ἁλιεύς (halieus)
halieus
fisherman
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun halieus simply means "fisherman." It is a straightforward occupational term derived from halas, the word for salt or the sea, identifying a person who works on the water to catch fish. In the New Testament, this word appears in only five verses, all located in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Its most significant usage occurs when Jesus calls Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him. He describes them as fishermen who will be made "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17). This metaphor relies on the familiar image of their daily labor, repurposing it to describe the spiritual work of gathering people into the kingdom of God.
While the term itself carries no inherent theological weight, its placement in the narrative is crucial. It grounds the divine call in ordinary, earthly reality. The disciples are not chosen for their scholarly knowledge or social status, but as skilled workers whose trade becomes the vehicle for a new mission.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word halieus simply means fisherman, an ordinary job in first-century Galilee. Jesus chose men who knew the sea, not scholars or politicians. This shows that God often works through people exactly where they are, using their daily skills for a deeper purpose.
When Jesus called Peter and Andrew, He did not ask them to quit their trade immediately. Instead, He transformed it. Their experience of casting nets became a picture of gathering people into the kingdom. Your own work, no matter how simple, can be part of this same mission when you follow Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- fishers2×
- fishermen.2×
- the fishermen1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἁλιεῖς3×
- ἁλιεῖς.2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 4:19
He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.”
This verse captures the core metaphor where Jesus redefines their occupation from catching fish to gathering people.
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Mark 1:17
Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.”
Mark's parallel account emphasizes the immediate call to follow, linking their identity as fishermen directly to discipleship.
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Luke 5:2
He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
This scene provides the practical context of their labor, showing Jesus initiating His ministry amidst their routine work.