Zebedaeus | |
---|---|
Fisherman, Righteous | |
Born | 1st century BC |
Residence | Capernaum |
Died | 1st century AD |
Honored in | Catholic Church |
Feast | 15 March |
Zebedee ( /ˈzɛbɪdiː/ ZEB-id-ee; Ancient Greek: Ζεβεδαῖος, romanized: Zebedaîos; [1] Hebrew: זְבַדְיָה, romanized: Zəḇaḏyâ), according to all four Canonical Gospels, was the father of James and John, two disciples of Jesus. The gospels also suggest that he was the husband of Salome; whereas Mark 15:40 names the women present at the crucifixion as " Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and of Joses, and Salome," the parallel passage in Matthew 27:56 has "Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children." The Catholic Encyclopedia concludes that the Salome of Mark 15:40 is probably identical with the mother of the sons of Zebedee in Matthew. [2]
Zebedee was presumably a fisherman, "probably of some means." [3] Although named several times in the gospels, the only times he actually appears are in Matthew 4:21- 22 and Mark 1:19–20, where he is left in the boat after Jesus called James and John. Mark's note that Zebedee was left with the "hired men" implies the family had some wealth. [4] Zebedee lived at or near Bethsaida. [3]
The name given in the Gospels, Ζεβεδαῖος, is probably a transliteration of the Hebrew name Zəḇaḏyâ according to Spiros Zodhiates (The Complete Wordstudy Dictionary), or the truncated version Zabdî (זַבְדִּי), says BDB Theological Dictionary, and so means " Yahweh (or the Lord) has bestowed". [5] Other popular interpretations of the name are: "abundant" (Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary) or "my gift" ( Smith's Bible Dictionary). [6] A possibly more sinister interpretation of Zebedee may be derived from Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon #2061 z'êb, pronounced zeh-abe', meaning wolf, and #1768 dîy, pronounced dee and meaning that, rendering That (or The) Wolf, possibly suggesting Wolf-Leader.
Zebedaeus is venerated in Catholic Church as a saint. His feast day is 15 March. [7] [8]