Mark 1:19
New International Version
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.

New Living Translation
A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.

Berean Literal Bible
And having gone on a little, He saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, and they were in the boat mending the nets.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.

New American Standard Bible
And going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who were also in the boat mending the nets.

NASB 1995
Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.

NASB 1977
And going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.

Legacy Standard Bible
And going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.

Amplified Bible
Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who were also in the boat mending and cleaning the nets.

Christian Standard Bible
Going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat putting their nets in order.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in their boat mending their nets.

American Standard Version
And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus walked on and soon saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat, mending their nets.

English Revised Version
And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As Jesus went on a little farther, he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat preparing their nets [to go fishing].

Good News Translation
He went a little farther on and saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat getting their nets ready.

International Standard Version
Going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat repairing their nets.

Majority Standard Bible
Going on a little farther from there, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.

NET Bible
Going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother in their boat mending nets.

New Heart English Bible
And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.

Webster's Bible Translation
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 boat mending their nets.

Weymouth New Testament
Going on a little further He saw James the son of Zabdi and his brother John: they also were in the boat mending the nets, and He immediately called them.

World English Bible
Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And having gone on there a little, He saw James of Zebedee, and his brother John, and they were in the boat refitting the nets,

Berean Literal Bible
And having gone on a little, He saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, and they were in the boat mending the nets.

Young's Literal Translation
And having gone on thence a little, he saw James of Zebedee, and John his brother, and they were in the boat refitting the nets,

Smith's Literal Translation
And having moved forward a little from thence, he saw James of Zebedee, and John his brother, and they in the ship adjusting their nets.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And going on from thence a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were mending their nets in the ship:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And continuing on a little ways from there, he saw James of Zebedee and his brother John, and they were mending their nets in a boat.

New American Bible
He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets.

New Revised Standard Version
As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when he went a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John; they also were in a boat mending their nets.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when he passed by a little he saw Yaqob, son of Zebedee, and Yohannan his brother, and also those in the ship who were setting their nets in order.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
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.

Godbey New Testament
And going forth thence a little, He saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, themselves also in a ship mending their nets,

Haweis New Testament
And going from thence a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, and others in the vessel mending the nets.

Mace New Testament
when he had gone a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the bark mending their nets, whereupon he called them:

Weymouth New Testament
Going on a little further He saw James the son of Zabdi and his brother John: they also were in the boat mending the nets, and He immediately called them.

Worrell New Testament
And going on a little further, He saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, and those in the ship mending the nets.

Worsley New Testament
And going a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship, mending their nets, and immediately called them likewise:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The First Disciples
18And at once they left their nets and followed Him. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets. 20Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.…

Cross References
Matthew 4:21
Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them,

Luke 5:10
and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.”

John 21:2-3
Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. / Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they said. So they went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night.

Matthew 10:2
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;

Acts 12:2
He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

John 1:35-42
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. / When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” / And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ...

Matthew 17:1
After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

Luke 9:28
About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took with Him Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray.

Acts 1:13
When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

Galatians 2:9
And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

1 Corinthians 15:7
Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Exodus 3:1
Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

1 Kings 19:19-21
So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him. / So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?” / So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah.

2 Kings 2:1-6
Shortly before the LORD took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal, / and Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. / Then the sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.” ...

Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”


Treasury of Scripture

And when he had gone a little farther there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

James.

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:

Mark 5:37
And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

Mark 9:2
And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

Jump to Previous
Boat Farther Further Immediately James John Little Mending Nets Repairing Ship Stitching Thence Trawl-Nets Zabdi Zebedee Zeb'edee
Jump to Next
Boat Farther Further Immediately James John Little Mending Nets Repairing Ship Stitching Thence Trawl-Nets Zabdi Zebedee Zeb'edee
Mark 1
1. The office of John the Baptist.
9. Jesus is baptized;
12. tempted;
14. he preaches;
16. calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John;
23. heals one that had a demon;
29. Peter's mother in law;
32. many diseased persons;
40. and cleanses the leper.














Going on a little farther
This phrase indicates Jesus' movement along the Sea of Galilee, a significant location in His ministry. The Sea of Galilee was a hub of fishing activity, and Jesus' choice to call His disciples from this area highlights His connection to everyday life and work. This movement also signifies the progression of His ministry as He gathers His followers.

