James the son of Zebedee; and John, the brother of James, (whom he called Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder);
Parallel Translations
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James the son of Zebedee; and John, the brother of James, (whom he called Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder);
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And he called Iames the sonne of zebede and Iohn Iames brother and gave them Bonarges to name which is to saye the sonnes of thounder.
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Then Iames the sonne of Zebedeus, and Iohn Iames brother (and surnamed them Boanerges, which is, the sonnes of thunder,)
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Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (12)
Passages linked to Mark 3:17 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Jeremiah 23:29 “Isn’t my word like fire?” says Yahweh; “and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
- Mark 5:37 He allowed no one to follow him, except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
- Mark 14:33 He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed.
- Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Isaiah 58:1 “Cry aloud! Don’t spare! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Declare to my people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob their sins.
- Mark 1:19-20 Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.
- Mark 9:2 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them.
- Mark 10:35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we will ask.”
- John 21:2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
- John 21:20-25 Then Peter, turning around, saw a disciple following. This was the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who had also leaned on Jesus’ breast at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray you?” Peter seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” This saying therefore went out among the brothers, that this disciple wouldn’t die. Yet Jesus didn’t say to him that he wouldn’t die, but, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and wrote these things. We know that his witness is true. There are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they would all be written, I suppose that even the world itself wouldn’t have room for the books that would be written.
- Acts 12:1 Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.
- Revelation 10:11 They told me, “You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (12 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John…
17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
Ver. 17. Boanerges] Syr. Benai regeschi, filii fragoris. Nazianzen saith they were so called, δια το μεγαλοφωνον, for the volume of their voice. Farellus was famous for his loud speaking, when the envious monks rang the bells to drown his voice as he was preaching at Metis, ille contra ad ravim usque vocem intendit, nec vinci se a strepitu ullo passus est. (Melch. Adam.) But there may be a great deal of force in a low language. Basil was said to thunder in his preaching, lighten in his life. Jerome was called Fulmen Ecclesiasticum, thunder of the chucrh, Athanasius Magnes et Adamas, A loadstone for his sweetness, and an adamant for his stoutness. The apostles had fiery tongues, but yet cloven. Barnabas and Boanerges "the son of consolation and of thunder," make a good mixture. The good Samaritan pours in wine to search the sores and oil to supple them. Discretion must hold zeal by the heel, as Jacob did his brother; these two must be as the two lions that supported Solomon’s throne. He that hath them, may be a Moses for his meekness and a Phineas for his fervour. It was a good caution that Oecolampadius gave Farellus, Evangelizatum, non maledictum missus, et laudo zelum, modo non desideretur mansuetudo. Thou art sent, not to rail, but to reveal holy trust in meekness of wisdom.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And Andrew,.... The brother of Peter;
And Andrew,.... The brother of Peter;
and Philip, who was of Bethsaida;
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and Bartholomew, whom Dr. Lightfoot thinks is the same with Nathaniel: the name may be the same with , "Bar Talmion", with the Jews (y); See Gill on Mat 10:3. See Gill on Joh 1:41.
and Matthew, the publican, who was called Levi;
and Thomas, who was called Didymus, from his being a twin;
and James, the son of Alphaeus, to distinguish him from the other James, the son of Zebedee, and who is sometimes called "the less";
and Thaddaeus, whose name was also Lebbaeus, and likewise Jude, the author of the Epistle that bears that name;
and Simon the Canaanite, or Zelotes; of these men, and their several names; see Gill on Mat 10:2. See Gill on Mat 10:3. See Gill on Mat 10:4.
(y) Vajikra Rabba, sect. 6. fol. 151. 1.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 17. Sons of thunder] A Hebraism for thunderers;…
Verse 17. Sons of thunder] A Hebraism for thunderers; probably so named because of their zeal and power in preaching the Gospel.
