Zebedee is a significant figure in the New Testament, known primarily as the father of two of Jesus' apostles, James and John. His name, of Hebrew origin, means "gift of God." Zebedee was a fisherman by trade, residing in the region of Galilee, specifically near the Sea of Galilee, which was a hub for fishing activities during that time.

Family and Occupation

Zebedee was married to Salome, who is believed to have been a follower of Jesus and possibly one of the women who supported His ministry. The Gospel of Matthew introduces Zebedee in the context of his family and occupation: "Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him" (Matthew 4:21-22). This passage highlights Zebedee's role as a fisherman and the father of two of Jesus' closest disciples.

Role in the Gospels

While Zebedee himself does not play a direct role in the events of the Gospels, his sons, James and John, are prominent figures among the Twelve Apostles. They are often referred to as the "sons of Zebedee" or "Boanerges," meaning "sons of thunder," a nickname given to them by Jesus (Mark 3:17). This suggests a fiery or zealous nature, which is evident in several Gospel accounts.

Zebedee's presence is implied in the background of the Gospel narratives, as his sons leave their family business to follow Jesus. This decision indicates a significant level of faith and commitment, both on the part of James and John and potentially supported by Zebedee and Salome. The family's fishing business was likely prosperous enough to employ hired servants, as noted in Mark 1:20: "Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him" .

Cultural and Historical Context

Zebedee's occupation as a fisherman places him within the socio-economic context of first-century Galilee, where fishing was a common and vital industry. The Sea of Galilee provided a livelihood for many families, and fishing was a respected trade. Zebedee's ability to employ hired men suggests a level of affluence and stability, which may have afforded his sons the opportunity to leave and follow Jesus without jeopardizing the family's welfare.

Legacy

Though Zebedee himself is not a central figure in the New Testament, his legacy is carried on through his sons, James and John. James became one of the first martyrs of the Christian faith, as recorded in Acts 12:2, where he is executed by Herod Agrippa. John, often referred to as the "beloved disciple," is traditionally credited with the authorship of the Gospel of John, three epistles, and the Book of Revelation.

Zebedee's indirect contribution to the early Christian church is significant, as his sons played crucial roles in the spread of the Gospel and the establishment of the early church. His account serves as a reminder of the impact that faithful parenting and support can have on the spiritual journeys of one's children.Zebedee

abundant; portion

Zebedee

(my gift) (Greek form of Zabdi) a fisherman of Galilee, the father of the apostles James the Great and John (Matthew 4:21) and the husband of Salome. (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40) He probably lived either at Bethsaida or in its immediate neighborhood. It has been inferred from the mention of his "hired servants," (Mark 1:20) and from the acquaintance between the apostle John and Annas the high priest, (John 18:15) that the family of Zebedee were in easy circumstances. comp. (John 19:27) although not above manual labor. (Matthew 4:21) He appears only twice in the Gospel narrative, namely, in (Matthew 4:21,22; Mark 1:19,20) where he is seen in his boat with his two sons mending their nets.

Zebedee

The husband of Salome, and father of James and John the apostles. He was a fisherman in comfortable circumstances, on the west shore of the sea of Galilee, and readily spared his two sons at the call of the Savior, Mark 1:19,20. His wife also attended Christ, and ministered to him of her substance. See SALOME.

His son John was personally known to the high-priest, and was charged by the dying Savior with the care of his mother, John 18:15,16 19:26.

A Galilean fisherman, the husband of Salome (q.v.), and the father of James and John, two of our Lord's disciples (Matthew 4:21; 27:56; Mark 15:40). He seems to have been a man of some position in Capernaum, for he had two boats (Luke 5:4) and "hired servants" (Mark 1:20) of his own. No mention is made of him after the call of his two sons by Jesus. ZEBEDEE

zeb'-e-de (zibhdi, "the gift of God"; Zebedaios): The father of the apostles James and John (Mark 1:19) and a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 1:20), the husband of Salome (Matthew 27:56; compare Mark 16:1).

See JAMES; SALOME.

