Mark 3:17
New International Version
James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”),

New Living Translation
James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”),

English Standard Version
James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);

Berean Standard Bible
James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”),

Berean Literal Bible
and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, and He added to them the name Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder;

King James Bible
And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

New King James Version
James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”;

New American Standard Bible
James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”);

NASB 1995
and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder “);

NASB 1977
and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”);

Legacy Standard Bible
and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”);

Amplified Bible
and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”);

Christian Standard Bible
and to James the son of Zebedee, and to his brother John, he gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder” );

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and to James the son of Zebedee, and to his brother John, He gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder”);

American Standard Version
and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder:

Contemporary English Version
There were also James and John, the two sons of Zebedee. Jesus called them Boanerges, which means "Thunderbolts."

English Revised Version
and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
James and his brother John (Zebedee's sons whom Jesus named Boanerges, which means "Thunderbolts"),

Good News Translation
James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee (Jesus gave them the name Boanerges, which means "Men of Thunder");

International Standard Version
Zebedee's sons James and his brother John (whom he named Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder),

Majority Standard Bible
James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning ?Sons of Thunder?),

NET Bible
to James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee, he gave the name Boanerges (that is, "sons of thunder");

New Heart English Bible
and James the son of Zebedee; and John the brother of James (and he surnamed them Boanerges which means, Sons of Thunder);

Webster's Bible Translation
And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, (and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder,)

Weymouth New Testament
James the son of Zabdi and John the brother of James (these two He surnamed Boanerges, that is 'Sons of Thunder')

World English Bible
James the son of Zebedee; and John, the brother of James, (whom he called Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder);
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and James of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, and He put on them names—Boanerges, that is, “Sons of thunder”;

Berean Literal Bible
and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, and He added to them the name Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder;

Young's Literal Translation
and James of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, and he put on them names -- Boanerges, that is, 'Sons of thunder;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And James, him of Zebedee, and John brother of James; and he set to them names Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he named them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

Catholic Public Domain Version
and also he imposed on James of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, the name ‘Boanerges,’ that is, ‘Sons of Thunder;’

New American Bible
James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder;

New Revised Standard Version
James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, he surnamed B’nai Rakhshi, which means sons of thunder,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And to Yaqob, the son of Zebedee and to Yohannan the brother of Yaqob he assigned the name B'nay Regshay, which is B'nay Rama
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James: and these he surnamed Boanerges, which means, sons of thunder:

Godbey New Testament
and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and on them He placed the names Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder:

Haweis New Testament
and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and surnamed them Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder:

Mace New Testament
and John the brother of James, (whom he had named Boanerges, that is to say, sons of thunder.)

Weymouth New Testament
James the son of Zabdi and John the brother of James (these two He surnamed Boanerges, that is 'Sons of Thunder')

Worrell New Testament
and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, (and He added to these the name "Boanerges," that is, "sons of thunder");

Worsley New Testament
and James the Son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, (and He surnamed them Boanerges, which is to say, Sons of thunder,) and Andrew,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Twelve Apostles
16These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”), 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,…

Cross References
Matthew 17:1-2
After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. / There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

Luke 9:28-29
About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took with Him Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray. / And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became radiantly white.

Matthew 10:2
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;

Luke 6:14
Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;

John 21:20-24
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?” / When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” / Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!” ...

Acts 12:1-2
About that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church. / He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

Matthew 4:21
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,

Luke 5:10
and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.”

John 1:35-42
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. / When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” / And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ...

John 13:23-25
One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side. / So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus which one He was talking about. / Leaning back against Jesus, he asked, “Lord, who is it?”

John 19:26-27
When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” / Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.

John 20:2-10
So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,” she said, “and we do not know where they have put Him!” / Then Peter and the other disciple set out for the tomb. / The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ...

John 21:2
Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.

1 John 1:1-4
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life. / And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. / We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. ...

Revelation 1:9
I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance that are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony about Jesus.


Treasury of Scripture

And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

James.

Mark 1:19,20
And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets…

Mark 5:37
And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

Mark 9:2
And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

he surnamed.

Isaiah 58:1
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Jeremiah 23:29
Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Jump to Previous
James John Means Names Second Surname Surnamed Thunder Zabdi Zebedee Zeb'edee
Jump to Next
James John Means Names Second Surname Surnamed Thunder Zabdi Zebedee Zeb'edee
Mark 3
1. Jesus heals the withered hand,
10. and many other infirmities;
11. rebukes the unclean spirit;
13. chooses his twelve apostles;
22. convinces the blasphemy of casting out demons by Beelzebub;
31. and shows who are his brother, sister, and mother.














