A memory I have from my childhood is heading to my grandma’s house in the summer to attend Vacation Bible School at her church in Iowa. One of the songs we would sing was “Fishers of Men.” It’s a pretty simple song: “I will make you fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men,

I will make you fishers of men, If you follow Me; If you follow Me, If you follow Me, I will make you fishers of men If you follow Me.” The words of this song come from the time early in Jesus’s ministry when he invites some fishermen to follow him, an invitation that they readily accept by leaving everything behind (see Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11). 

This image of being “fishers of men” is one that can make sense to kids – which is why it became a popular children’s song – but it is also one that has become even more meaningful to me over the years as I pondered the potential background of the image and its use (or lack thereof) elsewhere in the Bible.

The Background for This Image
It is not all that surprising that Jesus used the image of fishing when he was calling fishermen to follow him, as he would often pick images from the world of his audience to teach truths. Something that I did not know for many years, however, was that this image of “fishing” might also have connections to something else that these Jewish fishermen would be familiar with: their sacred Scriptures, which we know as the Old Testament. 

One particular passage that many scholars reference in discussing the call of these fishermen is Jeremiah 16:16, which talks about God sending people to “fish” for other people. This fishing operation would not be a good thing, as God said He would send these “fishers of men” (along with “hunters for men”) as part of the judgment that was coming upon His people for rebelling against them; being “caught” involves facing judgment. The idea of being taken away as a captive in battle is conveyed with the image of being taken away by a fishhook in other passages (see Amos 4:2; Habbakuk 1:14-15).

Jesus seems to take what is a negative image in other places and turns it on its head, making it positive. While these “fishers of men” in the past had been ones who brought judgment, the “fishers of men” that he is calling are now ones that rescue people who are on their way to judgment, snatching them not out of safety into judgment but rather out of peril into salvation. This idea of salvation after judgment is a common theme in the prophets. Some have even noted this pattern at work in the passage of Jeremiah cited above that talks about fishers coming, as restoration comes after exile; this time of restoration is the time that Jesus now ushers in, raising up new fishermen of salvation. In addition, it is good to remember that the sea was viewed as a dangerous thing in the ancient world; it was the place of chaos and danger. While it is bad for a fish to be taken out of water, it would actually be a good thing to be taken out of the sea and brought into the safety of the kingdom of God, which is what Jesus brings and what he invites the disciples into.

The Use of This Image Elsewhere in the New Testament
The popularity of the song “Fishers of Men” through the years may lead one to believe that this is an image commonly used in the New Testament. It thus might be surprising to hear that the only time that this image is used is in these passages when Jesus calls fishermen to follow him; it appears multiple times in the Bible but all in passages that are essentially recounting the same incident rather than different encounters. The fact that three gospels recount it (when only one would need to do so for us to have it) does seem to point to some special significance to it – and why it is appropriate that there is a song that has helped people remember it. 

However, the fact that we don’t see Jesus using it over and over again nor his disciples (like Peter) using it, I think is a great reminder that this was an image to make a particular point to a certain group of people; it is not the image that we need to remember as much as the point. And this point is that following Jesus involves a reorientation of one’s life, using the very skills and gifts that we have but in a way that reflects God’s kingdom and invites others into it. Jesus’s use of this image in calling some of his first disciples points to a certain evangelistic calling that is given to all Christians; they are not told to be “fishers of men” when Jesus chooses them to be numbered among the twelve apostles who establish the foundation of the church but rather in their calling to be followers of Jesus. 

We can think of it as “fishing” for people, helping them to be rescued from the judgment that awaits and instead to experience salvation. But if fishing is not your thing, you are free to think of other ways, as Jesus only used this image to help fishermen understand what they are called to do now. We don’t see Jesus calling Matthew the tax collector and telling him that he will now be a “fisher of men.” Jesus calls for him to follow him and then we see Matthew doing so and inviting others to join in his joy and meet Jesus (see Matthew 9:9-13).

So, if you are a builder, perhaps you want to think that you will now be a person who is seeking to build the church (not a building, but a people!). Or if you are a teacher, one who seeks to help others learn who Jesus is. If you are a salesman, a person not trying to tell someone about a product they need but rather a person that they need to meet. If you are an event planner, Jesus may be telling you to think about how you can help others enter into the greatest “party” they will ever experience. I could keep going on with images but I think I have made the point and hope this makes you think through what “fishing” looks like for you as a follower of Christ.

A Challenge for Us to Do – Together
I hope that these thoughts on the idea of being a “fisher of men” aren’t just interesting to know but challenge us to live what it conveys. While it is good to think about what it looks like for you individually, I think this passage also reminds us of the importance of doing this together. Jesus did not call individuals to be “fishers of men,” but rather two fishermen (Peter and Andrew). Fishing was something that they did together, and Jesus now called for them to be “fishers of men” together. The call to follow Jesus and invite others to follow Jesus is not something that we do by ourselves; we need others around us as we follow Jesus and seek to help others follow him. So let us fish – or whatever it is that you do – together so that others will not be left in the chaos and danger of sin but rather in the safety and security that comes in entering the kingdom of God through repentance and faith. 

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Unless otherwise noted, all Bible translations are from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers.