The Greek noun diktyon refers to a fishing net — the large drag net used to gather fish in large quantities from the Sea of Galilee. It is distinct from the smaller cast net and appears in the calling of the disciples and in the post-resurrection appearance by the sea.
The fishing net is one of Jesus' central images for the kingdom of God and discipleship. The parable of the net (Matthew 13:47–50) describes the kingdom as a net that gathers fish of every kind, with the final sorting reserved for the end of the age. At the calling of Peter and Andrew, Jesus transforms their occupation: 'I will make you fishers of men' — the net becomes a symbol of evangelism. In John 21, the miraculous catch after the resurrection (153 large fish, net unbroken) is a sign of the church's mission: the net of God will not break under the weight of those being saved.