He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John
James and John, often referred to as the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17), were part of Jesus' inner circle, along with Peter. Their father, Zebedee, was likely a man of some means, as indicated by the presence of hired men (Mark 1:20). The calling of these brothers emphasizes the theme of family and community in the early Christian movement. Their inclusion in Jesus' closest disciples underscores their importance in the early Church, with John traditionally credited as the author of the Gospel of John, three epistles, and Revelation.

They were in a boat
The boat is a symbol of their profession as fishermen, a common occupation around the Sea of Galilee. This setting underscores the humble beginnings of Jesus' disciples, who were ordinary men called to an extraordinary mission. The boat also serves as a metaphor for the Church, a vessel carrying the message of the Gospel.

mending their nets
Mending nets was a routine task for fishermen, necessary for maintaining their livelihood. This detail highlights the disciples' diligence and readiness to respond to Jesus' call. The act of mending can also symbolize restoration and preparation, themes central to Jesus' ministry. The imagery of nets is later used by Jesus when He tells His disciples they will become "fishers of men" (Mark 1:17), indicating their future role in gathering people into the Kingdom of God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
- The central figure of the New Testament, the Son of God, who is calling His disciples to follow Him.

2. James son of Zebedee
- One of the first disciples called by Jesus, later known as one of the "Sons of Thunder" due to his zealous nature.

3. John
- Brother of James, also called by Jesus, who becomes the beloved disciple and author of the Gospel of John, three epistles, and Revelation.

4. Zebedee
- The father of James and John, a fisherman by trade, indicating a family business.

5. The Boat
- Represents the setting of their daily work and livelihood, which they are called to leave behind to follow Jesus.
Teaching Points
The Call to Follow Jesus
Jesus calls ordinary people in their everyday lives to follow Him. This call requires a willingness to leave behind what is familiar and secure.

Immediate Obedience
James and John immediately left their nets and followed Jesus. This demonstrates the importance of responding promptly to God's call in our lives.

Family and Faith
The mention of Zebedee highlights the potential tension between family obligations and the call to discipleship. Following Jesus may require prioritizing faith over familial expectations.

Preparation for Ministry
The act of mending nets symbolizes preparation and readiness. As believers, we must be prepared and equipped for the ministry God calls us to.

Partnership in Ministry
James and John were brothers and partners in their fishing business. This partnership continued in their ministry, illustrating the importance of working together in the body of Christ.Verses 19, 20. - The calling of James and John, the sons of Zebedee. St. Mark here mentions that they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants (μετὰ τῶν μισθωτῶν). This mention of the "hired servants" is peculiar to St. Mark. He often follows the narrative of St. Matthew; but he adds little details such as this, here and there, which show that he knew St. Matthew's narrative to be true, and also that he was an independent witness. This circumstance here incidentally mentioned shows that there was a difference in position in life between Zebedee's family and that of Simon and Andrew. It appears that all Jews had free right of fishing in the sea of Galilee, which abounded in fish. Zebedee, therefore, whose home seems to have been at Jerusalem, had a fishing establishment in Galilee, probably managed by his partners, Andrew and Simon, during his absence. But he would naturally visit the establishment from time to time With his sons, and especially before the great festivals, when a larger supply of fish than usual would be required for the visitors crowding to Jerusalem at that time. (See 'Speaker's Commentary.')

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Going on
προβὰς (probas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4260: To go forward, advance. From pro and the base of basis; to walk forward, i.e. Advance.

a little farther,
ὀλίγον (oligon)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3641: Puny; especially neuter somewhat.

He saw
εἶδεν (eiden)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

James
Ἰάκωβον (Iakōbon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2385: The same as Iakob Graecized; Jacobus, the name of three Israelites.

[son]
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

of Zebedee
Ζεβεδαίου (Zebedaiou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2199: Zebedee, father of the apostles James and John. Of Hebrew origin; Zebedaeus, an Israelite.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

brother
ἀδελφὸν (adelphon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

John.
Ἰωάννην (Iōannēn)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2491: Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.

They
αὐτοὺς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

[were] in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

a
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

boat,
πλοίῳ (ploiō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4143: A ship, vessel, boat. From pleo; a sailer, i.e. Vessel.

mending
καταρτίζοντας (katartizontas)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2675: From kata and a derivative of artios; to complete thoroughly, i.e. Repair or adjust.

[their]
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

nets.
δίκτυα (diktya)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1350: A fishing-net. Probably from a primary verb diko; a seine.


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