Luke 5:1
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
Original Language Analysis
Ἐγένετο
it came to pass
G1096
Ἐγένετο
it came to pass
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
1 of 22
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὄχλον
the people
G3793
ὄχλον
the people
Strong's:
G3793
Word #:
6 of 22
a throng (as borne along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot
αὐτὸς
he
G846
αὐτὸς
he
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
8 of 22
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
λόγον
the word
G3056
λόγον
the word
Strong's:
G3056
Word #:
12 of 22
something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεοῦ
of God
G2316
θεοῦ
of God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
14 of 22
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
καὶ
G2532
καὶ
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
15 of 22
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
αὐτὸς
he
G846
αὐτὸς
he
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
16 of 22
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἑστὼς
G2476
ἑστὼς
Strong's:
G2476
Word #:
18 of 22
to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively)
παρὰ
by
G3844
παρὰ
by
Strong's:
G3844
Word #:
19 of 22
properly, near; i.e., (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subj
Cross References
Matthew 14:34And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.Mark 3:9And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.Numbers 34:11And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward:Mark 6:53And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.Matthew 11:12And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.Deuteronomy 3:17The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast thereof, from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, under Ashdoth-pisgah eastward.Joshua 12:3And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Beth-jeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah:Mark 5:24And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.Luke 12:1In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Historical Context
The Lake of Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee) was central to Galilean life, supporting a thriving fishing industry. The fertile Gennesaret plain produced abundant crops, making the region densely populated. Jesus concentrated His early ministry here rather than in Jerusalem, reaching common people—fishermen, farmers, tax collectors—who became His first disciples. The lake's acoustics made it ideal for outdoor teaching to large crowds.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the crowd's eagerness to 'hear the word of God' reveal about spiritual hunger? How does your own hunger for Scripture compare?
- How does Jesus's use of a fisherman's boat for ministry illustrate His ability to sanctify ordinary resources for kingdom purposes?
- In what practical, unexpected ways might God be calling you to use your 'boat'—your resources, skills, or platform—for His word?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
As the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God—The verb epikeisthai (ἐπίκεισθαι, 'pressed upon') conveys physical crowding, eager intensity to hear ton logon tou theou (τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, 'the word of God'). Luke consistently uses this elevated phrase rather than 'Jesus's teaching,' emphasizing divine authority. The crowd's hunger for God's word contrasts with religious leaders' hardness, validating Jesus's ministry among common people.
He stood by the lake of Gennesaret—Luke uses the Greek name limnēs Gennēsaret (λίμνης Γεννησαρέτ, 'Lake of Gennesaret'), referencing the fertile plain on the northwest shore, rather than the Hebrew 'Sea of Galilee' or 'Sea of Tiberias.' This sets the scene for the miraculous catch of fish (verses 4-11) and Peter's call to discipleship. The geographic specificity anchors Luke's narrative in eyewitness testimony. Standing by water while teaching anticipates using Simon's boat as a floating pulpit (verse 3), demonstrating Jesus's practical adaptability in ministry—turning a fisherman's boat into a teaching platform, ordinary moments into divine encounters.