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James Ἰάκωβος

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James "the Less", son of Alphaeus

Who is James in the Bible?

James "the Less" was one of the Twelve Apostles and the son of Alphaeus, as listed in Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, and Acts 1:13. He is distinguished from James "the Great" (the son of Zebedee) and James "the Just" (the brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church) by the epithet "the Less," which likely referred to his relative obscurity or possibly his stature. Though James the Less appears in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' ministry and is present at the resurrection appearances recorded in Mark 16:1 and Luke 24:10, very little is known about his individual activities or teachings. His significance lies in his faithful discipleship as one of the original apostles chosen by Jesus to spread the Gospel.

Biography

James was later known as "James the Less" to distinguishe him from James "the Great" and James "the Just". He was a son of Alphaeus, one of the Twelve Apostles. In the lists of the apostles provided in Mat.10.3, Mrk.3.18, Luk.6.15, and Act.1.13,"

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In Scripture

4 biblical books ; 4 with study content
Matthew 2 verses
  • Matthew 10:3

    "Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;"

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  • Matthew 27:56

    "Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons."

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Mark 3 verses
  • Mark 3:18

    "Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,"

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  • Mark 15:40

    "And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome."

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  • Mark 16:1

    "When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus."

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Luke 2 verses
  • Luke 6:15

    "Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot;"

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  • Luke 24:10

    "It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles."

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Acts 1 verse
  • Acts 1:13

    "When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James."

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Names & Aliases

Form Language Script Transliteration Meaning
Named Greek Ἰάκωβος Iákōbos Jacobus, the name of three Israelites