Key Verse Spotlight
Matthew 4:21 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them. "
Matthew 4:21
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
19 He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.”
20 They immediately left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them.
22 They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.
23 Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
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See how people in this passage connect. Open a source to read the supporting Scripture.
James, son of Zebedee
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John, son of Zebedee James is the brother of John.
Source: Matthew 4:21
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them.
Read Matthew 4:21 -
Zebedee Zebedee is the father of James.
Source: Matthew 4:21
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them.
Read Matthew 4:21 -
Jesus James is a disciple of Jesus.
Source: Matthew 10:1; Matthew 10:2
He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
Read Matthew 10:1Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee; John, his brother;
Read Matthew 10:2
Explore James, son of Zebedee’s connections
John, son of Zebedee
-
James, son of Zebedee James is the brother of John.
Source: Matthew 4:21
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them.
Read Matthew 4:21 -
Zebedee Zebedee is the father of John.
Source: Matthew 4:21
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them.
Read Matthew 4:21 -
Jesus John is a disciple of Jesus.
Source: Matthew 10:1; Matthew 10:2
He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
Read Matthew 10:1Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee; John, his brother;
Read Matthew 10:2
Explore John, son of Zebedee’s connections
Zebedee
-
James, son of Zebedee Zebedee is the father of James.
Source: Matthew 4:21
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them.
Read Matthew 4:21 -
John, son of Zebedee Zebedee is the father of John.
Source: Matthew 4:21
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them.
Read Matthew 4:21
Selected relationship data adapted from BibleData, Brady Stephenson (CC BY 4.0). Reviewed, translated and supplemented with Scripture references.
From This Chapter
Matthew 4:1
"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."
Matthew 4:2
"When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward."
Matthew 4:3
"The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”"
Matthew 4:4
"But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.’”"
Matthew 4:5
"Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,"
Matthew 4:6
"and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”"
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