ZEBEDEE (from Heb. Zabhdaj, abbreviation of Z. and Zabhdajah = “gift of Jahweh”). — Father of the apostles James the Greater (v.) and John (v.). Salome (v.).
He was probably a native of Bethsaida and managed a fishing business in which his sons worked alongside some hired hands and the partners Andrew (v.) PETRA (v.), who were later called to apostleship together with Zebedee’s sons. On that occasion Zebedee, with his sons and the hired hands, was busy mending the nets (Mk 1:16–20). He must have enjoyed a certain degree of prosperity. From the fact that Salome was able to follow and assist Jesus during the final stage of His public life and even at Calvary, it may be inferred that Zebedee had died before the Saviour’s Passion.
BIBL.: anon., Z. e bdéé, in DB, V, cols. 2534–35. Pietro De Ambroggi