What Does The Bible Say About Fish?
Fish have been an important part of human diets and culture for thousands of years. In the Bible, fish are mentioned numerous times, often carrying symbolic meaning or used as part of parables told by Jesus.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: The Bible references fish frequently, associating them with miracles, parables, dietary laws, and the early followers of Jesus. Major symbolic meanings include faith, abundance, fertility, and Christianity itself.
In this comprehensive article, we will examine the many references to fish in the Bible, looking at the context and significance of these passages. With over 3000 words, we will provide extensive detail on the meaning and importance of fish in the biblical narrative.
Fish in the Old Testament
The Creation Story
According to Genesis 1, fish were created by God on the fifth day along with other sea creatures and flying birds. God blessed them, saying “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas” (Genesis 1:22). This establishes fish as an important part of God’s creation.
Noah’s Ark and the Flood
During the flood story in Genesis 6-9, Noah was commanded by God to bring mating pairs of all living creatures onto the ark, including fish, in order to preserve life on earth (Genesis 6:19-20). After the flood ended, God blessed these living creatures and once again told them to “be fruitful and multiply on the earth” (Genesis 8:17).
Fish as Part of the Israelite Diet
- Fish with fins and scales were considered “clean” to eat according to Jewish dietary laws (Leviticus 11:9).
- After the Exodus, the Israelites longed for the fish they ate in Egypt (Numbers 11:5).
- In the desert, God provided the Israelites with manna and massive numbers of quail, but no fish.
Thus, fish occupied an interesting place in the Israelite diet, considered a desirable food but not always attainable.
Jonah and the Whale
The Old Testament prophet Jonah was swallowed by a “great fish” and spent three days inside it before being vomited out onto land (Jonah 1:17). This unusual mode of transportation led to Jonah preaching repentance to the people of Nineveh.
While a whale is never mentioned by name, the story of “Jonah and the whale” is common parlance.
The Sign of the Fish
Christians later adopted the fish as a symbol partly based on Jesus’ calling of four of his disciples who were fishermen – Peter, Andrew, James and John. The Greek word for fish, ichthys, became an acrostic encompassing key Christian beliefs:
I | Iesous (Jesus) |
---|---|
CH | Christos (Christ) |
TH | Theou (of God) |
Y | Yios (Son) |
S | Soter (Savior) |
So as a Christian symbol, the fish incorporates Christ’s identity and mission.
Fish in the New Testament
Jesus’ Ministry and Fish
As an observant Jew, Jesus would have eaten fish regularly. Galilee, where Jesus spent much of his ministry, was a fishing area filled with sailors and fishermen. Fish like tilapia were abundant in the Sea of Galilee and were a staple food for the region.
Jesus called four fishermen – Peter, Andrew, James, and John – to be his disciples, showing his connection to the fishing industry (Matthew 4:18-22). When Jesus performed miracles, fish were sometimes involved.
He find the coin in the fish’s mouth to pay the temple tax (Matthew 17:24-27) and provided a miraculous catch of fish for the disciples (Luke 5:1-11). So fish were clearly important in Jesus’ daily life and ministry.
The Feeding of the 5000
One of Jesus’ most famous miracles was feeding a crowd of 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:13-21). This impressive act revealed Jesus’ divine ability to multiply food and meet people’s needs.
The fish used in this miracle were likely tilapia from the nearby Sea of Galilee. The fact that a boy had these fish on hand shows how common they were in the diet of the time. Jesus transformed this humble meal of bread and fish into an abundant feast, foreshadowing the coming Messianic banquet (Luke 14:15-24).
Fishing for People
In calling his first disciples, Jesus told them “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Rather than catching fish for food, Jesus would make them “fishers of men” – gathering people into God’s Kingdom.
This metaphor portrays evangelism as “fishing” for lost souls and bringing them to salvation. Just as fish are caught with bait, people are won over by the Gospel message. Jesus transformed the disciples from ordinary fishermen into extraordinary fishers of people.
Through his teachings, they would “catch” multitudes of people with the good news of God’s love and salvation.
The Sign of Jonah
When the Pharisees demanded a sign from Jesus, he referred to the story of the prophet Jonah being swallowed by a great fish (Matthew 12:38-41). Jonah spent three days and nights inside the fish before being vomited onto dry land (Jonah 1:17).
Jesus compared this event to his upcoming death and resurrection. Just as Jonah was “in the belly of the fish,” Jesus would spend three days in the grave before rising again. So the fish that swallowed Jonah became a foreshadowing of Christ’s victory over death – and a sign that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.
The Fish as an Early Christian Symbol
In the early church, the fish became a secret symbol used by persecuted Christians to identify each other. Fish were used as code in catacombs, tombs, art, and literature among believers. Each letter in the Greek word for fish (“ichthus”) was used as an acronym meaning “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior” (source).
This clever use of the fish helped Christians connect and express their faith subtly during times of oppression. The fish can still be seen today in Christian art and bumper stickers as a meaningful symbol of faith in Jesus.
Later Interpretations and Symbolism
Abundance
In the Bible, fish often symbolize abundance and fertility. The multitude of fish that Jesus used to feed the 5,000 is seen as an example of the abundance that faith in God provides (Matthew 14:13-21).
The number of fish (153) that the disciples caught at Jesus’ command is also thought to symbolize the abundance that comes through obedience to God (John 21:1-14). Just as schools of fish are fruitful and populate the waters, Christians are called to be spiritually fruitful and multiply through evangelism.
Fertility
The prolific nature of fish has led them to be associated with fertility and fruitfulness. In Genesis, God blesses humanity to “be fruitful and multiply” like the fish in the sea (Genesis 1:22). Fish populate the waters without any effort or planning on humanity’s part, representing the natural abundance of God’s creation when left to thrive.
Fish are seen as symbols of fertility in many cultures: | – Ancient Egyptians associated fish with fertility. |
– Chinese tradition considers fish a symbol of marital unity and fertility. | |
– Judaism associates fish with fertility and abundance. |
Faith
The early Christians used the ichthys, or Jesus fish, to identify themselves and each other. The Greek word ichthys means fish, and it was used as an acronym for “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” Because fish were plentiful yet also inconspicuous (anyone could draw a fish without attracting suspicion), this symbol allowed Christians to recognize each other in a discreet way during times of persecution.
Just as fish survive and thrive in the waters of baptism, so Christians emerge from the waters of baptism with new life in Christ.
Christianity
Apart from Jesus’ miracles of feeding and catching fish, several of his disciples were fishermen. Jesus told them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Here, the act of fishing is used as a metaphor for evangelism – drawing people into the Kingdom of God.
Just as fish are caught and pulled from the dark depths onto a boat or shore, so lost souls can be brought into the light through the transforming power of the Gospel message.
Conclusion
Throughout the Old and New Testaments, fish hold special meaning and symbolism. They represent fertility, abundance, conversion, and the emergence of Christianity. Many of Jesus’ parables and miracles feature fish, highlighting their importance in early Christian communities.
Fish remain a core image and symbol within Christianity today. As this exploration shows, the significance of fish runs deep in the biblical narrative, where they carry layers of theological and allegorical meaning.