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.
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.
