John 21:4 net — When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

NET Bible

"When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus."

— John 21:4, NET Bible

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John 21:4 in Other Translations

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John 21 — Context

1

Jesus’ Appearance to the Disciples in Galilee After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Now this is how he did so.

2

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

3

Simon Peter told them,“I am going fishing.”“We will go with you,” they replied. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4

When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

5

So Jesus said to them,“Children, you don’t have any fish, do you?” They replied,“No.”

6

He told them,“Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they threw the net, and were not able to pull it in because of the large number of fish.

7

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter,“It is the Lord!” So Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, tucked in his outer garment(for he had nothing on underneath it), and plunged into the sea.

John 21:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does John 21:4 say?
John 21:4 in the NET Bible reads: “When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.”
Where is John 21:4 in the Bible?
John 21:4 is found in the New Testament, in the book of John, chapter 21, verse 4.
Who wrote John?
John is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, son of Zebedee. It was written c. AD 85–95.
What is the book of John about?
John's Gospel opens not in Bethlehem but "in the beginning," declaring Jesus to be the eternal Word made flesh. Through seven sign-miracles and seven "I AM" sayings, it presents Jesus as the bread, the light, the way, and the resurrection — that we might believe and have life in his name.
What are the major themes of John?
John explores themes including Word Made Flesh, Belief, Eternal Life, I AM, Love. These themes shape the meaning and context of John 21:4.
What translation should I read John 21:4 in?
John 21:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize John 21:4?
John 21:4 reads (NET): “When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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