Difference between revisions of "Fish"

<p> '''''Dag''''' , implying "increase" or "fecundity". Fish without fins or scales were "unclean" (&nbsp;Leviticus 11:9-10); aquatic mammalia, amphibia, and reptiles were hereby prohibited. This was the distinction between the good and the bad fish in &nbsp;Matthew 13:48. The "great fish" of Jonah (&nbsp;Jonah 1:17) was, according to different views, the dogfish, the shark, whose cartilaginous skeleton adapts it for swallowing large animals, or the whale, in the cavity of whose throat there would be room for a man. The slaying of their fish was a heavy blow from [[Jehovah]] on the Egyptians, whose river, canals, and lakes so abounded in fish, and who lived so much on it (&nbsp;Exodus 7:18-21; &nbsp;Psalms 105:29; &nbsp;Numbers 11:5; &nbsp;Isaiah 19:8). The fish was worshipped as the emblem of fecundity; Dagon, among the Philistines, half man half fish; also in Assyria. Hence the worship is forbidden (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 4:18). The "fishgate" at [[Jerusalem]] implies an adjoining fish market, supplied chiefly through [[Tyrian]] traders who imported it (&nbsp;Nehemiah 13:16; &nbsp;Nehemiah 3:3; &nbsp;Nehemiah 12:39; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 33:14). </p> <p> The fish of the Lake of [[Galilee]] are mainly identical with those especially found in the Nile. The casting net or the larger drag net was the chief instrument used for catching fish (&nbsp;Habakkuk 1:15); the line and hook, and the "barbed iron" or spear, were also used (&nbsp;Amos 4:2; &nbsp;Matthew 17:27; &nbsp;Job 41:7). [[Fishing]] is the image for taking souls in the gospel net, not to be destroyed but to be saved alive (&nbsp;Ezekiel 47:10; &nbsp;Matthew 4:19; &nbsp;Luke 5:5-10). [[Night]] was thought the best time for net fishing. Fishing symbolizes also sudden destruction by invading enemies (&nbsp;Jeremiah 16:16; &nbsp;Amos 4:2; &nbsp;Habakkuk 1:16; &nbsp;Ecclesiastes 9:12; &nbsp;Ezekiel 29:3-5). </p> <p> In &nbsp;Job 41:2, "canst thou put an hook (or ''''''Agmon''''' , "rope of rushes") into leviathan's nose, or bore his jaw through with a thorn?" or hook by which fish were secured, when thrown into the water, to keep them alive. In &nbsp;John 21:11 the 153 fish taken were all "great fish," whereas in the corresponding earlier miracle (&nbsp;Luke 5:6) this is not said; the net broke in the earlier, not so in the miracle after the resurrection, the latter typifying the eternal safety of the finally elect, all accounted "great" before God. Christ's sermon and parables (Matthew 13) were delivered from a fishing boat; so &nbsp;Luke 5:3. He fed the multitudes with fish as well as bread (&nbsp;Matthew 14:19; &nbsp;Matthew 15:36). He paid the tribute with a '''''Stateer''''' ("piece of money") from a fish taken with a hook (&nbsp;Matthew 17:27). He ate broiled fish after His resurrection (&nbsp;Luke 24:42-43; again, &nbsp;John 21:9-13). </p>

<div> '''1: '''''Ἰχθύς''''' ''' (Strong'S #2486 — Noun Masculine — ichthus — ikh-thoos' ) </div> <p> denotes "a fish," &nbsp;Matthew 7:10; &nbsp;Mark 6:38 , etc.; apart from the Gospels, only in &nbsp;1—Corinthians 15:39 . </p> <div> '''2: '''''Ἰχθύδιον''''' ''' (Strong'S #2485 — Noun Neuter — ichthudion — ikh-thoo'-dee-on ) </div> <p> is a diminutive of No. 1, "a little fish," &nbsp;Matthew 15:34; &nbsp;Mark 8:7 . </p> <div> '''3: '''''Ὀψάριον''''' ''' (Strong'S #3795 — Noun Neuter — opsarion — op-sar'-ee-on ) </div> <p> is a diminutive of opson, "cooked meat," or "a relish, a dainty dish, especially of fish;" it denotes "a little fish," &nbsp;John 6:9,11; &nbsp;21:9,10,13 . </p>

