God’s Word Translation
Mark 3:17
17James and his brother John (Zebedee’s sons whom Jesus named Boanerges, which means “Thunderbolts”),
Mark 3:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
- New International Version (NIV)James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”),
- English Standard Version (ESV)James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);
- New King James Version (NKJV)James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”;
Context of Mark 3:17
15They also had the authority to force demons out of people. 16He appointed these twelve: Simon (whom Jesus named Peter), James and his brother John (Zebedee’s sons whom Jesus named Boanerges, which means “Thunderbolts”), 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, 19and Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Jesus).
Read all of Mark 3Mark 3:17 word by word
καὶ Ἰάκωβον τὸν τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν τοῦ Ἰακώβου, καὶ ἐπέθηκεν αὐτοῖς ὀνόματα Βοανηργές, ὅ ἐστιν υἱοὶ βροντῆς·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- JamesἸάκωβοςIakōbos · JamesG2385
- theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- of ZebedeeΖεβεδαῖοςZebedaios · ZebedeeG2199
- JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
- the brotherἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
- heἐπιτίθημιepitithēmi · to put/lay onG2007
- surnamedὄνομαonoma · nameG3686
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- BoanergesΒοανεργέςBoanerges · BoanergesG993
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- The sonsυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
- of thunderβροντήbrontē · thunderG1027
Cross-references for Mark 3:17
- Mark 1:19As Jesus went on a little farther, he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat preparing their nets ⌞to go fishing⌟.
- Mark 5:37Jesus allowed no one to go with him except Peter and the two brothers James and John.
- Mark 9:2After six days Jesus took only Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. Jesus’ appearance changed in front of them.
- Mark 10:35James and John, sons of Zebedee, went to Jesus. They said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do us a favor.”
- Mark 14:33He took Peter, James, and John with him and began to feel distressed and anguished.
- John 21:2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples of Jesus were together.
- Acts 12:1About that time King Herod devoted his attention to mistreating certain members of the church.
- Isaiah 58:1Cry aloud! Don’t hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Tell my people about their rebellion and the descendants of Jacob about their sins.
- Jeremiah 23:29“Isn’t my word like fire or like a hammer that shatters a rock?” asks the Lord.
- Hebrews 4:12God’s word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet. God’s word judges a person’s thoughts and intentions.
- Revelation 10:11The seven thunders told me, “Again you must speak what God has revealed in front of many people, nations, languages, and kings.”
Commentaries on Mark 3:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Sons 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. רעם בני beney raam, which the ancient Greeks would pronounce Beneregem, and which means sons of thunder, was probably the appellative used by our Lord: or רעש בני beni reges…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13-19Verses 13-19 For an account of the appointment of the apostles, see the notes at Matthew 10:1-4. And calleth unto him whom he would - Those whom he chose; whom he was about to appoint to the apostleship. See the notes at John 15:16. Mark 3:14 He ordained twelve - The word rendered “ordained” here does not express our notion of ordination to the ministry. It means, literally, “he made” - that is, he “appointed” twelve to be with him. Twelve - The reason…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-21Verses 13-21 Christ calls whom he will; for his grace is his own. He had called the apostles to separate themselves from the crowd, and they came unto him. He now gave them power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. May the Lord send forth more and more of those who have been with him, and have learned of him to preach his gospel, to be instruments in his blessed work. Those whose hearts are enlarged in the work of God, can easily bear with what is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”: This likely describes their character. It may suggest strong emotions, boldness, or quick reactions. For example, they once wanted to call down fire on a village that rejected Jesus (see Luke 9:53–54).Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 3:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Mark 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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