Casting net

The casting net was a circular net with weights and a draw rope around its edge. It was roughly 6–7.5 meters (20–25 feet) in diameter.

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The net was thrown from a boat or the shore in a circular motion so that it landed with the net fully spread out on the water. The weights carried it down, trapping fish underneath. Then the fisherman used the draw rope to close the net and pull it back to himself.

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It is not necessary to express all the details of the “casting net” in order to render it adequately in another language. What is important is that such a net was thrown rather than dragged. A generic term for “net” may be used in languages that do not have distinct terms for different kinds of nets.

The Hebrew word resheth normally refers to a hunting net for animals or birds (see Net). In EZK 32:3 it is used in parallel with the Hebrew word cherem, which means “dragnet” (see Dragnet, seine). The Hebrew verb that accompanies resheth means “throw” or “spread out,” the action associated with the casting net, and for that reason it is included here. Most translations agree that the context of this verse is fishing and not hunting. However, most translations choose a general word for “net” rather than trying to specify which type of fishing net is intended.

HAB 1:15; HAB 1:16: Two different words for net are used in these verses (see Dragnet, seine for a discussion on the other type of net). If different kinds of fishing nets are familiar in a culture, translators will have no difficulty in speaking about them. If they are not, then it will probably be best to use one generic term for both types of fishing nets here (so GNT “nets”).

JHN 21:3: When Peter says “I am going fishing” (GNT), some languages will need to make clear what kind of fishing is intended, whether, for example, Peter will be using a hook and line, a trap, or a net. The most normal method of fishing in biblical times was with nets, and this is the meaning here.