<p> &nbsp;Numbers 11:5 (c) This is a symbol of the good things offered by this world to attract and entice GOD's people away from GOD's path of separation. They all leave a bad odor and have little food value. </p> <p> &nbsp;Ezekiel 29:4 (b) The king and his people are compared to fish. They will adhere to their king in his disobedience to GOD; all of them together will be destroyed. </p> <p> &nbsp;Ezekiel 47:9 (b) By this is indicated that where the Spirit of GOD has His own way, many souls will be saved. The fish represent the unsaved who are caught by the [[Gospel]] and thereby are brought to the Lord. </p> <p> &nbsp;Jonah 1:17 (c) This is a type of the [[Gentile]] nations who have absorbed, but have not digested, the [[Jewish]] people. </p> <p> &nbsp;Habakkuk 1:14 (a) By this is described men and women who are caught by the sophistries of wicked leaders and are thus deceived and led away from GOD. </p> <p> &nbsp;Matthew 7:10 (b) This figure represents something which, in our estimation, seems to be very good and profitable for us to possess, but which GOD sees would be injurious and harmful to us. (See also &nbsp;Luke 11:11). The child saw a snake and thought it to be an eel and good to eat. </p> <p> &nbsp;John 21:6 (c) Some say that these fish represent the miracles performed by our Lord [[Jesus Christ]] while He was on the earth. Others think that the giving of the number of the fish indicates the care with which GOD looks after each deed that we do for Him. Still others think that these fish, and the number of them, represent GOD's abundant care for His own. There were far more fish than the seven men could possibly eat for themselves. This of course is true of GOD's provisions for us. </p>

<p> (דּג , <i> ''''' dāgh ''''' </i> , דּגה , <i> ''''' dāghāh ''''' </i> , דּאג , <i> ''''' dā'gh ''''' </i> ; ἰχθύς , <i> ''''' ichthús ''''' </i> , ἰχθύδιον , <i> ''''' ichthúdion ''''' </i> , ὀψάριον , <i> ''''' opsárion ''''' </i> ): </p> 1. Natural History <p> Fishes abound in the inland waters of [[Palestine]] as well as the Mediterranean. They are often mentioned or indirectly referred to both in the Old [[Testament]] and in the New Testament, but it is remarkable that no particular kind is distinguished by name. In &nbsp;Leviticus 11:9-12 and &nbsp; Deuteronomy 14:9 f, "whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters" is declared clean, while all that "have not fins and scales" are forbidden. This excluded not only reptiles and amphibians, but also, among fishes, siluroids and eels, sharks, rays and lampreys. For our knowledge of the inland fishes of Palestine we are mainly indebted to Tristram, <i> NHB </i> and <i> Fauna and [[Flora]] of Palestine </i> ; Lortet, <i> Poissons et reptiles du [[Lac]] de Tibériade </i> ; and Russegger, <i> Reisen in [[Europa]] </i> , <i> Asien </i> , <i> Afrika </i> , 1835-1841. The most remarkable feature of the fish fauna of the Jordan valley is its relationship to that of the Nile and of East Central Africa. Two Nile fishes, <i> Chromis nilotica </i> Hasselquist, and <i> Clarias macracanthus </i> Gunth., are found in the Jordan valley, and a number of other species found only in the Jordan valley belong to genera ( <i> Chromis </i> and <i> Hemichromis </i> ) which are otherwise exclusively African. This seems to indicate that at some time, probably in the early Tertiary, there was some connection between the Palestinian and African river systems. No fish can live in the Dead Sea, and many perish through being carried down by the swift currents of the Jordan and other streams. There are, however, several kinds of small fish which live in salt springs on the borders of the Dead Sea, springs which are as salt as the Dead Sea but which, according to Lortet, lack the magnesium chloride which is a constituent of the Dead Sea water and is fatal to the fish. <i> Capoëta damascina </i> Cuv. and Val., one of the commonest fishes of Syria and Palestine, has been taken by the writer in large numbers in the [[Arnon]] and other streams flowing into the Dead Sea. This is surprising in view of the fact that the Dead Sea seems to form an effective barrier between the fishes of the different streams flowing into it. The indiscriminate mention of fishes without reference to the different kinds is well illustrated by the numerous passages in which "the fishes of the sea, the birds of the heavens, and the beasts of the field," or some equivalent expression, is used to denote all living creatures, e.g. &nbsp; Genesis 1:26; &nbsp;Genesis 9:2; &nbsp;Numbers 11:22; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 4:18; &nbsp;1 Kings 4:33; &nbsp;Job 12:8; &nbsp;Psalm 8:8; &nbsp;Ezekiel 38:20; &nbsp;Hosea 4:3; &nbsp;Zephaniah 1:3; &nbsp;1 