The term Boanerges is neither Hebrew nor Syriac. Calmet and others think that there is reason to believe that the Greek transcribers have not copied it exactly. בני רעם beney raam, which the ancient Greeks would pronounce Beneregem, and which means sons of thunder, was probably the appellative used by our Lord: or בני רעש beni reges, sons of tempest, which comes nearest to the Boanerges of the evangelist. St. Jerome, on Dan. 1:, gives בני רעם (which he writes Benereem, softening the sound of the ע ain) as the more likely reading, and Luther, supposing our Lord spoke in Hebrew, gives the proper Hebrew term above mentioned, which he writes Bnehargem. Some think that the reason why our Lord gave this appellative to the sons of Zebedee was, their desire to bring fire down from heaven, i.e. a storm of thunder and lightning, to overturn and consume a certain Samaritan village, the inhabitants of which would not receive their Master. See the account in Lu 9:53-54. It was a very usual thing among the Jews to give surnames, which signified some particular quality or excellence, to their rabbins. See several instances in Schoettgen.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Mar 3:17. James and John he surnamed Boanerges —…
Mar 3:17. James and John he surnamed Boanerges — “This word,” says Dr. Hammond, “is the corruption of the Hebrew בני רעשּׁ, benei ragnash, sons of earthquake, tempest, or any other commotion, such as is here styled, βροντη, thunder. And the meaning of this title may seem to be, that those two sons of Zebedee were to be special, eminent ministers of the gospel, which is called, Heb 12:26, φονη την γην γαλευουσα, a voice shaking the earth, taken from Hag 2:7, which is directly the periphrasis of רעשּׁ, which is here rendered thunder, in the notion wherein φονη, voice, and βροντη, thunder, are promiscuously used for the same thing.” If the learned reader will consult Dr. Lightfoot and Grotius, he will receive further information concerning the derivation of the word Boanerges. Whitby thinks, “Christ gave James and John this name from a foresight of the heat and zeal of their temper, of which they quickly gave an instance in their desire to call down fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans. Hence we find, in the Acts, Peter and John are the chief speakers and actors in the defence and propagation of the gospel; and the zeal of James and Peter seems to be the reason why the one was slain by Herod, and the other imprisoned in order to the like execution.” Doubtless our Lord, in giving them this name, had respect to three things: the warmth and impetuosity of their spirits, their fervent manner of preaching, and the power of their word.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain And he called James, &c. The words, he called,…
And he called James, &c. The words, he called, are no addition, as they only express the literal sense: they are included in what is said, ver. 13, that he called to him whom he would. --- Boanerges, the sons of thunder, or thunderers, is only to express their great zeal. (Witham) --- He gave also the two sons of Zebedee the name of Boanerges, (Greek: Boanerges) from the Syriac, Benairegesch; or the Hebrew, Bene, sons, regesch, thunder, noise or tumult. In conformity to their name, we find these two apostles asking Jesus, (Luke ix. 54.) wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, to consume them? They spread the fame of the gospel through the whole world. So great was the zeal of St. James, that he incurred the resentment of king Agrippa, and was the first of the apostles to seal the doctrines of Jesus Christ with his blood. St. John also fulfilled the import of his name, as appears form his gospel, epistles, apocalypse, and the sufferings he underwent at Rome for the faith. Sts. Peter, James, and John, were the only apostles to whom our Saviour gave particular names, a mark, perhaps, of his special affection for them. (Tirinus)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 17. ii. James the son of Zebedee and Salome…
17. ii. James the son of Zebedee and Salome (Mat_27:56; Mar_15:40), a native of Bethsaida, commonly known as James “the Great,” the first of the Apostolic body to suffer martyrdom, and the only one of the Twelve whose death is actually recorded in the New Testament.
iii. John] the brother of James, who never in his Gospel calls himself by this name, but sometimes “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (Joh_13:23; Joh_19:26), sometimes “the other disciple” (Joh_18:15; Joh_20:2-3). To him our Lord committed the care of His earthly mother. These brothers were surnamed by our Lord, according to St Mark, Boanerges, i. e. “sons of thunder,” in allusion we may believe to the fiery intrepid zeal which marked their character. Of this feature we have traces in Luk_9:54; Mar_9:38; Mar_10:37.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (17) Boanerges.—The word is an Aramaic compound (B’nè-regesh =…
(17) Boanerges.—The word is an Aramaic compound (B’nè-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 (Luk_9:54), and John’s desire to stop the work of one who cast out devils (Luk_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 (Mat_20:21). It was, we may well believe, that burning zeal that made James the proto-martyr of the Apostolic company (Act_12:2). We can scarcely fail to trace in the multiplied “thunderings and voices” of the Apocalypse (Rev_4:5; Rev_6:1; Rev_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.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain And He surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons…
Mar_3:17
And He surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder.
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The soils of thunder
In what sense this name was applicable to the character or teaching of these two brethren is not certain, particularly in the case of St. John, the apostle of gentleness and love. Perhaps, however, if we had heard him preach, we should have discerned in a moment the fitness of the name. If he wrote as he wrote in his epistle, there would be much to vindicate the title, for he wrote such terrible words as, who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He that committeth sin is of the devil. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer, and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. And respecting a certain troubler of the Church he writes, If I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth. We must remember, too, that this epistle was written in his old age, when years had toned down his decisiveness and vehemence. Respecting the preaching of the other brother we know nothing except this, that when Herod would gratify the Jewish hatred of the gospel, he singled out James as his first victim, which he would hardly have done unless this apostle also had been foremost in aggressive energy of speech. (M. F. Sadler.)
