Atomic Bible

Father of the apostles James and John

Zebedee

Named in 11 verses across 4 books, first in Matthew 4:21.

ΖεβεδαῖοςZebedee

The name means “abundant; portion.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

Married to
Salome
Children
James, John

About Zebedee Written by AI

Zebedee was a fisherman from Galilee and the father of two of Jesus' disciples, James and John. He worked alongside his sons in the fishing business and was present when Jesus called them to follow Him. His wife was Salome, according to hints at Matt 27.56 with Mark 15:40. Zebedee's wife, the mother of James and John, is mentioned as one of the women who followed Jesus and supported His ministry. She also made a bold request for her sons to sit at Jesus' right and left hand in His kingdom, revealing her high aspirations for them. Zebedee is not mentioned as a follower of Jesus himself, but he did not hinder his sons from leaving their fishing trade to become disciples. The fact that Zebedee had hired servants suggests that he ran a successful fishing operation. His sons, James and John, along with Peter, formed Jesus' inner circle of disciples and were present at significant events such as the Transfiguration and Jesus' prayers in Gethsemane.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

A Galilean fisherman, the husband of Salome (q.v.), and the father of James and John, two of our Lord’s disciples (Matt. 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.

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names him

  1. 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,

  2. 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;

  3. Matthew 20:20

    Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.

  4. Matthew 26:37

    He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

  5. Matthew 27:56

    Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

  6. Mark 1:19

    Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.

  7. Mark 1:20

    Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.

  8. Mark 3:17

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

  9. Mark 10:35

    Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and declared, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

  10. 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.”

  11. John 21:2

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

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.