Matthew 4:19 KJV
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Matthew 4:19 NKJV
Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:19 MKJV
And He said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Matthew 4:19 KJV 2000
And he said unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Interlinear KJV
And /kai/ he saith /lego/ unto them, /autos/ Follow /deute/ /opiso/ me, /mou/ and /kai/ I will make /poieo/ you /humas/ fishers /halieus/ of men. /anthropos/
Albert Barnes’ Commentary
Verse 19. Fishers of men. Ministers or preachers of the gospel, whose business it shall be to win souls to Christ.
{o} “fishers of men” Lu 5:10; 1Co 9:20-22; 2Co 12:16
Adam Clarke’s Commentary
Follow me — Come after me, δευτε οπισω μου. Receive my doctrines, imitate me in my conduct – in every respect be my disciples. We may observe that most of the calls of God to man are expressed in a few solemn words, which alarm, the conscience, and deeply impress the heart.
I will make you fishers of men — Ez 47:8-10, casts much light on this place; and to this prophet our Lord probably alludes. To follow Christ, and be admitted into a partnership of his ministry, is a great honor; but those only who are by himself fitted for it, God calls. Miserable are those who do not wait fur this call – who presume to take the name of fishers of men, and know not how to cast the net of the Divine word, because not brought to an acquaintance with the saving power of the God who bought them. Such persons, having only their secular interest in view, study not to catch men, but to catch money: and though, for charity’s sake, it may be said of a pastor of this spirit, he does not enter the sheepfold as a thief, yet he certainly lives as a hireling. See Quesnel.
Some teach to work, but have no hands to row;
Some will be eyes, but have no light to see;
Some will be guides, but have no feet to go;
Some deaf, yet ears, some dumb, yet tongues will be;
Dumb, deaf, lame, blind, and maimed, yet fishers all!
Fit for no use but store an hospital.
Fletcher’s Piscatory Eclogues. Ec iv. 5, 18.
Following a person, in the Jewish phrase, signifies being his disciple or scholar. See a similar mode of speech, 2Kg 6:19.