Jesus has just finished teaching from Peter's boat.
Luke 5:4 Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
Luke 5:4 “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
Push out into the deep and let loose those nets of yours for the chase.
We have to get into deep water to catch some ideas.
The biblical translations choose the most boring language for Jesus's most exciting statement. Jesus gives an exciting command in Greek, "Push out into the deep and let loose those nets of yours for the chase." Translations change the "push out" to "launch" and "put out." Yes, the initial verb can mean "launch" or "put out." The mysterious "the deep" is explained as "deep water," but the Greek word also means depth of mind. The "let loose" is changed sad, "let down." And the exciting "chase," is explained as "catch."
Launch out into the deep, and [let down(CW)] your (MW) nets for a draught.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "let down" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "nets" is not shown in the English translation.
Put(CW) out into (MW) deep water(IW), and [let down(CW)] the nets (MW) for a catch.”
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "put."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "deep" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "water" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "let down" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "of yours" is not shown in the English translation.
Launch - "Launch" is from a Greek word that means "bring up", "stir up". "excite", "bring up", "lead back", and so on. It specifically "put out to sea" but the same word was used in the previous verse to describe that Christ's boat had already launched. The sense is more like "push out" where you can "push out" from land and still "push out" into deeper water. It is in the form of a command.
out - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
into -- The word translated as "unto" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
deep, - "Deepness" is a Greek noun that means "height" or "depth" measuring up or down. In Greek, it was also used as a metaphor (as it is in English) for depth of mind, e.g. "He is deep." The exact phrase here is "no seeming depth" which we would describe in English as "shallowness."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
let down - (CW) The Greek verb translated as "let down" means " slacken ", " loosen ", "let down", "fall", "let loose", "release", and so on. The verb only means "let down" because that is how we talk about "loosening" hair.
your -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the genitive case. This pronoun follows the noun so the possessive "of yours." Here, it is the object of the previous preposition. As an object of a preposition, the genitive indicates movement away or a position away from something.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
nets - The word translated as "net" means any kind of net.
for -- The word translated as "for" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
draught. - The word translated as "draught" means both "hunting" and "chases" and the targets of hunting, that is, "prey" and "quarry". However, it also refers specifically to the act of "catching" fish. "Draught" is an old English word for drawing nets to catch fish for its meaning of "gulp."
Put - (CW) "Launch" is from a Greek word that means "bring up", "stir up". "excite", "bring up", "lead back", and so on. It specifically "put out to sea" but the same word was used in the previous verse to describe that Christ's boat had already launched. The sense is more like "push out" where you can "push out" from land and still "push out" into deeper water. It is in the form of a command. This is not the common word usually translated as "push{ and it specifically means "launch."
out - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
into -- The word translated as "unto" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
deep, - "Deepness" is a Greek noun that means "height" or "depth" measuring up or down. In Greek, it was also used as a metaphor (as it is in English) for depth of mind, e.g. "He is deep." The exact phrase here is "no seeming depth" which we would describe in English as "shallowness."
water -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "water" in the Greek source.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
let down - (CW) The Greek verb translated as "let down" means " slacken ", " loosen ", "let down", "fall", "let loose", "release", and so on. The verb only means "let down" because that is how we talk about "loosening" hair.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
nets - The word translated as "net" means any kind of net.
missing "of yours" -- (MW) The untranslated word "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the genitive case. This pronoun follows the noun so the possessive "of yours."
for -- The word translated as "for" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
catch. - The word translated as "catch" means both "hunting" and "chases" and the targets of hunting, that is, "prey" and "quarry". However, it also refers specifically to the act of "catching" fish. "Draught" is an old English word for drawing nets to catch fish for its meaning of "gulp."
" Ἐπανάγαγε [1 verse](verb 2nd sg aor imperat act) "Launch" is from epanago, which means "bring up", "stir up". "excite", "bring up", "lead back", "elevate", "exalt", "bring back", "withdraw", "retreat", and "put out to sea",
εἰς [325 verses](prep) "Into" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)," "until (of time)," "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "as far as (of measure or limit)," "towards (to express relation)," "in regard to (to express relation)," "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."
τὸ [821 verses](article sg neut acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article.
βάθος [3 verses](noun sg neut acc) "Deep" is bathos, which means "height" or "depth" measuring up or down. In Greek, it was also used as a metaphor (as it is in English) for depth of mind, e.g. "He is deep."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
χαλάσατε [[1 verse]](verb 2nd pl aor imperat) "Let down" is from chalao, which means "slacken", "loosen", "let down", "fall", "let loose", "release", and so on.
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article. -
δίκτυα [1 verse](noun pl neut acc) "Nets" is from diktyon, which means "fishing net", "hunting net", and "lattice work".
ὑμῶν [168 verses](pron 2nd pl gen) "Your/you" is humon, the plural possessive form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you." It is either a possessive pronoun or the object of a preposition.
εἰς [325 verses](prep) "Into" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)," "until (of time)," "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "as far as (of measure or limit)," "towards (to express relation)," "in regard to (to express relation)," "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."
ἄγραν. [ [1 verse]](noun sg fem acc) "Draught" is from agra, which means "hunting", "the chase", "catching", "quarry" and "prey".