"James, pr. name (1) Son of Zebedee, Mt. 4:21. (2) Son of Alphaeus and Mary, brother of Jude, Mt. 10:3. (3) James the less, brother of Jesus, Gal. 1:19"
Definition and meaning
James, pr. name (1) Son of Zebedee, Mt. 4:21. (2) Son of Alphaeus and Mary, brother of Jude, Mt. 10:3. (3) James the less, brother of Jesus, Gal. 1:19
In the original Greek the word is written: Ἰάκωβος
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of iakobos (G2385) across the King James Bible.
And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
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Common questions
Strong's G2385 (iakobos) is a Greek word that means: James, pr. name (1) Son of Zebedee, Mt. 4:21. (2) Son of Alphaeus and Mary, brother of Jude, Mt. 10:3. (3) James the less, brother of Jesus, Gal. 1:19 It appears 38 times in the King James Bible.
The word iakobos (G2385) appears 38 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2385 is iakobos, a Greek word defined as: James, pr. name (1) Son of Zebedee, Mt. 4:21. (2) Son of Alphaeus and Mary, brother of Jude, Mt. 10:3. (3) James the less, brother of Jesus, Gal. 1:19. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
iakobos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.