Corinthians 15:39 . </p> 2. Jonah's Fish <p> An unusually large shark might fulfill the conditions of Jonah's fish ( <i> ''''' dāgh ''''' </i> , <i> ''''' dāghāh ''''' </i> ; but &nbsp;Matthew 12:40 , κῆτος , <i> ''''' kḗtos ''''' </i> , "whale" or "sea monster"). The whale that is found in the Mediterranean ( <i> Balaena australis </i> ) has a narrow throat and could not swallow a man. No natural explanation is possible of Jonah's remaining alive and conscious for three days in the creature's belly. Those who consider the book historical must regard the whole event as miraculous. For those who consider it to be a story with a purpose, no explanation is required. </p> 3. Fishing <p> The present inhabitants of [[Moab]] and [[Edom]] make no use of the fish that swarm in the Arnon, the ''''' Ḥisa ''''' and other streams, but fishing is an important industry in Galilee and Western Palestine. Now, as formerly, spear hooks and nets are employed. The fish-spear (&nbsp; Job 41:7 ) is little used. Most of the Old Testament references to nets have to do with the taking of birds and beasts and not of fishes, and, while in &nbsp;Habakkuk 1:15 <i> ''''' ḥērem ''''' </i> is rendered "net" and <i> ''''' mikhmereth ''''' </i> "drag," it is hot clear that these and the other words rendered "net" refer to particular kinds of nets. In the New Testament, however, σαγήνη , <i> ''''' sagḗnē ''''' </i> (&nbsp;Matthew 13:47 ), is clearly the dragnet, and ἀμφίβληστρον , <i> ''''' amphı́blēstron ''''' </i> (&nbsp;Matthew 4:18 ), is clearly the casting net. The word most often used is δίκτυον , <i> ''''' dı́ktuon ''''' </i> ̌ . Though this word is from <i> ''''' dikeı́n ''''' </i> , "to throw," or "to cast," the context in several places (e.g. &nbsp;Luke 5:4; &nbsp;John 21:11 ) suggests that a dragnet is meant. The dragnet may be several hundred feet long. The upper edge is buoyed and the lower edge is weighted. It is let down from a boat in a line parallel to the shore and is then pulled in by ropes attached to the two ends, several men and boys usually pulling at each end. The use of the casting net requires much skill. It forms a circle of from 10 to 20 feet in diameter with numerous small leaden weights at the circumference. It is lifted by the center and carefully gathered over the right arm. When well thrown it goes to some distance, at the same time spreading out into a wide circle. A cord may be attached to the center, but this is not always the case. When lifted again by the center, the leads come together, dragging over the bottom, and sometimes a large number of fish may be enclosed. The novice has only to try, to realize the dexterity of the practiced fishermen. </p> <p> Figurative: The fact that so many of our Lord's disciples were fishermen lends a profound interest to their profession. Christ tells Simon and Andrew (&nbsp; Matthew 4:19; &nbsp;Mark 1:17 ) that He will make them fishers of men. The [[Kingdom]] of [[Heaven]] (&nbsp;Matthew 13:47 ) is likened unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind; which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but the bad they cast away. Tristram ( <i> NHB </i> ) says that he has seen the fishermen go through their net and throw out into the sea those that were too small for the market or were considered unclean. In &nbsp;Jeremiah 16:16 , we read: "Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith Yahweh, and they shall fish them up; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks." In the vision of Ezekiel (&nbsp;Ezekiel 47:9 f), the multitude of fish and the nets spread from <i> ''''' En ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' gedi ''''' </i> to <i> ''''' En ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' eglaim ''''' </i> are marks of the marvelous change wrought in the Dead Sea by the stream issuing from the temple. The same sign, i.e. of the spreading of nets (&nbsp;Ezekiel 26:5 , &nbsp;Ezekiel 26:14 ), marks the desolation of Tyre. It is a piece of broiled fish that the risen Lord eats with the [[Eleven]] in Jerusalem (&nbsp;Luke 24:42 ), and by the Sea of Galilee (&nbsp;John 21:13 ) He gives the disciples bread and fish. </p>