Gentleness and energy of Christianity
I. We will consider some things in Christianity that are adapted to give gentleness to the character.
1. The view which it gives a person of himself. This, you know, is anything but flattering. Christian humility certainly tends to promote gentleness.
2. I mention next the view Christianity gives of God and of eternity. Not only is a person who has felt the powers of the world to come apt to feel that the paltry interests of time are not worth contending for, but habitual contemplation of eternal realities, and of Him who inhabiteth eternity, will so awe and elevate the spirit, that it will have the utmost disrelish for contention. Would it not be strange if two persons should quarrel while gazing together at the cataract of Niagara, listening to its solemn roar, and feeling its solemn tremor? Is it possible to retain anger when you stand at a window, watching the coming up of a storm; or at the foot of cliffs, that lift themselves ruggedly up to the sky; or on the shore of the ocean, stretching away beyond the utmost reach of vision, endlessly rolling in its waves, and ceaselessly lifting up its voice! Christianity, studied, believed, embraced, experienced, causes the soul to dwell habitually in the presence of sublimer objects than these, and under the influence of nobler contemplations.
3. The character of Christ, as it is delineated in the Scriptures, and as the Christian contemplates it, is calculated to promote gentleness. He is exhibited as the Lamb of God,-not only a spotless victim, fit for the sacrifice, but dumb and unresisting when led to slaughter.
II. Some things in Christianity that are adapted to give energy to the character.
1. Look at the objects of effort which if presents-all that is involved in ones own eternal salvation, and all that tends to the well-being of mankind and the glory of God.
2. Look at the motives to effort which Christianity supplies.
3. Consider the examples which Christianity exhibits. I hope you see that the energy which Christianity inspires does not mar the gentleness which is so beautiful an ornament of character; and that the gentleness which Christianity cultivates does not soften and enervate the soul. The two elements do most harmoniously blend, balancing and tempering, not at all hindering each other. In all our efforts at self-culture, let us seek for the attainment of both these elements in scriptural proportions and in scriptural combination. (H. A. Nelson, D. D.)
Thunder in preaching
If we thunder in our preaching we must lighten in our lives. (Anon.)
Zeal blended with discretion
Barnabas and Boanerges, the sons of consolation and of thunder make a good mixture. The good Samaritan pours in wine to search the wounds and oil to supple them. Discretion must hold zeal by the heel. These two must be as the lions that supported Solomons throne. He that hath them may be a Moses for his meekness and a Phinehas for his fervour. (Trapp.)
Be true to a good name
Names were given that they might be stirred up to verify the meaning and signification of them. Wherefore let every Obadiah strive to be a servant of God; each Nathanael to be a gift of God; Onesimus, to be profitable; every Roger, quiet and peaceable; Robert, famous for counsel; and William, a help and defence to many … that they may be incited to imitate the virtues of those worthy persons who formerly have been owners and bearers of them. Let all Abrahams be faithful; Isaacs, quiet; Jacobs, painful (painstaking); Josephs, chaste; every Louis, pious; Edward, confessor of the new faith; William, conqueror over his own corruptions. Let them also carefully avoid those sins for which the bearers of the names stand branded to posterity. Let every Jonah beware of frowardness; Thomas, of distrustfulness; Martha, of worldliness; Mary, of wantonness; etc., etc.
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 17. Boanerges. Why this title was bestowed on James…
17. Boanerges. Why this title was bestowed on James and John we are not told. Possibly from their power as preachers.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain (See Scofield "Mat 4:21")
James
(See Scofield "Mat 4:21")
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 to whom he gave
to whom he gave
The phrase "to whom" refers to both James son of Zebedee and his brother John.
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the name Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder
Jesus called them this because they were like thunder. AT: "the name Boanerges, which means men who are like thunder" or "the name Boanerges, which means thunder men" (See: How to Translate Names)
Thaddaeus
This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)
who would betray him
"who would betray Jesus" The word "who" refers to Judas Iscariot.
translationWords
James (son of Zebedee)
John (the apostle)
Andrew
Philip, the apostle
Bartholomew
Matthew
Thomas
James (son of Alphaeus)
Simon the Zealot
Judas Iscariot
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 3:17 but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”: This…
3:17 but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”: This nickname probably speaks of their character (cp. Luke 9:53-54).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.