2199. Zebedaios -- Zebedee, the father of the apostles James and ...
... Zebedee, the father of the apostles James and John. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Zebedaios Phonetic Spelling: (dzeb-ed-ah'-yos) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2199.htm - 6k

993. Boanerges -- Boanerges, an epithet applied to the two sons of ...
... Boanerges, an epithet applied to the two sons of Zebedee. Part of Speech: Proper
Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Boanerges Phonetic Spelling: (bo-an-erg-es ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/993.htm - 8k

2385. Iakobos -- James, the name of several Israelites
... Definition: James, (a) the Small, son of Alphaeus, and one of the Twelve, (b)
half-brother of Jesus, (c) father (?) of Jude, (d) son of Zebedee, and brother of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2385.htm - 6k

4539. Salome -- Salome, the mother of the apostles James and John
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: Salome Phonetic Spelling:
(sal-o'-may) Short Definition: Salome Definition: Salome, wife of Zebedee and mother ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4539.htm - 6k

Fragment Lv. "Then Drew Near unto Him the Mother of Zebedee's ...
... Fragment LV. "Then drew near unto Him the mother of Zebedee's children?
"Then [4914] drew near unto Him the mother of Zebedee's ...
/.../fragments from the lost writings of irenaeus/fragment lv then drew near.htm

Ambrose Answers those who Press the Words of the Lord to the ...
... Book V. Chapter V. Ambrose answers those who press the words of the Lord
to the mother of Zebedee's? Ambrose answers those who ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter v ambrose answers those.htm

Of the Occasions on which He Foretold his Passion in Private to ...
... Chapter LXIV."Of the Occasions on Which He Foretold His Passion in Private to His
Disciples; And of the Time When the Mother of Zebedee's Children Came with ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxiv of the occasions on.htm

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
... is the shore whither the catch is drawn.] ^a 21 And going on from thence ^ba little
further, ^a he saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxx jesus calls four fishermen.htm

The Authorship.
... Introduction. The Authorship. The Fourth Gospel has in all ages been ascribed by
the Church to John, the son of Zebedee, an apostle of Jesus Christ. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the authorship.htm

The Early Preaching and the First Disciples
... And going on a little further, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John
his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 1 14-20 the early preaching.htm

Ci. Foretelling his Passion. Rebuking Ambition.
... of his saying dawn upon them"John 12:16xiv.26.] ^b 35 And there ^a 20 Then came {
^b come} near unto him ^a the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/ci foretelling his passion rebuking.htm

After Prayer Jesus Selects Twelve Apostles.
... his death from his own person, to which they belonged, to the chair or office which
he vacated]; ^a and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xli after prayer jesus selects.htm

Of the Calling of the Apostles as they were Fishing.
... days;" [833] it is uncertain whether by this period these men had already attached
themselves to Him, in particular Peter and Andrew, and the sons of Zebedee. ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xvii of the calling of.htm

Jesus Answered and Said unto Him, Get Thee Hence...
... [434] And when he went on from thence, he saw other two brothers, James the son
of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the ship with Zebedee their father ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section v jesus answered and.htm

Zebedee (11 Occurrences)
... No mention is made of him after the call of his two sons by Jesus. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. ZEBEDEE. ... Multi-Version Concordance Zebedee (11 Occurrences). ...
/z/zebedee.htm - 11k

Zebedee's (2 Occurrences)
...Zebedee's (2 Occurrences). Matthew 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's
children, with her sons, worshiping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. ...
/z/zebedee's.htm - 6k

Zeb'edee (11 Occurrences)
Zeb'edee. Zebedee, Zeb'edee. Zebedees . Multi-Version Concordance Zeb'edee
(11 Occurrences). Matthew 4:21 And having advanced thence ...
/z/zeb'edee.htm - 9k

Boat (52 Occurrences)
... Matthew 4:21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee,
and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending ...
/b/boat.htm - 22k

Ship (122 Occurrences)
... Matthew 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son
of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending ...
/s/ship.htm - 36k

Nets (33 Occurrences)
... Matthew 4:21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee,
and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending ...
/n/nets.htm - 15k

Trawl-nets (4 Occurrences)
... Matthew 4:21 And going on thence he saw other two brothers, James the son of Zebedee
and John his brother, in the ship with Zebedee their father, mending their ...
/t/trawl-nets.htm - 7k

Thence (152 Occurrences)
... Matthew 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son
of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending ...
/t/thence.htm - 37k

Refitting (2 Occurrences)
... Matthew 4:21 And having advanced thence, he saw other two brothers, James of Zebedee,
and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, refitting ...
/r/refitting.htm - 7k

Mending (2 Occurrences)
... Matthew 4:21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee,
and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending ...
/m/mending.htm - 7k

Who was Zebedee in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from what the Bible says about James the apostle? | GotQuestions.org

Who was the disciple whom Jesus loved? | GotQuestions.org

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