Bible Dictionaries

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Zebedee

Zebedee (zĕb'e-dee), my gift. Greek form of Zabdi. A fisherman of Galilee, the father of the apostles James and John, Matthew 4:21, and the husband of Salome. Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40. He probably lived at Bethsaida. It has been inferred from the mention of his "hired servants," Mark 1:20, and from the acquaintance between the apostle John and Annas the high priest, John 18:15, that the family of Zebedee were in easy circumstances: comp. John 19:27; Matthew 4:21. He appears only twice in the Gospel narrative, namely, in Matthew 4:21-22; Mark 1:19-20, where he is seen in his boat with his two sons mending their nets.