Zeb'edee. (my gift). (Greek form of Zabdi). A fisherman of Galilee, the father of the apostles, James the Great and John, Matthew 4:21, and the husband of Salome. Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40. He probably lived either at Bethsaida or in its immediate neighborhood.

It has been inferred from the mention of his "hired servants," Mark 1:20, and from the acquaintance between the apostle John and Annas, the high priest, John 18:15, that the family of Zebedee were in easy circumstances, compare John 19:27, although not above manual labor. Matthew 4:21. He appears only twice in the Gospel narrative, namely, in Matthew 4:21-22; Mark 1:19-20 where he is seen in his boat with his two sons mending their nets.