Zebedee

Biblical Record

Zebedee was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee and the father of the brothers James and John, who were among the twelve disciples. The only scene in which he appears in person is the account of Jesus calling his two sons.

• Matthew 4:21–22: Jesus calls James and John while they are in a ship with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. The two men leave the ship and their father and follow Jesus.
• Mark 1:19–20: Recording the same scene, Mark notes that the two sons left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants (laborers who worked for wages) and followed Jesus.
• Luke 5:10: The sons of Zebedee are described as partners of Simon (Peter).

Elsewhere, Zebedee's name appears only as a way of identifying his sons. Examples include the lists of the twelve apostles (Matthew 10:2; Mark 3:17), the brothers' request for places of honor (Mark 10:35), the prayer in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37), and the post-resurrection scene by the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:2). Matthew also mentions "the mother of Zebedee's children," that is, his wife. She asked Jesus for places of honor for her sons (Matthew 20:20) and was present at the crucifixion (Matthew 27:56).

Significance in Scripture

The Gospels say little about Zebedee directly. His name serves chiefly to identify the family of the two disciples. Nevertheless, the scene in which the sons leave their father and their livelihood is read as an illustration of the cost of answering Jesus' call, that is, of vocation. It is often read together with the saying spoken on the same occasion, "I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19).

Interpretation and Points of Discussion

• Family circumstances: Because Mark mentions hired servants, many interpreters conclude that Zebedee ran a fishing business large enough to employ workers. The text does not say, however, how much wealth he had.
• His wife's name: By comparing Matthew 27:56 with Mark 15:40, many have identified Zebedee's wife as Salome. Some further identify her with "his mother's sister" in John 19:25, which would make James and John cousins of Jesus. This is an inference drawn from harmonizing several passages and is not stated directly in Scripture.
• Meaning of the name: The name is related to the Hebrew name Zebadiah and is commonly understood to mean "the LORD has given."
• Scripture records nothing about how Zebedee responded after his sons left or how he lived thereafter.

In the Korean Church

In Korean churches, Zebedee is mentioned mainly in sermons on the calling of the disciples. The statement that the sons left "the ship and their father" is frequently cited as an example of decisive commitment and devotion. "The mother of Zebedee's children" in Matthew 20 is also sometimes featured in sermons on praying for one's children or on ambition within the life of faith.