Fish as IXTHUS

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The fish was an early symbol of Christianity. $Fish symbol$ That fish is often depicted as the two arcs of a circle with one end joined and the other end the tail of the fish.

The direct Greek letter translation yields "IXTHUS" but it is often written in English as "ICHTHYS".

Jesus told his disciples that he would make them "fishers of men".

Matthew 4:19

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KJV: And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Greek: και λεγει αυτοις δευτε οπισω μου και ποιησω υμας αλιεις ανθρωπων

Latin: et ait illis venite post me et faciam vos fieri piscatores hominum

Luther: Und er sprach zu ihnen: Folget mir nach; sich will euch zu Menschenfischern machen.

Mark 1:17

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KJV: And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

Greek: και ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους δευτε οπισω μου και ποιησω υμας γενεσθαι αλιεις ανθρωπων

Latin: et dixit eis Iesus venite post me et faciam vos fieri piscatores hominum

Luther: Und Jesus sprach zu ihnen: Folget mir nach! Ich will euch zu Menschenfischern machen.

Luke 5:10

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KJV: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

Greek: ομοιως δε και ιακωβον και ιωαννην υιους ζεβεδαιου οι ησαν κοινωνοι τω σιμωνι και ειπεν προς τον σιμωνα ο ιησους μη φοβου απο του νυν ανθρωπους εση ζωγρων

Latin: similiter autem Iacobum et Iohannem filios Zebedaei qui erant socii Simonis et ait ad Simonem Iesus noli timere ex hoc iam homines eris capiens

Wycliffe: Sotheli in lijk maner James and Joon, the sones of Zebedee, that weren felowis of Symount Petre. And Jhesus seide to Symount, Nyle thou drede; now fro this tyme thou schalt take men.

Luther: desselbigengleichen auch Jakobus und Johannes, die Söhne des Zebedäus, Simons Gesellen. Und Jesus sprach zu Simon: Fürchte dich nicht; denn von nun an wirst du Menschen fangen.

The ancient Greek word "οψάρι" (o-PSA-ree) ≈ "fish" (noun) was used for fish that was out of water and ready to eat or be prepared to eat, as in the following verse. This word (prefix) appears 5 times in the Greek NT (New Testament) all in the Gospel of John.
The modern Greek word "ψάρι" (PSA-ree) ≈ "fish" (noun) comes from the previous word with the omission of the leading omicron "ο".

Over time, the leading «ο» (omicron), sounding like the Greek masculine definite article "ο" (oh) ≈ "the", disappeared.

The ancient and still used modern Greek word "ιχθύς" (ee-KHTHEES) ≈ "fish" (noun), which is a fish still in the water.
The ancient and modern Greek word "αλιεύω" (a-lee-EV-o) ≈ "fish" (verb) refers to the fisherman more than to the fish.

John 6:9

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KJV: There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

Greek: εστιν παιδαριον εν ωδε ο ος εχει πεντε αρτους κριθινους και δυο οψαρια αλλα ταυτα τι εστιν εις τοσουτους

Latin: est puer unus hic qui habet quinque panes hordiacios et duos pisces sed haec quid sunt inter tantos

Wycliffe: seith to him, A child is here, that hath fyue barli looues and twei fischis; but what ben these among so manye?

Tyndale: There ys a lad here which hath fyve barly loves and two fisshes: but what is that amoge so many?

Luther: Es ist ein Knabe hier, der hat fünf Gerstenbrote und zwei Fische; aber was ist das unter so viele?

Russian: здесь есть у одного мальчика пять хлебов ячменных и две рыбки; но что это для такого множества?

Jesus introduces a topic in this verse.

Matthew 7:9

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KJV: Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Greek: η τις εστιν εξ υμων ανθρωπος ον εαν αιτηση αιτησει ο υιος αυτου αρτον μη λιθον επιδωσει αυτω

Latin: aut quis est ex vobis homo quem si petierit filius suus panem numquid lapidem porriget ei

Wessex: Hwilc man is of eow gyf his sune hym bit hlafes. selst þu him stan.

Luther: Welcher ist unter euch Menschen, so ihn sein Sohn bittet ums Brot, der ihm einen Stein biete?

Russian: Есть ли между вами такой человек, который, когда сын его попросит у него хлеба, подал бы ему камень?

Jesus then continues with a reference to the "ixthus" fish.

Matthew 7:10

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KJV: Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

Greek: η και εαν ιχθυν αιτηση αιτησει μη οφιν επιδωσει αυτω

Latin: aut si piscem petet numquid serpentem porriget ei

In the feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew, Jesus uses the "ixthus" word for "fish".

Matthew 14:17

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KJV: And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

Greek: οι δε λεγουσιν αυτω ουκ εχομεν ωδε ει μη πεντε αρτους και δυο ιχθυας

Latin: responderunt ei non habemus hic nisi quinque panes et duos pisces

The Latin word "piscis" ≈ "fish". One of the 12 Zodiac signs is "Pisces", the fish.

The English word "fish" used to mean just a creature, animal or something else, that lived in the sea.

starfish
crawfish

One sees this in Jonah when Jonah is swallowed by a big fish.

More: English word fish