The verb translated went aboard (so most translations) literally means “went up.” Some commentators take this to mean that Peter was just now coming up on the shore. However, John seems to imply that by jumping into the water and swimming Peter reached shore first. Other commentators take this verb to mean that Peter climbed up on the bank to help pull the net in. But the most satisfactory interpretation is that Peter got into the boat to help the other disciples pull in the load of fish. In Matthew 14.32 and Mark 6.51 the verb is used with the meaning “to go aboard,” and is accompanied by the phrase “into the boat.” Since the net full of fish was dragged behind the boat as the men rowed to shore, Peter would have to get into the stern of the boat to help drag the net onto the shore.

Symbolic interpretations of the number a hundred and fifty-three have been suggested, but fortunately the translator is concerned only with the literal meaning.

The description of the net and the fish may require several paratactically combined sentences, for example, “Simon Peter went back aboard the boat and helped drag the net ashore; the net was full of big fish; altogether there were 153 fish.”

The net did not tear may be rendered as “no holes were made in the net” or “no part of the net broke.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .