What does the Christian fish symbol mean (ixthus)?

The Greek word for 'fish' is ichthus: (The ch, and the th are each only one letter in Greek). The word used in this story in both Matthew and Mark isichthudion, only used in these two places in the New Testament, and is the diminutive of ichthus, fish: literally meaning "little fish." Now let us arrange the word for fish, ichthus, in a vertical line, thus: i is for Iesous = Jesus ch is for Christos = Christ th is for Theou = of God u is for Uios = Son s is for Soter = Saviour So the Greek word for 'fish' meant to a Greek Christian:

"JESUS CHRIST GOD'S SON (the) SAVIOUR." Because of this meaning the Christians often used the picture of a fish to mark the graves of Christian friends who were buried in the catacombs under Rome. So the "two little fishes" tell us of our Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, our Saviour. The bread on which the people fed to keep them from fainting told of our Lord Jesus as the Man come down from Heaven: the fish tell us of Him as the Son of God, our Saviour, glorified in Heaven. If we feed on our Lord Jesus Christ in these two ways we need never fear that we will grow slack.

A monogram very commonly found on the tablets taken from the catacombs, is meant to point out the name of Christ. It is formed of the first two letters of the name in Greek, CHRISTOS. The above symbol was supposed to have been first used by Constantine about A.D. 312; but as it is often found on the tablets from the catacombs, it is doubtful whether it did not exist long before, and he simply adopted it.

Many other symbols and monograms were found on the tablets. Perhaps one of the most curious is the symbol of a fish. It is thus explained. In Greek the word would be ICTHUS, and this word is supposed to represent (by containing the initials of) Jesus Christos Theou Hios Soter: Jesus Christ, Son of God, the Saviour. It was thought that such a symbol would never be understood by their persecutors. Believers could use it while they lived as a symbol that they were Christians, and have it engraved on their tombs when they died.

The name of this letter in Syriac, Chaldee and Arabic, denotes a fish, which appears to have been intended by its original form. This is also its common form in the Phoenician alphabet. Its numerical value is fifty.

Some have seen the idea of continuity in the meaning of this letter, while others regard the strength and energy of the fish to go against the current as being its significance.

Similarly with the fishes; there had to be the scales, indicating protection from the waters without, and the fins that gave power of propulsion, and ability to swim against the stream. A spiritual application of this to ourselves is very obvious.

In the days of old there were various creatures which the people of Israel might not eat, for they were unclean: there were others that were clean. There were two marks by which a clean fish was known: it must have both fins and scales. The fins let it swim against the stream. There is a spot on the Columbia River where you may stand and watch the great fish leap up rapids, or small falls, several feet high. Similarly God has provided a power whereby you and I may "swim against the stream." But there are times when a fish must swim through filthy water: and to protect it, God has given it scales: which I suppose are 'shut up together as with a close seal. One is so near another, that no air can come between them. They are joined one to another, they stick together that they cannot be sundered.' (Job 41:15-17). And, fitted with this armour, the fish can pass in safety through the filth. So God has provided a way for His Own to pass unscathed through all the filth around us: as well as the power to go against the stream.

But, doubtless, there was more than this. I believe it is our privilege to discern, in the natural properties with which God has endowed those creatures which move in the waters, certain spiritual qualities which belong to the Christian life. If a fish needs a "fin" to enable him to move through the waters and "scales" to resist the action thereof, so does the believer need that spiritual capacity which enables him to move onward through the scene with which he is surrounded, and, at the same time, to resist its influence — to prevent its penetrating — to keep it out. These are precious qualities. The fin and the scale are pregnant with meaning — full of practical instruction to the Christian. They exhibit to us, in ceremonial garb, two things which we specially need, namely, spiritual energy to move onward through the element which surrounds us, and the power to preserve us from its action. The one will not avail without the other. It is of no use to possess a capacity to get on, through the world, if we are not proof against the world's influence; and though we may seem to be able to keep the world out, yet if He have not the motive power, we are defective. The "fins" would not do without the "scales," nor the "scales" without the "fins." Both were required, to render a fish ceremonially clean; and we, in order to be properly equipped, require to be encased against the penetrating influence of an evil world; and, at the same time, to be furnished with a capacity to pass rapidly on.

The fish must have fins and scales: the fins enable a fish to rise in the water, to direct its course, and to avoid danger, and the scales are its protection. To escape the pollutions of the world a circumspect walk is needed and also having on the protection which God has provided.

“The fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build” (v. 3). And right substantially did they perform their task, for they laid the beams, and set up the doors and locks and bars thereof. Again we are not told what relation fish had to this gate beyond its name. But the connection between fish (the word being used in a symbolic way) and evangelism is very clear in Scripture. Our Lord walking by the sea of Galilee saw two brethren, Simon and Andrew, casting a net into the sea. He called them, saying, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19). They straightway left their nets and followed Him. Such was the power of His word. And surely it is the echo of that call throughout the ages that has been heard in ten thousand hearts, and has proved the urge for world-wide evangelism. It called forth Andrew and Peter, Paul, Timothy, the early Fathers, Calvin, Farel, Luther, Zwingli, Wesley, Whitefield, Spurgeon, and a list too long to enumerate. It led Carey and Marshman to India; Moffatt and Livingstone and Arnott to Africa; Hudson Taylor to China; Judson to Burmah; Martyn to Persia; Brainerd to the Red Indians roaming over the prairies of America; Gardner to inclement Patagonia; Paton to the New Hebrides. It has called forth the indomitable labours of hundreds of missionaries in producing the Scriptures in whole or in part in over seven hundred languages and dialects, so that the Word of God is a veritable tree of life, whose leaves are for the healing of the nations.

Let us take note of this and seek opportunities for helping those who give evidence of being good fish gathered in by the gospel.

But in the bread, the fish, and the egg we have Christ according to the grace of God set before us. In Him we have the bread of life; the energy of life, as set forth in the fish which goes against the stream, the evil currents of the world; in the egg the source and principle of life, which is the love of God, the foundation of all His activities toward us. But all this is made good to us by the indwelling Spirit of God. Therefore He says that our heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. He is the One who is able and willing to make all the grace that is in Christ good to our souls.