rules about eating fish

Leviticus 11:9-12; Deuteronomy 14:9-10

Fish related to judgment

Exodus 7:18; Isaiah 19:8 See also Psalm 105:29; Isaiah 50:2; Hosea 4:3; Zephaniah 1:3

Fish as the object of pagan worship

Deuteronomy 4:15-18 See also Judges 16:23 Dagon was the fish god.

Fish involved in miracles

Jonah 1:17; Luke 5:4-7 See also Matthew 14:19-21 pp Mark 6:39-44 pp Luke 9:14-17 pp John 6:10-13; Matthew 15:35-38 pp Mark 8:7-9; Matthew 17:24-27; John 21:5-6

Figurative uses of fish

Fish as a symbol of entrapment

Ecclesiastes 9:12 See also Ezekiel 29:4-5; Habakkuk 1:14-17

Fish as a symbol of the kingdom of God

Matthew 13:47-48 See also Ezekiel 47:10

Fish as a symbol of the resurrection

Matthew 12:40

Fishermen as the first disciples

Matthew 4:18 pp Mark 1:16

Figurative use of fishermen

Jeremiah 16:16; Matthew 4:19 Describing the disciples' evangelistic role.

See also

2351  Christ, miracles
5425  net
5433  occupations
8747  false gods