Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent, [1886], at sacred-texts.com
John Chapter 21
Shewed (ἐφανέρωσεν)
This rendering might easily convey merely the sense of appearing; but its meaning is much deeper. Occurring frequently in the New Testament, it is used most frequently of God and Christ, or of men in their relation to these. Thus, of Christ in person while upon earth (Mar 16:12, Mar 16:14; Joh 1:31; Joh 2:11; Pe1 1:20; Jo1 1:2). Of the works of Christ (Joh 2:11; Joh 9:3; Jo1 3:5). Of Christ in redemption (Jo1 3:5). Of Christ in His second coming (Jo1 2:28). Of Christ in glory (Jo1 3:2; Col 3:4). It is used of God. Of His revelation to men of the knowledge of Himself (Rom 1:19). Of His manifestation in Christ (Ti1 3:16). Of His righteousness (Rom 3:21). Of His love (Jo1 4:9). It is used of men. As epistles manifesting the character and spirit of Christ (Co2 3:3; Co2 5:11). In the judgment (Co2 5:10). In all these cases the appearing is not merely an appeal to sense, but is addressed to spiritual perception, and contemplates a moral and spiritual effect. It is the setting forth of the law or will or character of God; of the person or work of Christ; of the character or deeds of men, with a view to the disclosure of their quality and to the producing of a moral impression. Rev., manifested.
Sea
See on Mat 4:18.
Of Tiberias
Not elsewhere in the Gospels. The Synoptists say, Sea of Galilee or Lake of Gennesaret.
A ship (τὸ πλοῖον)
Rev., the boat; restoring the article, which indicates a familiar implement. See on Luk 5:2.
Immediately
Omit.
That night
The emphatic pronoun that (ἐκείνῃ) may indicate that their ill success was unusual.
Caught (ἐπίασαν)
So Joh 21:10. The verb means to lay hold of, and is nowhere else used in the New Testament of taking fish. Elsewhere in this Gospel always of the seizure of Christ by the authorities (Joh 7:30, Joh 7:39, Joh 7:44; Joh 8:20; Joh 10:39; Joh 11:57). Of apprehending Peter and Paul (Act 12:4; Co2 11:32). Of the taking of the beast (Rev 19:20). Of taking by the hand (Act 3:7).
Was come (γενομένης)
The best texts read the present participle, γινομένης, is coming. Rev., when day was now breaking. The A.V. does not agree so well with the fact that Jesus was not at once recognized by the disciples, owing in part, perhaps, to the imperfect light.
On the shore (εἰς τὸν αἰγιαλόν)
Rev., beach. See on Mat 13:2. The preposition εἰς, to, makes the phrase equivalent to "Jesus came to the beach and stood there."
Children (παιδία)
Or, little children. Used also by John, in address, twice in the First Epistle (Jo1 2:13, Jo1 2:18), where, however, the more common word is τεκνία, little children.
Have ye any meat (μή τι προσφάγιον ἔχετε)?
The interrogative μή τι indicates that a negative answer is expected: you have not, I suppose, anything. Προσφάγιον is equivalent to ὀψάριον, what is added to bread at a meal, especially fish. See on Joh 6:9. Only here in the New Testament. Wyc, any supping-thing.
The net (δίκτυον)
See on Mat 4:18; see on Mat 13:47.
Were not able (οὐκ ἴσχυσαν)
See on Luk 14:30; see on Luk 16:3; see on Jam 5:16.
To draw (ἑλκῦσαι)
Into the boat. Compare σύροντες, Joh 21:8, dragging the net behind the boat.
Fisher's coat (ἐπενδύτην)
An upper garment or blouse. Only here in the New Testament. In the Septuagint, Sa1 18:4, the robe which Jonathan gave to David. Sa2 13:18, the royal virgin garment of Tamar. The kindred verb, ἐπενδύομαι, occurs twice (Co2 5:2, Co2 5:4), meaning "to be clothed upon," with the house which is from heaven, i.e., clothed as with an upper garment. See on that passage.
Naked
Not absolutely, but clothed merely in his undergarment or shirt.
A little ship (τῷ πλοιαρίῳ)
The noun is diminutive. Rev., the little boat. It is hardly probable that this refers to a smaller boat accompanying the vessel. Compare the alternation of πλοῖον and πλοιάριον in Joh 6:17, Joh 6:19, Joh 6:21, Joh 6:22, Joh 6:24.
Two hundred cubits
A little over a hundred yards.
With fishes (τῶν ἰχθύων)
Or, the net of the fishes. So Wyc, Rev., full of fishes.
They were come to land (ἀπέβησαν εἰς τὴν γῆν)
Not of the arrival of the boat, but of the going ashore of the boatmen. Rev., therefore, correctly, they got out upon the land.
A fire of coals
Charcoal. See Joh 18:18.
Fish (ὀψάριον)
See on Joh 6:9.
Bread (ἄρτον)
Or, a loaf. See on Mat 4:1; see on Mat 7:9.
Of the fish (τῶν ὀψαρίων)
As in Joh 21:9. Emphasizing the fish as food.
Ye hate caught (ἐπιάσατε)
See on Joh 21:3. Bengel says: "By the Lord's gift they had caught them: and yet, He courteously says, that they have caught them."
Went up
Into the vessel.
To land (ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς)
Strictly, upon the land.
