ἰχθύς
ichthus
fish
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word ἰχθύς (ichthus) is a noun with a simple yet significant meaning: it refers to a fish. Found a total of 20 times in the Bible, this term is not limited to a single context but is used in various passages. Its brevity and direct meaning contribute to its clarity in conveying the concept of a fish. The use of ἰχθύς transcends literal descriptions, sometimes serving as a metaphor or a symbol. While its meaning remains consistent, the contexts in which it appears highlight its significance to the biblical narrative. The frequent occurrences of ἰχθύς suggest that fish were a part of the everyday life, diet, and culture of the people in the biblical world. The significance of ἰχθύς lies in its reflection of the lives and experiences of the biblical communities. It speaks to their relationships with nature, their sources of sustenance, and possibly their symbolic connections with the animal kingdom. This analysis focuses solely on the data of ἰχθύς without drawing broader conclusions, highlighting the essential role of the word as a representation of a fundamental aspect of ancient life.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
20 total occurrences across the text
Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?
Matthew 14:17They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”
Matthew 14:19He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
Matthew 15:36and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
Matthew 17:27But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin. Take that, and give it to them for me and you.”
Mark 6:38He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go see.” When they knew, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
Mark 6:41He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all.
Mark 6:41He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all.
Mark 6:43They took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and also of the fish.
Luke 5:9For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught;
Luke 5:6When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking.
Luke 9:13But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people.”
Luke 9:16He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to the sky, he blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.
Luke 11:11“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?
Luke 11:11“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?
Luke 24:42They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.
John 21:6He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish.
John 21:8But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish.
John 21:11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of one hundred fifty-three great fish. Even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.
1 Corinthians 15:39All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.