"a fish, Mt. 15:36; 17:27; Lk. 5:6"
Definition and meaning
a fish, Mt. 15:36; 17:27; Lk. 5:6
In the original Greek the word is written: ἰχθύς
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of ichthus (G2486) across the King James Bible.
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
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Common questions
Strong's G2486 (ichthus) is a Greek word that means: a fish, Mt. 15:36; 17:27; Lk. 5:6 It appears 18 times in the King James Bible.
The word ichthus (G2486) appears 18 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2486 is ichthus, a Greek word defined as: a fish, Mt. 15:36; 17:27; Lk. 5:6. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
ichthus is a Greek word found in the New Testament.