Great fishes
All authorities agree as to the abundance of fish in the Lake of Galilee. M. Lortet, cited by Dr. Thomson, says that two castings of the net usually filled his boat. Bethsaida (there were two places of that name on the lake) means House of the Fisheries. The fame of the lake in this particular reached back to very early times; so that, according to the Rabbinical legend, one of the ten fundamental laws laid down by Joshua on the division of the country was, that any one might fish with a hook in the Lake of Galilee, so that they did not interfere with the free passage of boats. The Talmud names certain kinds of fish which might be eaten without being cooked, and designates them as small fishes. So ὀψάρια is rendered in Joh 6:9. Possibly the expression great fishes may imply a contrast with the small fishes which swarmed in the lake, and the salting and pickling of which was a special industry among its fishermen.
Dine (ἀριστήσατε)
Rather, breakfast. In Attic Greek ἄριστον signified the mid-day meal; the evening meal being known as δεῖπνον. The regular hour for the ἄριστον cannot be fixed with precision. The drift of authority among Greek writers seems to be in favor of noon. The meal described here, however, evidently took place at an earlier hour, and would seem to have answered more nearly to the ἀκρατίσμα, or breakfast of the Greeks, which was taken directly upon rising. Plutarch, however, expressly states that both names were applied to the morning meal, and says of Alexander, "He was accustomed to breakfast (ἠρίστα) at early dawn, sitting, and to sup (ἐδείπνει) late in the evening." In Mat 22:4, it is an ἄριστον to which the king's wedding-guests are invited.
Ask (ἐξετα.σαι)
Rev., inquire. Implying careful and precise inquiry. It occurs only three times in the New Testament; of Herod's command to search diligently for the infant Christ (Mat 2:8), and of the apostles' inquiring out the worthy members of a household (Mat 10:11).
Bread - fish
Both have the article - the loaf, the fish - apparently pointing to the provision which Jesus himself had made.
Giveth them
Nothing is said of His partaking Himself. Compare Luk 24:42, Luk 24:43.
The third time
The two former occasions being recorded in Joh 20:19, Joh 20:26. The appearance to Mary Magdalene is not counted, because the Evangelist expressly says to His disciples.
Simon, son of Jonas
Compare Christ's first address to Peter, Joh 1:43. He never addresses him by the name of Peter, while that name is commonly used, either alone or with Simon, in the narrative of the Gospels, and in the Greek form Peter, not the Aramaic Cephas, which, on the other hand, is always employed by Paul. For Jonas read as Rev., John.
Lovest (ἀγαπᾶς)
Jesus uses the more dignified, really the nobler, but, as it seems to Peter, in the ardor of his affection, the colder word for love. See on Joh 5:20.
More than these
More than these disciples love me. Compare Joh 13:37; Mat 26:33. The question conveys a gentle rebuke for his former extravagant professions.
I love (φιλῶ)
Peter substitutes the warmer, more affectionate word, and omits all comparison with his fellow-disciples.
Feed (βόσκε)
See on Pe1 5:2.
Lambs (ἀρνία)
Diminutive: little lambs. Godet remarks: "There is a remarkable resemblance between the present situation and that of the two scenes in the previous life of Peter with which it is related. He had been called to the ministry by Jesus after a miraculous draught of fishes; it is after a similar draught that the ministry is restored to him. He had lost his office by a denial beside a fire of coal; it is beside a fire of coal that he recovers it."
Lovest (ἀγαπᾷς)
Again the colder word, but more than these is omitted.
I love (φιλῶ)
Peter reiterates his former word expressive of personal affection.
Feed (ποίμαινε)
A different word: tend, as Rev. See on Pe1 5:2.
Sheep (πρόβατα)
Some of the best texts read προβάτια, diminutive, little sheep.
Lovest (φιλεῖς)
Here Jesus adopts Peter's word. Canon Westcott, however, ascribes Peter's use of φιλέω to his humility, and his hesitation in claiming that higher love which is implied in ἀγαπᾷς. This seems to me to be less natural, and to be refining too much.
Young (νεώτερος)
Literally, younger. Peter was apparently of middle age. See Mat 8:14.
Thou girdedst thyself (ἐζώννυες σεαυτὸν)
The word may have been suggested by Peter's girding his fisher's coat round him. The imperfect tense signifies something habitual. Thou wast wont to clothe thyself and to come and go at will.
Walkedst (περιεπάτεις)
Literally, walkedst about. Peculiarly appropriate to describe the free activity of vigorous manhood.
Stretch forth thy hands
The allusion to the extending of the hands on the cross, which some interpreters have found here, is fanciful. It is merely an expression for the helplessness of age.
Whither thou wouldest not
According to tradition Peter suffered martyrdom at Rome, and was crucified with his head downward.
By what death (ποίῳ)
Properly, by what manner of death. So Rev.
Leaned (ἀνέπεσεν)
Rev., leaned back. See on Joh 13:25. The reference is to the special act of John, leaning back to whisper to Jesus, and not to his position at table.
And what shall this man do (οὗτος δὲ τί;)?
Literally, and this one what?
Till I come (ἕως ἔρχομαι)
Rather, while I am coming. Compare Joh 9:4; Joh 12:35, Joh 12:36; Ti1 4:13.
What is that to thee (τί πρός σε;)?
Literally, what as concerns thee?
Should not die (οὐκ ἀποθνήσκει)
Literally, dieth not.
Many interpreters think that these two verses were written by some other hand than John's. Some ascribe Joh 21:24 and Joh 21:25 to two different writers. The entire chapter, though bearing unmistakable marks of John's authorship in its style and language, was probably composed subsequently to the completion of the Gospel.