And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

MATTHEW 4:21KJV
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Matthew 4:21 (KJV)

What does Matthew 4:21 mean?

Matthew 4:21 describes Jesus walking further along the shore and seeing two more brothers, James and John, working with their father Zebedee in a boat, repairing their fishing nets. Jesus calls out to them, inviting them to follow him.

In this verse, Jesus is actively choosing his disciples as he begins his ministry. The scene takes place by the Sea of Galilee, where James and John are busy with their daily work as fishermen alongside their father. The act of "mending their nets" shows they were in the middle of their ordinary routine when Jesus called them, highlighting that his invitation comes in the midst of everyday life.

The Greek behind Matthew 4:21

  • "Mending" (καταρτίζοντας, katartizontas): This word means repairing or putting something in order. It suggests that James and John were not just fishing but taking care of their tools, showing responsibility and readiness for their work.
  • "Called" (ἐκάλεσεν, ekalesen): This word means to summon or invite. The Greek here carries the sense of a purposeful invitation, not just a casual greeting, emphasizing the intentional nature of Jesus’ call.

Why Matthew 4:21 matters

  • Matthew 4:21 shows that Jesus’ call can come to people in the midst of their normal routines, not just in religious or special settings.
  • The verse highlights that Jesus chose ordinary working people, not religious leaders or scholars, to be his closest followers.
  • This moment connects to the wider passage where Jesus is gathering his first disciples, showing the beginning of a new community centered around him.

Where else these words appear

“on” Greek G4260 · used in 5 verses

  • Mark 1:19 And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
  • Luke 1:7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
  • Luke 1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

“Zebedee” Greek G2199 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
  • Matthew 27:56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
  • Mark 3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

“nets” Greek G1350 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
  • Luke 5:2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
  • Luke 5:6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

“mending” Greek G2675 · used in 13 verses

  • Matthew 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
  • 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
  • Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: