Strong's Lexicon Boanérges: Sons of Thunder Original Word: Βοανηργές Word Origin: Of Aramaic origin, from בְּנֵי (beney, "sons") and רֶגֶשׁ (regesh, "tumult" or "thunder") Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H1121 (בֵּן, ben): son - H7267 (רֶגֶשׁ, regesh): tumult, commotion Usage: The term "Boanérges" is a nickname given by Jesus to the brothers James and John, the sons of Zebedee, as recorded in the New Testament. It signifies their zealous and fervent nature, possibly reflecting their fiery temperament or their powerful proclamation of the Gospel. Cultural and Historical Background: In the first-century Jewish context, names and nicknames often carried significant meaning, reflecting personal characteristics or prophetic insights. The nickname "Sons of Thunder" may have been indicative of James and John's passionate disposition or their potential for dynamic ministry. The use of Aramaic, the common language of the Jews in Palestine at the time, underscores the cultural setting of Jesus' ministry. HELPS Word-studies 993 Boanergés – an Aramaic term transliterated from two Semitic roots: bēn ("sons") and regesh ("of thunder, tumult"; see Strong's OT #1123, 7285). 993 /Boanergés ("sons of thunder") is only used in Mk 3:17. We don't know why Jesus named these brothers (James, John), "sons of tumult," but their passion and boldness in the past no doubt aptly fit their future calling! He surnamed them Boanerges – M. Vincent, "The reason of its bestowal we do not know. It seems to have been intended as a title of honor, though not perpetuated like the surname Peter (this being the only instance of its occurrence). . . . It is justified by the impetuosity and zeal which characterized both the brothers, which prompted them to suggest the calling of fire from heaven to consume the inhospitable Samaritan village (Lk 9:54); which marked James as the victim of an early martyrdom (Ac 12:2); and which sounds in the thunders of John's Apocalypse" (WS, 98). ["Boanerges" is an Aramaic term, interpreted by Mark (for his non-Jewish audience who were probably Romans). There are some 16 Aramaic and Latin terms in Mark's Gospel (see 2:4, 3:17, 5:9, 5:41, 7:4, 7:11, 7:34, 8, 9, 11;, 12:42, 14:36, 15, 15:34, 15:39, 44).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Aramaic origin ben and regaz Definition Boanerges, an epithet applied to the two sons of Zebedee NASB Translation Boanerges (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 993: ΒοανεργέςΒοανεργές ((R G, so Suidas (ed. Gaisf. 751 a.); but) L T Tr WH Βοανηργές), Boanerges, Hebrew רֶגֶשׁ בֲּנֵי i. e. sons of thunder (as Mark himself explains it) (the name given by our Lord to James and John the sons of Zebedee): Mark 3:17; בְּ pronounced Boa as Noabhyim for Nebhyim; see Lightfoot Horae Hebrew at the passage; רֶגֶשׁ, in Psalm 55:15 a tumultuous crowd, seems in Syriac to have signified thunder; so that the name Βοανηργές seems to denote fiery and destructive zeal that may be likened to a thunderstorm, and to make reference to the occurrence narrated in Luke 9:54. (Cf. Dr. James Morison's Commentary on Mark, the passage cited; Kautzsch, Gram. d. Biblical-Aram., p. 9.) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Boanerges. Of Chaldee origin (ben and rgaz); sons of commotion; Boanerges, an epithet of two of the apostles -- Boanerges. see HEBREW ben see HEBREW rgaz Forms and Transliterations Βοανηργες Βοανηργές Boanerges Boanergés Boanērges BoanērgésLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |