Who was James in the Bible?
Apostle, in the New Testament era
James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, was one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus. He was a fisherman by trade and was called by Jesus, along with his brother, to follow Him (Mat.4.21; Mrk.1.19). James appears in 34 verses across 8 books of the Bible.
The Bible uses the name James for 3 different people. All 3 are below, each with its own passages.
James, son of Zebedee
James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, was one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus. He was a fisherman by trade and was called by Jesus, along with his brother, to follow Him (Mat.4.21; Mrk.1.19). James, John, and Peter formed Jesus' inner circle and were present at significant events such as the Transfiguration (Mat.17.1; Mrk.9.2; Luk.9.28) and Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mrk.14.33). Jesus surnamed James and John "Boanerges," meaning "Sons of Thunder" (Mrk.3.17), possibly referring to their zealous and passionate nature. James and his brother also asked Jesus for positions of honor in His kingdom (Mrk.10.35-41). After Jesus' ascension, James continued to play a prominent role in the early church (Act.1.13). He was the first of the Twelve Apostles to be martyred, executed by Herod Agrippa I around 44 AD (Act.12.2).
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
James, brother of Jesus
James was one of the brothers of Jesus, along with Joses, Judas, and Simon (Mat.13.55; Mrk.6.3). During Jesus' ministry, James and his brothers did not believe in Him (Jhn.7.5). However, after Jesus' resurrection, James became a believer and a prominent leader in the early church in Jerusalem. He was one of the individuals to whom Jesus appeared after His resurrection (1Co.15.7). In the early church, James played a significant role in the Jerusalem Council, which addressed the issue of Gentile believers and the Mosaic Law (Act.15.13-21). He also received Paul and his companions during their visits to Jerusalem (Act.21.18; Gal.1.19; 2.9). James authored the New Testament epistle that bears his name, in which he emphasizes practical faith and good works (Jam 1.1). He is often referred to as "James the Just" due to his reputation for righteousness and his strict observance of the Jewish law. According to early church tradition, James was martyred in Jerusalem around 62 AD.
11 verses: 1 Corinthians 15:7, Acts 12:17, Acts 15:13, Acts 21:18, Galatians 1:19, Galatians 2:9, Galatians 2:12, James 1:1, Jude 1:1, Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
James the Less
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,"
5 verses: Luke 6:15, Luke 24:10, Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, Mark 16:1
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Where does James appear in the Bible?
James is referenced in 34 verses across 8 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- Acts 12:2
- Luke 5:10
- Luke 6:14
- Luke 8:51
- Luke 9:28
- Luke 9:54
- Matthew 4:21
- Matthew 10:2
- Matthew 17:1
- Mark 1:19
- Mark 1:29
- Mark 3:17
- Mark 5:37
- Mark 9:2
- Mark 10:35
- Mark 10:41
- Mark 13:3
- Mark 14:33
Showing the first 18 of 34.
Open all 34 references in ProtosWhat else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as James.
Common questions
How many people in the Bible are called James?
James refers to 3 different people in the Bible: James, son of Zebedee; James, brother of Jesus; James the Less.
How many times does the Bible mention James?
James appears in 34 verses across 8 books, most often in Mark, which accounts for 12 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention James?
Mark, Luke, Matthew, Acts, Galatians, 1 Corinthians, James, Jude.
Where can I read every verse about James?
This page lists 18 of them. Protos carries all 34, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
