21:5a
So: The Greek text includes a word that is often translated ‘Therefore’ and the Berean Standard Bible translates as So. Most English translations leave this word untranslated. If it is more natural in your language to include a connector here, you may do so. For example:
Then he asked them (Good News Translation)
He called out to them: The pronoun them is plural and refers to the seven disciples who went fishing.
Children: This form of address was a friendly way of beginning a conversation with young men. A literal translation may give the wrong impression that the disciples were very young. We do not know their ages, but they were probably all young adults. (Simon Peter at least was married.) Use a form of address that would be natural in addressing young men in a friendly manner. For example:
Young men (Good News Translation)
-or-
Boys
-or-
Fellows/Guys
-or-
friends (New Jerusalem Bible)
do you have any fish?: This is a real question that expects an answer. The form of the Greek question implies that Jesus expected the answer, “We have no fish.” Translate this question in a way that shows that Jesus expected that they did not catch any fish. For example:
Did you not catch any fish?
-or-
No fish today?
fish: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fish is more literally “something to eat.” The context makes it clear that it refers to fish that the disciples were trying to catch. Use the expression that is natural in your language. For example:
have you not caught anything ?
21:5b
“No,” they answered: The word No answered Jesus’ question in the way that the question expected. The disciples had not caught any fish. For example:
None at all.
-or-
⌊We caught⌋ none.
-or-
Not a single ⌊fish⌋ .
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