A team of Israeli and Australian researchers has presented a study that offers a possible scientific explanation for the biblical miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes and other miracles which, according to Gospel accounts, took place at the Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Kinneret. In their study, the scientists suggest that certain upwelling events in the lake, driven by wind-induced internal waves, could have caused an unusual concentration of fish along the shores, facilitating their capture.

According to one of the stories in the Gospels, the five loaves and two fish that Jesus distributed fed 5,000 people. In a second story, the apostles were fishing unsuccessfully until Jesus told them to try one last cast, which resulted in a large catch.

The study, published in the journal Water Resources Research, details how a phenomenon known as a seiche can bring cold, anoxic (oxygen-deprived) water from the lake’s depths to the surface. This phenomenon, occurring under specific conditions of wind and temperature, can generate a massive accumulation of fish in areas close to the shore, trapping them and making escape difficult. The scientists speculate that, two thousand years ago, these events could have been perceived by people of the time as inexplicable occurrences or even miracles.

Sea of Galilea
Left: Bathymetric map of Lake Kinneret at 5 m depth intervals (gray thin lines), showing: locations of Ginosar, Kinneret Limnological Laboratory (KLL), and Tabgha marked by yellow squares; area where dead fish were observed during the foot surveys, marked by the cyan ellipse; vertical profiling sampling stations A, F, G, K, and meteorological station M marked by white circles; the red line indicates the east-west transect from KLL to the eastern shore. Right: the location of Lake Kinneret in Israel. Credit: Y. Amitai et al.

In the summer of 2012, thousands of dead fish appeared on the shores of Lake Kinneret, prompting researchers to study such events. Using data on temperature, dissolved oxygen, and wind, as well as a three-dimensional atmospheric and limnological model, the scientists managed to simulate the process. According to the study, the phenomenon is triggered when five specific conditions are met simultaneously: strong winds, recent water temperature stratification, hypoxia at the depths, fish concentration near the shore, and the sensitivity of these fish to low oxygen levels.

Lake Kinneret, of great importance in Christian history, has witnessed numerous episodes of miraculous fishing according to biblical accounts. In Tabgha, on the lake’s northwest coast, there are churches commemorating these events, like the miracle of the loaves and fishes. For the researchers, it is no coincidence that the mass fish deaths documented in 2012 occurred precisely in this area. As thousands of years ago, the same geographic and environmental conditions would have led to the accumulation of fish along the shore, facilitating their capture.

According to the study, the Sea of Galilee, as a warm, monomictic lake, experiences water stratification during summer, dividing into layers with different temperatures and oxygen levels. During this period, the prevailing northwest wind tilts the thermocline, which separates the warm and cold waters. This generates internal waves, or seiches, which elevate deep water to the surface in coastal areas.

fish miracle
The 4th century mosaic of two fish and a basket with loaves of bread, located at the ’Church of Multiplication’ in Tabgha, on the shore of Lake Kinneret. This church is believed to be situated at the site where the Miracle of the Multiplication of the Fish and Loaves occurred. Credit: Tamar Zohary

Amitai and his team observed that, at certain times, cold, anoxic water rises to the surface along the shores, trapping fish and causing them to die from asphyxiation. The conditions must be perfect for this phenomenon to occur, the authors explain. We need a combination of strong winds, a recently formed thermocline, and enough time for the deep waters to become anoxic. When these conditions arise at the beginning of stratification in spring, it creates a “window of opportunity” that culminates in an accumulation of dead fish on the shores.

To test this hypothesis, the researchers simulated an event similar to that of 2012 using a three-dimensional model that combines atmospheric and dynamic data from the lake. This simulation tool allowed them to observe how the wind creates a tilt in the thermocline and pushes anoxic water toward the shore, covering strips up to 1.5 kilometers from the shore. During the simulated event, the cold, anoxic water remained on the surface for several hours, leaving the fish trapped in an oxygen-deprived environment.

This study is the first to use such a model to simulate internal waves and upwelling patterns in Lake Kinneret, which not only confirms the possibility of these events but also allows for the anticipation and prevention of their effects on lake fauna. The model’s accuracy has allowed the researchers to capture the frequency of the waves and determine the exact areas affected by upwelling, which could prove vital for future ecosystem management.

fish miracle
Fish kill on 27 June 2012 in front of KLL. Thousands of dead fish were found within a limited stretch along the north-western shore of Lake Kinneret. Most dead fish were Mirogrex terraesanctae. Credit: Tamar Zohary

The geographical coincidence between these events and the places where, according to the Bible, miracles occurred has led to speculation about the natural origin of these stories. The researchers do not claim to have found a definitive explanation for the events described in the Gospels, but they suggest that these upwellings could have been observed in ancient times as inexplicable and awe-inspiring phenomena.

Amitai and his team suggest that during Jesus’ time, Lake Kinneret experienced environmental conditions similar to today’s, with high productivity in spring and frequent hypoxia events in the deep waters, as suggested by paleolimnological studies of sediments. In a context of intense fishing activity, a phenomenon like the upwelling of cold, anoxic waters could have been interpreted as a miraculous catch, especially if it caused fish to accumulate in areas close to the shore.

The recurrence of these upwelling events in Lake Kinneret, though rare, could become more frequent and intense with climate change and increased human activity in the surrounding area. The study authors highlight the importance of continued monitoring of temperature and oxygen conditions in the lake to identify periods of risk and prevent the impact on native species.

SOURCES

Amitai, Y., Strobach, E., Hamilton, D. P., Assouline, S., Nishri, A., & Zohary, T. (2024). Seiche-induced fish kills in the Sea of Galilee—a possible explanation for biblical miracles? Water Resources Research, 60, e2024WR037894. doi.org/10.1029/2024WR037894

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