References to fish often appear throughout the Bible and various interpretations about the meaning behind each reference can be found. As with any religious text, there are subtle nuances and layers of meaning woven into these animal references, often with unique cultural overtones added. In this article, we’ll examine the significance of fish in the Bible, exploring the common threads as well as the unique interpretations and applications.
Fish are referenced in fourteen of the books in the Bible. They often represent physical and spiritual sustenance, as the people of ancient Israel relied on the abundance of fish to feed their families while on the move or during famine. The Old Testament states that God provided manna, quail, and other fish from the waters as a reward for faithfulness (Psalm 78: 25-26), and in the New Testament, Jesus performed the miracle of feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14: 17-19).
In Christian terms, fish also symbolize salvation and Christianity. The earliest Christians used the Greek word for fish (Ikthys) as a sign of their faith, as each letter of the word was the beginning of a phrase meaning, “Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Savior.” Early on, the fish was used to illustrate the act of baptism, with Jesus’ water walking as an expression of the covenant he made with man and the way in which it was entered. Therefore, Christians often use the symbol of a fish to represent faith in Jesus Christ.
The fish also represent transformation. The Bible mentions fish in various stories that point to a changed individual or life. The most well-known example of this is Jonah and the Whale, whereJonah finds himself in the belly of a large fish for three days before being released. Afterward, he repents of his sin and is changed from the inside out. Fish can also represent divine intervention or guidance; in the Book of Exodus, God used a burning bush to speak to Moses, while in another account, the prophet Jonah was guided to safety by the whale. That example was echoed in the New Testament, with the apostles saved from a stormy sea by Jesus commanding a fish to arrive and pull them to safety. Likewise, when Jesus asked his disciples to go out and fish, they found a great catch of followers as a result (Luke 5:1-11).
In the Old Testament, fish also symbolize abundance and wealth. In the story of the two sons of Ephraim, their name is changed to imply that their descendants will be as abundant as fish in the sea, and in Deuteronomy 14:9-10, God instructs the Israelites to set aside a tenth of their income for a feast with provisions that include fish. In Isaiah 7:21-22, God promises to bless the land so that there will be an abundance of fish even in dry areas.
Other references to fish can also be found in the Bible, such as in Matthew 4:19, where Jesus invites his disciples to become “fishers of men.” In this context, fish become symbols of evangelism, with the disciples tasked with catching people and leading them to a life of faith and belief in Jesus Christ. In this way, they too become fishermen and fishermen of men.
In summary, the references to fish throughout the Bible signify a variety of different things, and it is up to the reader to draw his or her own interpretation of these symbols. Overall, fish have been used as symbols of physical and spiritual sustenance, salvation and Christianity, transformation, divine guidance, abundance, and evangelism. All of these references point to the idea that fish can represent something divine and powerful, so take a look around to gain more insight into the meaning behind these references.
Divine Intervention
Divine intervention is another significant representation of fish in the Bible. In the Book of Exodus, God used a burning bush to speak to Moses, while in another account, the prophet Jonah was guided to safety by the whale. The rescue of Noah and the ark is another story that speaks of God’s intervention, when animals escape destruction and become living symbols of hope and salvation. In the New Testament, Jesus performs the miracle of feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14: 17-19). Jesus recognizes the need for spiritual sustenance and nourishes his followers through this miraculous demonstration of faith and power.
Similarly, when Jesus asked his disciples to go out and fish, they found a great catch of followers as a result (Luke 5:1-11). This is a powerful example of how the divine can nurture, energize and empower, even in difficult and seemingly impossible situations. In the story of Jonah, the whale further symbolizes God’s power in the face of seeming destruction, as it provides a safe haven for his prophet who faces much anguish and confusion during his time of trial.
Wealth and Abundance
The symbol of fish in the Bible also includes wealth and abundance. In the story of Ephraim’s two sons, their name was changed to imply that their descendants would be as abundant as fish in the sea. In Deuteronomy 14:9-10, God instructs the Israelites to set aside a tenth of their income for a feast with provisions that includes fish. In Isaiah 7:21-22, God promises to bless the land so that there will be an abundance of fish even in dry areas. This is in line with the Israelites’ desire for prosperity and often stands as a reminder of God’s provision and loving care for his people.
The reference to fish in the Bible also represents faith in another way. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus encourages his disciples to become “fishers of men”, teaching them about evangelism and the importance of spreading the Gospel. This is a clear reminder of the value in sharing God’s love and message with others, and speaks to the need to actively seek out new followers.
The abundance of fish in the Bible is an interesting contrast to the meaning of scarcity, which is commonly associated with famine, drought, or disease. In the same way that fish symbolize wealth and abundance, they can also point to a need for spiritual and economic revival. In this sense, the fish becomes a reminder of God’s continued grace and protection, urging us to carry on despite difficult times.
Transformation
Fish can also represent spiritually-motivated transformation. The most well-known example of this is Jonah and the Whale, where Jonah finds himself in the belly of a large fish for three days before being released. This is an example of a spiritual transformation, as Jonah seeks to repent of his sins and embrace a new life. Indeed, it is a powerful reminder of the power of faith, and the willingness to change one’s ways in order to experience the grace of God.
The transformation of the fish is also present in Jesus’ walking on water. In an act of faith, Jesus was able to defy the law of gravity, seemingly relying on the strength of his faith to make the impossible possible. In this story, fish represent courage and trust in God’s ability to move mountains, both literally and figuratively.
In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah spoke of a time when mankind would be able to traverse the “seas of glass”, an indication of divine stability, peacefulness, and unity (Isaiah 11:9). This suggests a spiritual transformation as well, as appears to be an image of mankind’s ability to extend grace and unity to one another. The symbol of fish in these passages connects the idea of transformation with our everyday lives, reminding us of God’s ever-present willingness to see us through whatever difficulty we may face.
Symbolic Biblical Prefiguring
Fish in the Bible can also represent symbolic prefiguring. This is a concept in which certain aspects of a certain event or story can be related to similar situations or stories that have come before it, sometimes containing deeper meaning or hints at what is to come. For example, in the book of Exodus, where the Israelites escape slavery in Egypt through the help of God, there is a prefiguring of Jesus’ escape from the grip of death. In both cases, their “escape” came through an element of water, further connecting the two stories in a deeper way.
In the book of Job, fish represent prefiguring of God’s ultimate victory over evil. After being brought low by the devil, Job is restored to a place of strength and abundance, symbolised by fish in the river of fulfillment. This is not only a great example of prefiguring, but also a reminder of God’s power and ability to bring good out of difficult times.
The idea of prefiguring can be seen in other stories as well, such as in the story of Noah and the ark, or the story of Jacob’s dream of a ladder to the heavens. In all of these cases, fish represent the idea of hope, believing in the unseen, and trusting in God’s plan even when things seem difficult or uncertain.
