What Does Luke 5:2 Mean in the King James?

And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

Luke 5:2 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The fishermen step out, and one verse later Jesus steps in, the same Greek root makes their boat the threshold of its next purpose.

THE MEANING

You are looking at the interval after work: the fishermen have stepped out, and their nets are being washed while the boats remain by the lake. The work is not erased; its tools are still present, and the next verse shows one boat receiving a new use. The scene holds departure and availability together.

THE ROOT

ἀποβάντες

apobántes

GROWS FROM

βαίνω

baínō

The Greek verbal base means to step or go.

“gone out of them” in this verse is apobántes. The KJV’s “gone out” comes from ⁨ἀποβαίνω⁩, built on ⁨βαίνω⁩; in the next verse, Jesus “entered” with ⁨ἐμβαίνω⁩, built on that same base. English presents separate actions, while Greek lets the workers’ step out echo in Jesus’ step in, with the boat remaining between them.

ALSO GROWS

apobaínō: Step off, go out.

ἀποβαίνω

This compound describes the fishermen stepping out of the boats.

embaínō: Step into, embark.

ἐμβαίνω

Luke 5:3 uses this compound when Jesus enters Simon’s ship; its shared ⁨βαίνω⁩ (baínō) base links the outward and inward steps.

THE PATTERN

What remains at hand after ordinary work can become a vessel for a new purpose.

And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

Luke 5:3 · KJVA boat left by its fishermen becomes the place from which Jesus teaches.

And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

Exodus 4:17 · KJVThe staff already in Moses’ hand becomes an instrument for signs.

And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

2 Kings 4:2 · KJVThe small amount of oil still at hand becomes the starting point for provision.

THE THREAD

And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

Luke 5:3 · KJV

The fishermen step out with ⁨ἀποβαίνω⁩ (apobaínō), and Jesus steps into the boat with ⁨ἐμβαίνω⁩ (embaínō); both compounds grow from ⁨βαίνω⁩ (baínō), “to step.” The shared root makes the change of use visible: the boat remains as the fishermen leave, then carries the teaching.

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