Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

LUKE 5:4KJV
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Luke 5:4 (KJV)

What does Luke 5:4 mean?

Luke 5:4 describes Jesus finishing his teaching and then telling Simon (Peter) to take the boat out into deeper water and lower the fishing nets to catch fish. Jesus gives this instruction after speaking to the crowd from Simon’s boat, directing Simon to act in a way that seems unusual for an experienced fisherman.

Jesus is speaking directly to Simon Peter, who has just listened to Jesus teach from his own boat along the shore of Lake Gennesaret. The situation is that Simon and his partners have already worked all night without catching anything, so Jesus’ command to try again in the deep water stands out as unexpected. This sets up the following verses, where Simon’s obedience leads to a surprising and abundant catch.

The Greek behind Luke 5:4

  • The word for "deep" is βάθος (bathos), here in the form τὸ βάθος (to bathos), which means the deep part of the lake. This highlights that Jesus is telling Simon to go far from the shallow, familiar fishing spots.
  • The phrase "let down" uses χαλάω (chalaō), which means to lower or let something down. This is a practical fishing term, showing Jesus is giving a specific, work-related instruction.
  • The word for "draught" is ἄγρευσις (agreusis), meaning a catch or haul, emphasizing that Jesus expects a real, significant catch, not just a token effort.

Why Luke 5:4 matters

  • Luke 5:4 shows Jesus giving a command that goes against Simon’s professional experience, highlighting the importance of trusting Jesus’ word even when it seems counterintuitive.
  • This verse sets up a key moment in Simon Peter’s relationship with Jesus, as Simon’s response leads to a miraculous event and deeper faith.
  • The instruction to go into the deep water and let down the nets connects Jesus’ teaching to everyday work, showing that spiritual lessons often meet people in the middle of ordinary life.

Where else these words appear

“draught” Greek G61 · used in 2 verses

  • Luke 5:9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

“out” Greek G1877 · used in 3 verses

  • Matthew 21:18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
  • Luke 5:3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

“down” Greek G5465 · used in 7 verses

  • Mark 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
  • Acts 9:25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
  • Acts 27:30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,

“deep” Greek G899 · used in 9 verses

  • Matthew 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
  • Romans 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  • 2 Corinthians 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.