Jesus Christ’s apostles names meaning

Simon / Simeon = hearer = he who hears = Σίμων / Σεμιων / Συμεών _{(Simon / Semion / Simeon)} = שִׁימוֹן _(Shimon)

The root word of Simon is shma = to hear = שְׁמַע _(shma) that is used in the israelite prayer:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.

Deuteronomy 6:4

Don’t confuse “Petros” which is the greek transliteration of aramaic “Chepha” which means stone and the greek word for rock “Petra” !

And I tell you that you are Peter (πετρος), and on this rock (πετρα) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

Matthew 16:18

Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock (πετρα) in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock (πετρα), and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Exodus 17:6

and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual rock (πετρα) that followed them, and that rock (πετρα) was Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:4

Peter = small stone = כאפא _(Chepha) = πετρος _(Petros) => Petrus _(latin)

Petra = big rock, cliff = סֶלַע _(shela) = πετρα _(Petra)

Andrew = the men of = Aνδρέας _(Andreas) = derivated from the genitive singular ἀνδρός _(andros) of the ἀνήρ _(anir) = men

Another derivate of the greek Andreas is ανδρείος _(andrios) = brave

Peter and Andrew were the sons of Jonah.

Jonah = dove, pigeon = יוֹנָה _(Ionah) = Iωνας _(Ionas) = Iona _(latin)

James = Jacob = holder of the heel, follower = Ἰάκωβος _(Iacovos) = Ἰακὼβ _(Iacov) = יַעֲקֹב _(Iacov) = Iacobus _(latin)

John = God is gracious = יוֹחָנָן _(Iochanan) => Ἰωάννης _(Ioanis) = Iohannes _(latin)

Zebedee = gift = זֶבֶד _(zever) => Ζεβεδαίος _(Zevedeos) = Zebedaeo _(latin)

James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”

Mark 3:17

Boanerges = sons of emotion = בְּנֵי רָגֶשׁ _{(benei ragesh)} = βοανηργες _(voanirghes)

Sons of thunder = בְּנֵי רָעַם _{(benei raam)} = υιοι βροντης _{(ii vrontis)} = Filii tonitrui

The nickname that Jesus gave to the 2 sons of Zebedee reveals their strong zeal for God, in their desire to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans (Luke 9:54), to stop the work of one who cast out devils (Luke 9:49), their prayer that they might sit on Lord’s right and left side in His kingdom (Matthew 20:21).

Philip = horse lover = Φίλιππος _(Filipos) = φιλέω _(fileo) (to love) + ἵππος _(ipos) (horses) = פיליפוס _(filipos) = Philippum

Bartholomew = son of Tolmai/Ptolemy = βαρθολομαιος _{(Varpholomeos)} = בַּר תַּלְמַי _{(bar tolmai)} = Bartholomeum

Nathanael = Nethanel = given of God = נְתַנְאֵל _(Netaneel) = Ναθαναήλ _(Naphanail) = Nathanahel _(latin)

Thomas = twin = תְּאוֹם _(teom) = תָּאמָא _(tama) = θωμας _(Thomas) = Thomas _(latin)

Matthew = gift of God = מַתַּאי _(Matai) = מַתִּתְיָהוּ _(Mattiahu) = מַתָּת _(matat) (gift) + יָה _(yah) = gift of Yahweh = Μαθθαῖος / Ματθαῖος _(Matpheos) = Mattheum

Matthew, called also Levi, was the brother of James (Iakov) of Alphaeus (Luke 6:15, Acts 1:13, Mark 3:18)

As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

Mark 2:14

Alphaeus = Ἁλφαῖος _(alfeos) = αλφα _(alfa) + ῖος

Alfa, the first letter of greek alphabet means beginning, start. Notice that the gospel of Matthew (“gift of God”) is the first (“alphaeus”) book of the new Testament. Interestingly, Alphaeus word comes from the hebrew word חֶלֶף _(chelef) which means in exchange/return for and has it’s root word חָלַף _(chalaf) = to pass on quickly, to pass away (vanish), to change.

The etymology of Alphaeus word suggest the ideea that a true disciple of Christ should pass through a process of transformation (to repent = μετανοέω _(metanoeo) = change the mind) and exchange the old person for a new one, the child of God:

to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:23-25

Heleph (“Chelef”) is also the city from which the Naphtali tribe land started:

The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, for the children of Naphtali according to their families. Their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim and Adami-nekeb and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and it ended at the Jordan.

Joshua 19:32-33

Also, in the region of Naphtali, Jesus started his ministry:

And he left Nazareth, and came to dwell in Capernaum, by the side of the sea, in the borders of Zebulon and of Naphtali, in order to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the sea road, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles! The people living in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land and shadow of death, a light has risen.”

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4:13-17

Lebbaeus = mind, heart, understanding = לֵב / לֵבָב _{(levav / lev)} = Λεββαῖος _(Leveos)

Thaddaeus ? = Θαδδαῖος _(thadeos) = תַדָּי _(tadai)

Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot (ζηλωτής)

Luke 6:15

Zealot = fanatic = ζηλωτής _(zilotis)

Canaanite = zealous, descendant of inhabitant of Canaan, merchant, trader = כְּנַעַנִי _(kenaanii) = Κανανίτης _(kananitis)

The root of כְּנַעַנִי is כָּנַע _(kanaa) = to be humble(d), subdued

for you shall worship no other god: for Yahweh, whose name is Zealous, is a zealous God (ζηλωτής)

Exodus 34:14

Judas = praised = יְהוּדָה _(Iudah) = Ἰούδας _(Iudas) = Iudas _(latin)