Nets
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament [1]
NETS. —Nets were in ancient times used not only in fishing but in hunting beasts and in bird-catching. In the Gospels they are mentioned only in connexion with fishing, which was an important industry on the very prolific inland waters of Palestine. See Fish. Three terms occur.
1. δίκτυον (perhaps from δικεῖν, ‘to cast’), Vulgate rete , is the general term, including various kinds of nets. It is found in the parallel accounts of the call of the disciples ( Matthew 4:20-21, Mark 1:18-19, Luke 5:2-5) always in the plural. In St. John’s narrative of the great draught of fishes ( John 21:6; John 21:8; John 21:11) it is found in the sing., possibly referring to a net of larger size. See 3 below.
2. ἀμφίβληστρον (which may perhaps be an adjective, δίκτυον being understood), a casting-net (deriv. ἀμφιβάλλω, which verb stands, without a noun, for the action of the fisherman in using the net, Mark 1:16), bell- or pear-shaped, thrown by hand from the shore or from a boat, which was skilfully wielded so as to fall upon the water with its circular mouth fully extended. The edges, being weighted, sank immediately to the bottom, and the fish within the area of the mouth were enclosed. This net is still much used in Palestine. The individual skill required in its employment is in point if it was with this kind of net in mind that our Lord invited the fishermen to become ‘fishers of men.’ In the Gospels the word is found only in Matthew 4:18 and (in the Textus Receptus) Mark 1:16.
3. σαγήνη (Lat. [so Vulgate] sagena ; French and English, ‘seine’), from σάττω, ‘to load, fill’: a drag-net ( Matthew 13:47 (Revised Version margin)) or sweep-net, often of immense size (Manilius, ‘vasta sagena’). Such nets have been in use from early times down to the present day, and are extensively employed on our own coasts, as, for instance, in Cornwall. A common way of working the seine is to have one end of it attached to the shore, while the other is taken seawards by a boat in a wide circuit, and at length brought to land again. The upper side of the net is sustained by corks, while the lower, being weighted, sweeps along the sea-bottom. The ends are gradually drawn in till the whole net is brought up on the beach, carrying with it all the fish in the area through which it has passed. The scine may also be worked entirely from a boat or boats. In classical Latin this kind of net is called everrieulum ( verro , ‘to sweep’); cf. Hom. Il . v. 487, λίνον πάναγρον, a take-all net. σαγήνη is found in the Gospels only in Matthew 13:47 (translation ‘net,’ the word ‘draw-net, is not in the English text, but only in the Authorized Version chapter-heading), where the choice of this term instead of δίκτυον or ἀμφίβληστρον greatly strengthens the meaning of the parable. See Draw-Net. It occurs in LXX Septuagint Is 19:8, Ezekiel 26:5; and ἀμφίβληστρον and σαγήνη are mentioned together in Habakkuk 1:15.
Literature.—R. Flint, Christ’s Kingdom upon Earth , 245; H. S. Holland, God’s City , 206; W. C. E. Newbolt, Counsels of Faith and Practice , 169.
A. E. Ross.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [2]
NETS were used in taking wild animals (see Hunting), and birds (see Snares); but their main use has always been in fishing . The ancient Hebrews were not fishermen, nor do they seem to have eaten much fish. There is no reference in OT to fishing in the inland waters of Palestine. The fishermen and the implements named are either Egyptian or PhÅ“nician. The ‘fisher-partners’ of Job 41:6 are PhÅ“nicians; the fishermen of Isaiah 19:8 are Egyptians. Fish were taken along the Mediterranean coast with ‘line and book’ ( Job 41:1 , Isaiah 19:8 , Amos 4:2 ), and the ‘fish-spear’ or ‘harpoon’ ( Job 41:7 ). But sufficient quantities for commercial purposes could be obtained only by means of nets. ( a ) Heb. mikmâr ( Isaiah 51:20 ) and makmôr ( Psalms 141:10 ) and the fem. forms mikmôreth ( Isaiah 19:8 ) and mikmereth ( Habakkuk 1:15-16 ) is probably = Gr. sagçnç ( Matthew 13:47 ), the Arab [Note: Arabic.] , jarf , ‘ draw-net .’ It is as much as 400 metres long, 20 ft. deep, and of fine mesh, so that it sweeps everything before it. From the stern of a boat it is paid out in a great semicircle, the lower edge carried down by lead sinkers, the upper sustained by cork floats. It is then drawn ashore, with its contents, by ropes attached to the ends. Fishermen swim behind, diving to ease it over stones and other obstructions. This accounts for Simon Peter’s condition ( John 21:7 ). ( b ) Heb. chçrem ( Ezekiel 26:5 , Habakkuk 1:15 etc.), Gr. amphiblçstron ( Matthew 14:18 etc.), the mod. shabakeh , ‘ cast-net. ’ It is circular, of close mesh, with a cord attached to the centre. The fisherman gathers it together, arranges it on his arm and shoulder, and moves, or wades, stealthily along the shore until he sees signs of fish within reach; then, with a skilful cast, the net flies out and drops full circle on the water; lead beads round the circumference carry it to the bottom, enclosing the fish, which are then secured at leisure. ( c ) A net used to-day, called m’batten , consists of three nets strung on a single rope, the two outer being of wide, the inner of close, mesh. It is let down in fairly deep water, parallel with the shore. The fish pass through the outer net, pushing the inner before them through the wide meshes on the other side, thus being entangled. The net is pulled up and emptied into the boats. ( d ) Gr. diktyon ( Matthew 4:20 etc.) is a term used for nets in general. In the LXX [Note: Septuagint.] amphiblçstron and sagçnç are used indiscriminately as tr. [Note: translate or translation.] alike of chçrem and mikmâr , etc.
A tax is levied on all fish caught in the Sea of Galilee. The favourite fishing-grounds are near ‘Ain et-Fulîyeh , south of el-Mejdel ; the bay at et-Tâbigha ; and the waters of el-Bateihah in the N.E. The Upper Jordan and et-Hûleh lie within the private lands of the Sultan, to whom payment is made for fishing rights. See an excellent account of, The Fisheries of Galilee’ in PEFSt [Note: Quarterly Statement of the same.] , Jan. 1908, p. 40 ff., by Dr. Masterman of Jerusalem.
W. Ewing.
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary [3]
Are often referred to in Scripture, Proverbs 1:17 Ecclesiastes 7:26 Isaiah 19:8,9 Habakkuk 1:15,16 , particularly in connection with the first disciples of Christ, Matthew 4:18 13:47-50 Luke 5:1-10 . Before the invention of fire-arms, nets were much used in hunting and fowling, and possible in catching men, as robbers, etc., Job 19:6 Psalm 140:5 Micah 7:2 . Among the ancient Romans there was a gladiatorial game, in which one man was armed with sword and shield, and his antagonist with a net, by casting which he strove to entangle the other so that he might easily dispatch him with has dagger.
