At thy word (ér/). Relying on: on the ground of.
The net (décrvov). A general term fora net, whether for fish or fowl. See on Matt. iv. 18. Some, as Rev., read ra dik- tua, the nets.
Brake (cveppyyvuto). Some texts read dvepryjcceto, from the later form of the verb. The difference is unimportant. The A. V. fails to give the force of the imperfect, were breaking, as Rev.; or even better, possibly, began to break. Trench suggests were atthe point to break. The word occurs also at ch. viii. 29 ; Acts xiv. 14, and only twice beside in the New Testament. Luke alone uses the two compounds srepippyyvupi, of rending off clothes (Acts xvi. 22), and wrpocpyyvupi, to beat violently (ch. vi. 48,49). See on those passages. Al] the words occur in medi- cal writings.
7, They beckoned (xatévevcav).. The word originally means to nod assent, and so, generally, to make a sign. They made signs because of the distance of the other boat; hardly, as has been suggested, because they were too much amazed to speak.
Cu. V.] LUKE, 299
Help (cvrrgaBécdar). Lit., take hold with. Compare Philip. iv. 3.
Began to sink (Sudifec9ar). Only here and 1 Tim. vi. 9, of drowning men in destruction. From Budds, the depth. Wyc., they were almost drenched.
8. Fell down at Jesus’ knees. Compare Sophocles, “ Oedi- pus at Colonus,” 1605:
‘¢ Zeus from the dark depths thundered, and the girls Heard it, and shuddering, at their father’s knees Falling, they wept.”
9. He was astonished (9dauSos mepiéoyev avdrov). Lit., amazement encompassed him. See on 1 Pet. ii. 6.
The draught (79 a&ypa). The word is used both of the act of catching and of that which is caught. In ver. 4 it has the former sense: “let down your net for catching :” here, the latter, the catch or haul.
10. Partners (xowwvol). In ver. 7 the word rendered part- ners is péroxor; from pera, with, and éye, to have. The word here denotes a closer association, a common interest. The kin- dred noun, kowavia, fellowship, is used of the fellowship of be- lievers with Christ (1 Cor. i. 9); the communion of the body and blood of Christ (1 Cor. x. 16); the communion of the Holy Ghost (2 Cor. xiii. 14). The persons referred to in ver. 7 might have been only hired workmen (Mark i. 20), temporarily asso- ciated with the principals.
Thou shalt catch (Zon Goypav). Lit., thou shalt be catching, the participle and finite verb denoting that this is to be his ha- bitual calling. Both Matthew and Mark make the promise to be addressed to Peter and his companions; Luke to Peter alone. The verb Cwypéw, to catch, is compounded of fads, living, and drypedo, to catch or take, TUence, lit., co take alive: in war, to
300 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. V.
take captive, instead of killing. Thus Homer, when Menelaus threatens the prostrate Adrastus:
“ Adrastus clasped the warrior’s knees and said, O son of Atreus, take me prosoner” (Céypet). Iliad, vi., 45, 6; compare Lad, x., 378.
So Herodotus: “The Persians took Sardis, and captured Croesus himself alive ” (€Saypncav).—l., 86.
There is certainly a reason for the use of this term, as indi- cating that Christ’s ministers are called to win men fo Uife. Compare 2 Tim. ii. 26, where, according to the best supported rendering, the servant of God is represented as taking men alive out of the power of Satan, to be preserved unto the will of God ; i.é., a8 instruments of his will (compare A. V. and Reyv.). The word thus contains in itself an answer to the sneering remark of the Apostate Julian, that Christ aptly termed his apostles jishers ; “ for, as the fisherman draws out the fish from waters where they were free and happy, to an element in which they cannot breathe, but must presently perish, so did these.”