256. Alphaios

Lexicon

Alphaios: Alphaeus

Original Word: Ἀλφαῖος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Alphaios
Pronunciation: al-FAY-os
Phonetic Spelling: (al-fah'-yos)
Definition: Alphaeus
Meaning: Alphaeus; apparently two persons, (a) father of Levi, and (b) father of James.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Alpheus.

Of Hebrew origin (compare Cheleph); Alphoeus, an Israelite -- Alpheus.

see HEBREW Cheleph

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 256: Ἀλφαῖος

Ἀλφαῖος (WH Ἁλφ., see their Introductory § 408), , ὁ (חַלְפַּי cf. חַגַּי Ἀγγαῖος, Haggai 1:1), Alphoeus or Alpheus;

1. the father of Levi the publican: Mark 2:14, see Λευί, 4.

2. the father of James the less, so called, one of the twelve apostles: Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13. He seems to be the same person who in John 19:25 (cf. Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40) is called Κλωπᾶς after a different pronunciation of the Hebrew חלפי accusative to which cheth (ח) was changed into kappa κ', as פֶּסַח φασεκ, 2 Chronicles 30:1. Cf. Ἰάκωβος, 2; (B. D. American edition under the word ; also Lightfoot's Commentary on Galatians, pp. 256, 267 (American edition, pp. 92, 103); Wetzel in Studien und Kritiken for 1883, 10. 620f).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Of Hebrew origin, likely derived from the Hebrew name חלפי (Chalphi).

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The name Alphaios is likely derived from the Hebrew name חלפי (Chalphi), though there is no direct Strong's Hebrew entry that corresponds exactly to Ἀλφαῖος. The connection is primarily etymological, reflecting the practice of transliterating Hebrew names into Greek in the New Testament.

Usage: The name Alphaios appears in the New Testament as the name of two individuals:
• The father of James the Less, one of the twelve apostles.
• The father of Levi (also known as Matthew), the tax collector who became an apostle.

Context: Alphaios is a name mentioned in the New Testament, associated with two distinct figures. The first is Alphaios, the father of James the Less, one of the twelve apostles. James the Less is often identified as "James the son of Alphaeus" to distinguish him from James the son of Zebedee. This James is listed among the apostles in the synoptic gospels: Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, and Luke 6:15. The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) states in Matthew 10:3, "Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus."

The second individual is Alphaios, the father of Levi, also known as Matthew, the tax collector. In Mark 2:14 (BSB), it is written, "As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. 'Follow Me,' He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him." This passage highlights the calling of Levi by Jesus, who later becomes one of the twelve apostles.

While both James and Levi are identified as sons of Alphaios, there is no explicit biblical evidence to suggest that they are brothers. The name Alphaios itself is of Hebrew origin, suggesting a Jewish background for these individuals. The use of the name in the New Testament reflects the common practice of identifying individuals by their paternal lineage.

Forms and Transliterations

Αλφαιου Ἁλφαίου Alphaiou Halphaiou Halphaíou

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 10:3 N-GMS
GRK: ὁ τοῦ Ἁλφαίου καὶ Θαδδαῖος
NAS: James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
KJV: [the son] of Alphaeus, and
INT: the [son] of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus

Mark 2:14 N-GMS
GRK: τὸν τοῦ Ἁλφαίου καθήμενον ἐπὶ
NAS: Levi the [son] of Alphaeus sitting
KJV: Levi the [son] of Alphaeus sitting
INT: the [son] of Alphaeus sitting at

Mark 3:18 N-GMS
GRK: τὸν τοῦ Ἁλφαίου καὶ Θαδδαῖον
NAS: and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus,
KJV: the [son] of Alphaeus, and
INT: the [son] of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus

Luke 6:15 N-GMS
GRK: καὶ Ἰάκωβον Ἁλφαίου καὶ Σίμωνα
NAS: James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon
KJV: James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Simon
INT: and James [son of] Alphaeus and Simon

Acts 1:13 N-GMS
GRK: Μαθθαῖος Ἰάκωβος Ἁλφαίου καὶ Σίμων
NAS: James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon
KJV: James [the son] of Alphaeus, and
INT: Matthew James [son] of Alphaeus and Simon

Strong's Greek 256
5 Occurrences

Ἁλφαίου — 5 Occ.