John 21:4

4 Now [when it] was already early morning, Jesus stood on the beach. However, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

John 21:4 Meaning and Commentary

John 21:4

But when the morning was now come
The day began to dawn, and light to appear, very early in the morning; for Christ visits his right early, and is a present help to them in their time of trouble.

Jesus stood on the shore:
on firm ground, whilst his disciples were beating about in the waves, and toiling to no purpose. So Christ, risen from the dead, is glorified, is in heaven; but not unmindful of his people amidst all their afflictions in this world:

but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus;
though he was so near them that they could hear what he said; but it not being broad daylight they could not distinctly discern him, or their eyes might be held that they could not know him. So Christ is sometimes near his people, and they know it not.

John 21:4 In-Context

2 Simon Peter and Thomas (who was called Didymus) and Nathanael from Cana in Galilee and the [sons] of Zebedee and two others of his disciples were together.

3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing!" They said to him, "We also are coming with you." They went out and got into the boat, and during that night they caught nothing.

4 Now [when it] was already early morning, Jesus stood on the beach. However, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

5 So Jesus said to them, "Children, you do not have any fish to eat, [do you]? They answered him, "No."

6 And he said to them, "Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find [some]." So they threw [it], and were no longer able to haul it in from the large number of the fish.

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("was")