Animals of the Bible · Water · Sea creatures
The Fish
The creatures of the waters and the symbol of disciples who call people
Discovered in your collection
- Key verse
- Matthew 14:19
- Where it lived
- The Sea of Galilee, the clear waters of the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea
- What it reminds us of
- The call to mission, the multiplying of small gifts and the ancient ICHTHYS symbol
Stories from Scripture
The Fish in the stories of the Bible
The little boy in the crowd and Jesus
The miracle of the five loaves and two fish
A huge crowd was listening to Jesus, and in the evening they grew hungry. A little boy brought all he had: five barley loaves and two small fish. Jesus blessed the gift, and the fish and the loaves multiplied so much that they fed over 5,000 people, with twelve baskets still left over!
Matthew 14:13-21Simon Peter and Jesus
The wonderful catch on the Sea of Galilee
Peter and his partners had worked all night without catching a single fish. At Jesus’ word, they let down their nets again in the deep and caught so many fish that their nets began to break. Jesus then told them, “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.”
Luke 5:1-11The first Christians
The fish symbol in the early church
In the first centuries, Christians used the drawing of a fish (ICHTHYS) as a secret sign of recognition; the Greek letters spell out the confession “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.”
Matthew 4:19
Wonders of Creation
Did you know?
In the Sea of Galilee lives the tilapia (also known as “Saint Peter’s fish”), a species in which the parents keep their young in their mouths to keep them safe from predators.
Fish communicate with each other through fine vibrations and move in perfectly synchronized schools thanks to their sensitive lateral line.
The fresh waters of Galilee were famous throughout ancient times for the richness and variety of their fish.
What the fish teaches us
What you put in Jesus’ hand, He can miraculously multiply
The little boy in the Gospel did not have much — only two small fish. But when he put them at Jesus’ disposal, they fed thousands of people. God can use your small gifts to bring great joy to others!
How we can live this out today
Be generous: share your snack, your toys or a kind word with the people around you. God will multiply your good deed!
Mini-Quiz
What did you learn about the fish?
How many fish did the boy in the crowd offer before the miracle of feeding the 5,000?
For parents and children
At home and in Sunday school
A question for parents and children
How can God use our small things to bring a great blessing? What can we give today?
“Lord, I put my life and my gifts in Your hand. Use me to bring light, joy and help to the people around me! Amen.”