Matthew 4:19
New International Version
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

New Living Translation
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

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

Berean Standard Bible
“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

Berean Literal Bible
And He says to them, "Come follow after Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

King James Bible
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

New King James Version
Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

New American Standard Bible
And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.”

NASB 1995
And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

NASB 1977
And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Amplified Bible
And He said to them, “Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men.”

Christian Standard Bible
“Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Follow Me,” He told them, “and I will make you fish for people!”

American Standard Version
And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus said to them, "Follow me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish."

English Revised Version
And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me! I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish."

Good News Translation
Jesus said to them, "Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people."

International Standard Version
"Follow me," he told them, "and I will make you fishers of people!"

Majority Standard Bible
?Come, follow Me,? Jesus said, ?and I will make you fishers of men.?

NET Bible
He said to them, "Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people."

New Heart English Bible
And he said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of people."

Webster's Bible Translation
And he saith to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Weymouth New Testament
And He said to them, "Come and follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

World English Bible
He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and He says to them, “Come after Me, and I will make you fishers of men,”

Berean Literal Bible
And He says to them, "Come follow after Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Young's Literal Translation
and he saith to them, 'Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men,'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he says to them, Come after me, and I will make you the fishermen of men.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he saith to them: Come ye after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to them: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

New American Bible
He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

New Revised Standard Version
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Jesus said to them, Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Yeshua said to them, “Come after me, and I shall make you to become fishers of men.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he said to them: Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Godbey New Testament
And He says to them, Follow after me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Haweis New Testament
And he saith to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Mace New Testament
and he said to them, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men:

Weymouth New Testament
And He said to them, "Come and follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Worrell New Testament
And He saith to them, "Come after Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Worsley New Testament
and He saith unto them, Come with me, and I will make you fishers of men:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The First Disciples
18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20And at once they left their nets and followed Him.…

Cross References
Mark 1:17
“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

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 21:15-17
When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” / Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” / Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

John 1:40-42
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus. / He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ). / Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter).

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, / and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

John 15:16
You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Acts 2:38-41
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. / This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.” / With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.” ...

2 Timothy 2:2
And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.

Jeremiah 16:16
But for now I will send for many fishermen, declares the LORD, and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill, even from the clefts of the rocks.

Ezekiel 47:9-10
Wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures and a great number of fish, because it flows there and makes the waters fresh; so wherever the river flows, everything will flourish. / Fishermen will stand by the shore; from En-gedi to En-eglaim they will spread their nets to catch fish of many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.

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!”

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Daniel 12:3
Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Follow.

Matthew 8:22
But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Matthew 9:9
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Matthew 16:24
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

I will.

Ezekiel 47:9,10
And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh…

Mark 1:17,18
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men…

Luke 5:10,11
And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men…

Jump to Previous
Fishers Follow Jesus
Jump to Next
Fishers Follow Jesus
Matthew 4
1. Jesus, fasting forty days,
3. is tempted by the devil and ministered unto by angels.
12. He dwells in Capernaum;
17. begins to preach;
18. calls Peter and Andrew,
21. James and John;
23. teaches and heals all the diseased.














Follow Me
This phrase is a direct call from Jesus, inviting Simon Peter and Andrew to become His disciples. The Greek word for "follow" is "ἀκολουθέω" (akoloutheó), which means to accompany or to go along with. In the historical context of first-century Judea, a rabbi's call to "follow" was an invitation to learn, live, and adopt the teachings and lifestyle of the teacher. Jesus, as the ultimate Rabbi, extends this invitation not just to learn from Him but to enter into a transformative relationship. This call is not merely about physical following but a spiritual and lifelong commitment to His teachings and mission.

and I will make you
This phrase indicates a promise of transformation and purpose. The Greek word "ποιέω" (poieó) means to make, create, or produce. Jesus is not only calling His disciples to follow Him but also promising to actively work in their lives to change them. This transformation is a divine act, suggesting that the disciples' new identity and mission are not self-generated but are gifts from Jesus Himself. Historically, this reflects the Jewish understanding of God as the Creator, who continues to shape and mold His people.

fishers of men
This metaphorical phrase is rich in meaning and context. The Greek word for "fishers" is "ἁλιεύς" (halieus), which literally means fishermen. In the context of the disciples, who were literal fishermen, this phrase signifies a shift from their current occupation to a spiritual vocation. The imagery of fishing for men suggests evangelism and the gathering of people into the Kingdom of God. In the Old Testament, fishing is sometimes used as a metaphor for God's judgment (e.g., Jeremiah 16:16), but here, Jesus redefines it as a mission of salvation and hope. This phrase encapsulates the essence of the Great Commission, where the disciples are called to spread the Gospel and bring others to Christ. The historical context of fishing in the Sea of Galilee, a central part of the local economy, underscores the radical nature of Jesus' call to leave behind their livelihood for a higher purpose.

(19) Follow me.--The command came, as we have seen, to those who were not unprepared. Short as it was, it was in some sense the first parable in our Lord's teaching, the germ of an actual parable (Matthew 13:47). It suggested a whole circle of thoughts. The sea is the troubled and evil world (Isaiah 57:20), and the souls of men are the fish that have to be caught and taken from it, and the net is the Church of Christ. The figure had been used before (Jeremiah 16:16), but then it had presented its darker aspect, and the "fishers of men" were their captors and enslavers. The earliest extant hymn of the Church, by Clement of Alexandria, dwells on the image with a rich and suggestive playfulness. Christ is thus addressed:--

"Fisher of men, the blest,

Out of the world's unrest,

Out of sin's troubled sea

Taking us, Lord, to Thee;

Out of the waves of strife, . . .

Verse 19. - Follow me; come ye after me (Revised Version); δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου. There is no thought of continuous following from place to place (ἀκολουθεῖν) , but of immediate detachment from the present sphere of their interest and of attachment to Jesus as their leader. And I will make you fishers of men; Mark, "to become fishers of men," laying more stress on the change in their character necessary for success in this new kind of fishing. Luke 5:10 brings out the change in the nature of the work(ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν). Fishers. The word suggests care, patience, skill, besides habits of life fitted for endurance of privation and fatigue. The same promise is, as it seems, related in Luke 5:10, where notice:

(1) It is connected with the miracle of the draught of fishes.

(2) It is not verbally identical with this: Μὴ φοβοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἀνθρώπους ἔσῃ ζωγρῶν.

(3) The words are addressed individually to Simon.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“Come, follow
Δεῦτε (Deute)
Verb - Imperative - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1205: Come hither, come, hither, an exclamatory word. From deuro and an imperative form of eimi; come hither!

Me,”
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

[Jesus] said,
λέγει (legei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

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

I will make
ποιήσω (poiēsō)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

you
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

fishers
ἁλιεῖς (halieis)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 231: A fisherman. From hals; a sailor, i.e. a fisher.

of men.”
ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.


Links
Matthew 4:19 NIV
Matthew 4:19 NLT
Matthew 4:19 ESV
Matthew 4:19 NASB
Matthew 4:19 KJV

Matthew 4:19 BibleApps.com
Matthew 4:19 Biblia Paralela
Matthew 4:19 Chinese Bible
Matthew 4:19 French Bible
Matthew 4:19 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: Matthew 4:19 He said to them Come after me (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 4:18
Top of Page
Top of Page