The 12 Apostles laid the foundation for Jesus’ church, with many contributing to the Bible through their writings. While we are familiar with their biblical stories or names, the origins and meanings of these names—most of which are rooted in Hebrew—are less well-known. After some research, we’ve compiled a list to satisfy your curiosity!
| Apostle Name | Hebrew Name: | Hebrew Origin / Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Simon The Zealot | שמעון (Shimon) | “He has heard.” |
| Thomas | תאום (Ta’om) | “Twin.” It is believed that Thomas resembled Jesus. |
| Bartholomew | בר תלמי (Natanel Bar Talmey / Nathanel son of Talmey) | “Son of Talmai.” |
| John | יוחנן (Yohhanan) | “God is gracious.” |
| Andrew | (Greek origin, Andraus) | “Manly” or “Masculine.” The New Testament doesn’t provide clues about his original Hebrew or Aramaic name, so he likely used his Greek name. |
| Peter | (Greek origin, variant of Petros) | “Stone” or “Rock.” |
| James the Greater & James The Lesser | יעקב (Ya’akov) | “He who supplants.” James the Lesser was the uncle of James the Greater. |
| Phillip | (Greek origin, variant of Philipos) | “Friend of horses.” |
| Matthew | מתתיה (Mattathia) | “Gift of God.” |
| Judas | יהודה (Yehudah) | “Praised.” |
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