The BibleGospel Companion

Zebedee

Ζεβεδαῖος · Zebedaios · G2199G“abundant; portion” Hitchcock's 186911 mentions in 4 books, most in Matthew (5)

Who he was

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.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Family

SpouseSalomeChildrenJames, John
Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

11 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
MatthewChapter 4: 1 mentionChapter 10: 1 mentionChapter 20: 1 mentionChapter 26: 1 mentionChapter 27: 1 mention5 mentions
MarkChapter 1: 2 mentionsChapter 3: 1 mentionChapter 10: 1 mention4 mentions
LukeChapter 5: 1 mention1 mention
JohnChapter 21: 1 mention1 mention

What the dictionary says

A Galilean fisherman, the husband of Salome, and the father of James and John, two of our Lord’s disciples (Matt. 4:21; 27:56; Mark 15:40).

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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Sources