James son of Zebedee and his brother John
James and John were among the first disciples called by Jesus. They were fishermen by trade, working with their father Zebedee on the Sea of Galilee. This region was a hub of fishing activity, and their occupation suggests they were likely familiar with hard work and the demands of a trade. The calling of James and John is significant as it shows Jesus choosing ordinary men for extraordinary purposes. Their father, Zebedee, was likely a man of some means, as he had hired servants (Mark 1:20). This familial connection highlights the cost of discipleship, as they left their family business to follow Jesus. James and John were part of Jesus' inner circle, along with Peter, witnessing key events such as the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-3).

(whom He named Boanerges,
The naming of James and John as "Boanerges" is unique to the Gospel of Mark. This Aramaic term is translated as "Sons of Thunder." The name could reflect their zealous and passionate nature, as seen in Luke 9:54, where they suggest calling down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village. This nickname may also indicate their boldness and fervor in proclaiming the Gospel. Jesus often gave names that reflected the character or future role of His disciples, as seen with Peter, whose name means "rock" (John 1:42).

meaning “Sons of Thunder”),
The term "Sons of Thunder" may also allude to their powerful preaching and the impact they would have in the early church. It suggests a prophetic insight into their future ministry, where they would be instrumental in spreading the Gospel. This name could also symbolize the authority and power they would wield as apostles, echoing the thunderous voice of God in the Old Testament (Psalm 29:3-9). The transformation of their character from impulsive to foundational leaders in the church is a testament to the transformative power of Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. James son of Zebedee
One of the twelve apostles, James was the brother of John. He was part of Jesus' inner circle and witnessed significant events such as the Transfiguration.

2. John
The brother of James and also one of the twelve apostles. John is traditionally believed to be the author of the Gospel of John, three epistles, and the Book of Revelation.

3. Boanerges
A name given by Jesus to James and John, meaning "Sons of Thunder." This name likely reflects their zealous and passionate nature.

4. Zebedee
The father of James and John, a fisherman by trade. He was likely a man of some means, as he had hired servants.

5. Jesus
The central figure of the New Testament, who called James and John to be His disciples and gave them the name Boanerges.
Teaching Points
Zeal for the Gospel
The name "Sons of Thunder" suggests a passionate zeal for the message of Christ. As believers, we are called to have a fervent commitment to sharing the Gospel.

Temperance and Transformation
While zeal is important, it must be tempered with love and wisdom. James and John's journey with Jesus transformed their initial fiery nature into one of love and service.

Intimacy with Christ
Being part of Jesus' inner circle, James and John had a close relationship with Him. This intimacy is available to all believers through prayer and study of the Word.

Legacy of Faith
James' martyrdom and John's contributions to the New Testament remind us of the lasting impact of a life dedicated to Christ.(17) Boanerges.--The word is an Aramaic compound (B'ne-regesh = sons of thunder). We may see in the name thus given a witness to the fiery zeal of the sons of Zebedee, seen, e.g., in their wish to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans (Luke 9:54), and John's desire to stop the work of one who cast out devils (Luke 9:49), or the prayer of the two brothers that they might sit on their Lord's right hand and on His left in His kingdom (Matthew 20:21). It was, we may well believe, that burning zeal that made James the proto-martyr of the Apostolic company (Acts 12:2). We can scarcely fail to trace in the multiplied "thunderings and voices" of the Apocalypse (Revelation 4:5; Revelation 6:1; Revelation 8:5), and in the tradition of John's indignant shrinking from contact with the heretic Cerinthus. that which was in harmony with the spiritual being of the Seer, and with the name which his Lord had thus given him. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
James
Ἰάκωβον (Iakōbon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2385: The same as Iakob Graecized; Jacobus, the name of three Israelites.

[son]
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

of
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Zebedee
Ζεβεδαίου (Zebedaiou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2199: Zebedee, father of the apostles James and John. Of Hebrew origin; Zebedaeus, an Israelite.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

his
Ἰακώβου (Iakōbou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2385: The same as Iakob Graecized; Jacobus, the name of three Israelites.

brother
ἀδελφὸν (adelphon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

John
Ἰωάννην (Iōannēn)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2491: Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.

([whom]
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

He named
ὀνόματα (onomata)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3686: Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'.

Boanerges,
Βοανηργές (Boanērges)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 993: Boanerges, sons of thunder. Of Chaldee origin; sons of commotion; Boanerges, an epithet of two of the apostles.

meaning
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

Sons
Υἱοὶ (Huioi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5207: A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.

of Thunder),
Βροντῆς (Brontēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1027: Thunder. Akin to bremo; thunder.


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