Lebbaeus
“Possibly from leb, meaning heart, thus hearty one”
Summary
A surname of the apostle Judas (not Iscariot), also known as Thaddaeus, making him one of the twelve apostles with three names to distinguish him from the betrayer.
☩Identity and Names
Lebbaeus was one of the twelve apostles, identified in some manuscripts of Matthew 10:3 as 'Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus.' The same apostle appears as 'Thaddaeus' in Mark 3:18 and as 'Judas the son of James' in Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13. This apostle is also the 'Judas, not Iscariot' who questioned Jesus at the Last Supper (John 14:22). Jerome noted that this apostle was thus 'three-named' (trionimus), having the names Judas, Lebbaeus, and Thaddaeus—perhaps to distinguish him clearly from the betrayer Judas Iscariot.
☩Name Meanings
The name 'Lebbaeus' has been variously interpreted. Jerome rendered it 'hearty' (corculum), deriving it from the Hebrew leb meaning 'heart.' Others have suggested it derives from Lebba, a maritime town of Galilee mentioned by Pliny, indicating geographic origin. 'Thaddaeus' has sometimes been erroneously connected to a Syriac word for 'breast,' but this is philologically doubtful. In Syriac tradition, Thaddaeus appears as 'Addai,' and some scholars have attempted to link these various forms as different representations of the same underlying name. The multiplicity of names may reflect common ancient practice of using different names in different contexts or communities.
Related Verses1 mention
Matthew· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Lebbaeus," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Lebbaeus," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).