Boanerges

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A vociferous preacher or orator.

Word forms

Boanerges Boanergeses

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Βοανεργές (Boanergés), likely from Aramaic בני רגז (bəney rəgaz, literally “sons of rage”), traditionally glossed as "sons of thunder". However, Maurice Casey argues that it is simply a misreading of Aramaic r‘am "thunder" (due to the similarity of z to the final m). This is supported by one Syriac translation of the name as bnay ra‘mâ. This appellation was given by Christ to two of his disciples, James and John (cf. Mark 3:17), in reference to their fiery temper.

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