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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Mark 3:17 - 3:17
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Boanerges, which is Sons of thunder (Boanērges ho estin huioi brontēs). This Hebrew nickname is given only by Mark and the reason for it is not clear. It may refer to the fiery temperament revealed in Luk 9:34 when James and John wanted to call down fire on the Samaritan villages that were unfriendly to them. The word literally means sons of tumult, sons of thunder in Syriac. No other epithets are given by Mark save descriptions to distinguish as Simon the Cananaean (or Zealot) and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him (Mar 3:19). Andrew, (from anēr, a man) and Philip (Philippos, fond of horses) are both Greek names. Bartholomew, son of Tolmai, is the Nathanael of John’s Gospel (Joh 21:2). He probably had both names. Matthew is a Hebrew name meaning gift of God (Maththaios). Thomas is Hebrew and means Twin (Didymus, Joh 11:16). There are two uses of the name of James (Iacōbos, Jacob). Thaddeus is another name for Lebbaeus.