Reference: FISH, FISHER
American
The Hebrews have very few names of particular species of fish. Moses says in general, that all sorts of river, lake, or sea fish, which have scales and fins, may be eaten; all others shall be to the Hebrews an abomination, Le 11:9-12; De 14:9-10. The Nile had an early celebrity, which it still retains, for the abundance and excellence of its fish, Ex 7:18-21; Nu 11:5. The Sea of Tiberias also still abounds in fish, Lu 5:5; Joh 21:6-11. They were a common article of food among the Jews, Mt 7:10, and were obtained from the Mediterranean, Ne 13:16, and from the Jordan. They were caught with hooks, Am 4:2, spears, Job 41:7, and nets, Isa 19:8-10. The "great fish," Jon 1:17, which swallowed Jonah, may have been of the shark genus, as this animal is common in the Mediterranean. The original word, both in Hebrew and Greek, Mt 12:40, means a fish, and not specifically a "whale." See WHALE. Fishermen are often spoken of in the Bible, and a large proportion of the twelve apostles of our Lord were of that occupation. Christ made them "fishers of men," Mt 4:18-22.
The early Christians, in times of persecution, used to engrave the form of a fish on their medals, seals, and tombs, as a tacit confession of their faith; as the five letters of the Greek word for fish are the initial letters of five words, signifying "Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior." This symbol has thus become the subject of a superstitious regard.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And the fish which is in the river shall die, and the river be loathsome: and the Egyptians labored in vain to drink the water from the river. And Jehovah will speak to Moses, Say to Aaron, Take thy rod and stretch out thy hand over the waters of Egypt. upon their rivers, upon their canals, and upon their pools, and upon all the collections of their waters, and they shall be blood: and blood was in all the land of Egypt, and in wood, and in stones. read more. And Moses and Aaron will do so as Jehovah commanded; and he will lift up the rod and will smite the water which is in the river, in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants; and all the waters which are in the river shall be turned to blood. And the fish which was in the river died; and the river will be loathsome; and the Egyptians will not be able to drink the water from the river: and the blood will be upon all the land of Egypt
And this shall ye eat from all which are in the water: all which to it is a fin and scale in the water, in the seas, and in the rivers, ye shall eat them. And every one which to it is not a fin and scale in the seas and in the rivers, from all creeping in the water, and from every living soul which is in the water, they an abomination to you, read more. And they shall be an abomination to you: from their flesh ye shall, not eat, and their carcasses ye shall abhor. Every one which is not to it a fin and scale in the water, this is abomination to you.
We remembered the fish which we ate in Egypt gratuitously; the cucumbers and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlics.
This shall ye eat from all which is in the waters: all which to it are fins and scales, ye shall eat: And every thing which to it are not fins and scales, ye shall not eat; it is unclean to you.
And the Tyrians sat in it, bringing in fish and every selling, and selling in the Sabbath to the sons of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
Wilt thou fill his skin with pointed weapons? and his head with fish spears?
And the fishermen groaned, and all casting the hook into the river mourned, and they spreading nets upon the face of the water, languished. And they working hatcheled flax and they weaving white linens were ashamed. read more. And her pillars were broken in pieces, and all making wages, sorrowful in soul.
The Lord Jehovah sware by his holiness, that behold, the days coming upon you and he took you away with hooks, and your last part with thorns of the fish.
And Jehovah will prepare a great fish to swallow down Jonah: and Jonah will be in-the bowels of the fish three days and three nights.
And Jesus, walking about by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon being called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a sweep-net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he says to them, Come after me, and I will make you the fishermen of men. read more. And they instantly having let go their nets, followed him. And having proceeded thence, he saw other two brethren, James him of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the ship with Zebedee their father, adjusting their nets; and he called them. And they having instantly let go the ship and their father,. followed him.
For as Jonas was in the whale's belly three days and three nights; so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
And Simon having answered, said to him, Commander, wearied for the whole-night, we took nothing: but at thy word I will slacken the net.
And he said to them, Cast the net to the right parts of the ship, and ye shall find. Therefore they cast, and were no more able to draw it, from the multitude of fishes. Then that disciple says, whom Jesus loved, to Peter, It is the Lord. Then Simon Peter having heard that it is the Lord, girded round the upper garment, (for he was naked,) and cast himself into the sea. read more. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as from two hundred cubits) dragging the net of fishes. When therefore they came away to the land, they see a heap of burning coals laid, and little fish laid upon, and bread. Jesus says to them, Bring ye from the little fishes which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net upon the earth, full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty-three: and being so many, the net was not split.