Page 25 - thazvarakal
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THE MEANINGS
BEHIND THE NAMES OF THE APOSTLES
NITHIN V MATHEW
PETER
From the Greek word “petros” meaning “rock”.Jesus gave him the name Cephas “stone” in
Aramatic.
ANDREW
From the Greek name “Andreas”. It comes from the word “anderios”, “mainly masculine”.
JOHN
Derived from the Hebrew name “Yochanan” meaning “YAHWEH is gracious”.
PHILIP
From the Greek name “Philippos” which means “friend of horses”.
BARTHOLOMEN
From “Bartholomaios” ,which was the Greek form of an Aramatic name meaning “son of
TALMAI.
MATTHEW
From “Mathaios”, a Greek form of the Hebrew name “Mattiyahu” meaning “gift of YAH-
WEH”.
JUDE
THADDEUS & ISCARIOT
From the Hebrew “Yehudah” which meant “praised”.
THOMAS
From the Aramatic name “Ta oma” which meant “twin”. The reason for this nickname is un-
clear.
JAMES
From the Hebrew “Yehudah” which meant “praised”.
SIMON THE ZEALOT
From the Hebrew name “Shim on” which meant “he has heard”
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