Λέγει αὐτοῖς Σίμων Πέτρος· ὑπάγω ἁλιεύειν. λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· ἐρχόμεθα καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν σοί. ἐξῆλθον καὶ ἐνέβησαν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον εὐθύς, καὶ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ νυκτὶ ἐπίασαν οὐδέν. (John 21:3)
Initiating Dialogue and Personal Initiative: λέγει αὐτοῖς Σίμων Πέτρος· ὑπάγω ἁλιεύειν
– λέγει: Present active indicative, 3rd person singular of λέγω, “he says.”
– Historical present for vividness.
– αὐτοῖς: Dative plural masculine pronoun—”to them.”
– Σίμων Πέτρος: Nominative proper name with apposition—”Simon Peter.”
– Subject of the verb λέγει.
– ὑπάγω: Present active indicative, 1st person singular of ὑπάγω, “I am going,” “I go.”
– Expresses initiative and intent.
– ἁλιεύειν: Present active infinitive of ἁλιεύω, “to fish.”
– Complementary infinitive dependent on ὑπάγω: “I am going to fish.”
Responsive Agreement: λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· ἐρχόμεθα καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν σοί
– λέγουσιν: Present active indicative, 3rd person plural of λέγω—”they say.”
– Historical present again for narrative effect.
– αὐτῷ: Dative singular masculine—”to him.”
– ἐρχόμεθα: Present middle indicative, 1st person plural of ἔρχομαι, “we are coming.”
– καὶ ἡμεῖς: Emphatic inclusion—”we also,” stressing solidarity.
– σὺν σοί: Preposition σὺν with dative pronoun—”with you.”
– Expresses companionship.
Immediate Action: ἐξῆλθον καὶ ἐνέβησαν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον εὐθύς
– ἐξῆλθον: Aorist active indicative, 3rd person plural of ἐξέρχομαι, “they went out.”
– ἐνέβησαν: Aorist active indicative, 3rd person plural of ἐμβαίνω, “they got into.”
– εἰς τὸ πλοῖον: Prepositional phrase—”into the boat.”
– πλοῖον: Accusative singular neuter—”boat.”
– εὐθύς: Adverb—”immediately.”
– Emphasizes the quick response and decisive action.
Temporal Setting and Result: καὶ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ νυκτὶ ἐπίασαν οὐδέν
– καὶ: Continuation—”and.”
– ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ νυκτί: Preposition ἐν + dative singular—”during that night.”
– ἐκείνῃ: Demonstrative adjective—”that.”
– νυκτί: Dative singular of νύξ, “night.”
– ἐπίασαν: Aorist active indicative, 3rd person plural of πιάζω (in later usage or aorist of πιάζω), meaning here “they caught.”
– οὐδέν: Accusative singular neuter of οὐδείς—”nothing.”
– Complete failure is underscored.
Return to the Familiar and the Emptiness of Human Effort Apart from Christ
The narrative in John 21:3 captures a subtle yet powerful theological movement. The disciples, following Peter’s initiative (Ὑπάγω ἁλιεύειν), return to their old profession—fishing. The verbs ἐξῆλθον and ἐνέβησαν describe not merely physical movement but a reversion to a pre-resurrection routine, filled with activity yet void of success (ἐπίασαν οὐδέν).
The Greek syntax supports this theme:
– The use of historical present verbs (λέγει, λέγουσιν) heightens the immediacy of the interaction.
– The aorist verbs (ἐξῆλθον, ἐνέβησαν, ἐπίασαν) move the action quickly toward its outcome.
– The placement of οὐδέν at the end of the verse underlines the futility of their labor apart from the presence of Jesus.
This verse serves as a narrative and theological bridge: from the energy of human initiative to the need for divine guidance. The disciples’ failure to catch anything sets the stage for Christ’s post-resurrection reappearance and his redirection of their mission.
