100 Bible Verses about Fishing

Matthew 4:19 ESV / 461 helpful votes

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Matthew 13:47 ESV / 443 helpful votes

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.

John 21:3 ESV / 432 helpful votes

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Genesis 1:28 ESV / 372 helpful votes

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Luke 5:6 ESV / 367 helpful votes

And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

Luke 5:4-6 ESV / 320 helpful votes

And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

Luke 5:5 ESV / 274 helpful votes

And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

Ezekiel 47:10 ESV / 255 helpful votes

Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.

Ezekiel 47:9-10 ESV / 247 helpful votes

And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.

Jeremiah 16:16 ESV / 246 helpful votes

“Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the Lord, and they shall catch them. And afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks.

Matthew 17:27 ESV / 244 helpful votes

However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

Matthew 17:24-27 ESV / 243 helpful votes

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

Luke 5:4 ESV / 235 helpful votes

And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

Mark 1:16-20 ESV / 234 helpful votes

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

1 Corinthians 15:39 ESV / 229 helpful votes

For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.

Ezekiel 26:14 ESV / 220 helpful votes

I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for the spreading of nets. You shall never be rebuilt, for I am the Lord; I have spoken, declares the Lord God.

Genesis 9:2 ESV / 220 helpful votes

The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered.

Ezekiel 47:9 ESV / 217 helpful votes

And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.

John 21:10 ESV / 212 helpful votes

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”

Matthew 4:18 ESV / 210 helpful votes

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

Mark 1:17 ESV / 208 helpful votes

And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

Luke 5:1-39 ESV / 202 helpful votes

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” ...

Luke 1:37 ESV / 202 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Job 41:7 ESV / 201 helpful votes

Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?

Luke 24:42 ESV / 197 helpful votes

They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

Matthew 12:40 ESV / 197 helpful votes

For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Luke 5:4-7 ESV / 194 helpful votes

And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

John 21:6 ESV / 192 helpful votes

He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.

Luke 5:1-11 ESV / 191 helpful votes

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” ...

Numbers 11:22 ESV / 183 helpful votes

Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, and be enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, and be enough for them?”

John 21:11 ESV / 181 helpful votes

So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Mark 1:14-20 ESV / 181 helpful votes

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ...

Luke 5:2 ESV / 178 helpful votes

And he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.

Jonah 1:17 ESV / 175 helpful votes

And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

John 21:4 ESV / 172 helpful votes

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

John 21:1-25 ESV / 172 helpful votes

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” ...

Genesis 1:26 ESV / 172 helpful votes

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Luke 5:10 ESV / 171 helpful votes

And so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Mark 1:16 ESV / 166 helpful votes

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

Matthew 15:36 ESV / 163 helpful votes

He took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

Zephaniah 1:10 ESV / 163 helpful votes

“On that day,” declares the Lord, “a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills.

John 21:7 ESV / 161 helpful votes

That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

Psalm 8:8 ESV / 153 helpful votes

The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

1 Kings 4:33 ESV / 153 helpful votes

He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish.

John 21:9 ESV / 152 helpful votes

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.

Hosea 4:3 ESV / 152 helpful votes

Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away.

Genesis 1:1 ESV / 151 helpful votes

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 149 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Genesis 1:21 ESV / 145 helpful votes

So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Luke 5:10-11 ESV / 143 helpful votes

And so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Jonah 2:1 ESV / 143 helpful votes

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish,

Luke 9:13 ESV / 142 helpful votes

But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.”

Matthew 4:18-20 ESV / 141 helpful votes

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

John 21:1 ESV / 138 helpful votes

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.

John 21:13 ESV / 136 helpful votes

Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.

Isaiah 19:8 ESV / 135 helpful votes

The fishermen will mourn and lament, all who cast a hook in the Nile; and they will languish who spread nets on the water.

Habakkuk 1:15 ESV / 133 helpful votes

He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad.

Matthew 14:19 ESV / 131 helpful votes

Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

Matthew 4:21 ESV / 130 helpful votes

And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.

Jonah 2:10 ESV / 129 helpful votes

And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

Hebrews 11:3 ESV / 128 helpful votes

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Matthew 7:10 ESV / 127 helpful votes

Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?

Nehemiah 3:3 ESV / 126 helpful votes

The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

Deuteronomy 4:18 ESV / 126 helpful votes

The likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth.

Exodus 7:18 ESV / 126 helpful votes

The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile.”’”

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 125 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Exodus 7:21 ESV / 125 helpful votes

And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 29:4 ESV / 124 helpful votes

I will put hooks in your jaws, and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales; and I will draw you up out of the midst of your streams, with all the fish of your streams that stick to your scales.

Nehemiah 12:39 ESV / 124 helpful votes

And above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Gate of Yeshanah, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard.

Matthew 13:1-58 ESV / 123 helpful votes

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, ...

John 3:16 ESV / 122 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 122 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Mark 6:41 ESV / 121 helpful votes

And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.

Ezekiel 29:5 ESV / 121 helpful votes

And I will cast you out into the wilderness, you and all the fish of your streams; you shall fall on the open field, and not be brought together or gathered. To the beasts of the earth and to the birds of the heavens I give you as food.

2 Corinthians 13:1 ESV / 118 helpful votes

This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

John 6:1-71 ESV / 116 helpful votes

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” ...

Habakkuk 1:14 ESV / 115 helpful votes

You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler.

Ecclesiastes 9:12 ESV / 115 helpful votes

For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

Proverbs 6:5 ESV / 113 helpful votes

Save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

John 14:6 ESV / 112 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Proverbs 12:27 ESV / 107 helpful votes

Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 106 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ...

Matthew 4:1-25 ESV / 106 helpful votes

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple ...

Matthew 4:20 ESV / 104 helpful votes

Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Leviticus 20:13 ESV / 102 helpful votes

If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

Proverbs 3:5 ESV / 100 helpful votes

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Zephaniah 1:1-18 ESV / 99 helpful votes

The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. “I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord. “I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord. “I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom, ...

Luke 9:10-17 ESV / 97 helpful votes

On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” ...

Isaiah 41:10 ESV / 96 helpful votes

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Nehemiah 13:16 ESV / 85 helpful votes

Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself!

John 21:8 ESV / 80 helpful votes

The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

Matthew 4:18-22 ESV / 78 helpful votes

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Ezekiel 26:5 ESV / 76 helpful votes

She shall be in the midst of the sea a place for the spreading of nets, for I have spoken, declares the Lord God. And she shall become plunder for the nations,

Luke 11:11 ESV / 72 helpful votes

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;

Romans 1:16 ESV / 70 helpful votes

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 68 helpful votes

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Matthew 13:48 ESV / 67 helpful votes

When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad.

1 Samuel 17:34-35 ESV / 66 helpful votes

But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.

Mark 1:19 ESV / 64 helpful votes

And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 51 helpful votes

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...

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