“_Boys._”――The Greek word here (παιδια _paidia_) has a neuter termination, and is applicable to persons of both sexes, like the English word “_children_,” which is here given in the common version. But Jerome’s Latin translation (the Vulgate) gives “_pueri_,” “boys,” as the just meaning in this place, and I have preferred it, as more in accordance with our usual forms of familiar address in such cases, than the one given in the common English version. _Great coat._――This I consider as giving a better idea of the garment called in the Greek επενδυτην, (_ependuten_,) which is derived from a verb which means “putting on over another garment,” and is of course described with more justice to the original by the English “_great-coat_,” or “over-coat,” than by “_fisher’s_ coat,” as in the common translation. I suppose it was a rough outer dress designed as a protection against rain and spray, and which he put on in such a way, that he might wade in it without the inconvenience of its hanging about his legs. It must have been a sort of “_over all_,” that he had pulled off while at work, and _put on_ to wade in the water; for the verb διαζωννυμι (_diazonnumi_) has also that meaning as well as “gird about,” and his object in thus “putting on his over alls” may have been to keep himself dry, by covering both his legs and body from the water; for it may have come down over the legs like a sort of outside trowsers, and being tied tight, would make a very comfortable protection against cold water. See Poole and Kuinoel on this passage, John xxi. 7. Luther in his German translation has very queerly expressed this word, “GUERTETE ER DAS HEMDE UM SICH,” “he girt his _shirt_ about him;” being led into this error probably, by taking the following sentence in too strong a sense, concluding that he was perfectly _naked_. But I have already alluded (note on page 101) to the peculiar force of this word in the Bible, nor can it mean anything but that he was without his outer garments; and it implies no more indecent exposure than in the case of Christ, when laying aside his garments to wash his disciples’ feet. Besides, I have shown that the etymology of επενδυτης (_ependutes_) will not allow any meaning to it, but that of an “_outer_ garment” _worn over_ other clothes. _A little skiff._――The Greek word here is πλοιαριον, (_ploiarion_,) and means “a _small_ boat,” and is the diminution of πλοιον, (_ploion_,) the word used in the third verse of the same chapter, as the name of the larger vessel in which they sailed, and which probably drew too much water to come close to the shore in this part of the lake, where it was probably shallow, so as to make it necessary for them to haul the net ashore with this little skiff, which seems to have been a sort of drag-boat to the larger vessel, kept for landing in such places.