Θαδδαῖος G2280
Thaddaeus, name of one of the twelve apostles
One of the twelve apostles, Thaddaeus appears only in the apostle lists of Matthew 10:3 and Mark 3:18. His name is of Aramaic origin, possibly meaning 'heart' or 'courageous.' Interestingly, Luke's Gospel and Acts call the corresponding apostle 'Judas son of James' (Luke 6:16, Acts 1:13), suggesting Thaddaeus may have been a surname or alternate name for the same person. Nothing else is recorded about him in Scripture, making him one of the 'silent' apostles whose ministry and witness remain largely hidden from us. His inclusion in the Twelve reminds us that faithfulness doesn't require historical fame.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The two references simply name Thaddaeus in the apostolic roster, offering no narrative or teaching about him. His obscurity in Scripture contrasts with the prominence given to Peter, James, and John, yet he was equally chosen, commissioned, and empowered for apostolic ministry. Early church tradition (unreliable but suggestive) associates him with missions to Edessa and Armenia, but Scripture's silence on his deeds keeps the focus on the Twelve as a corporate witness rather than individual celebrities. 2×
AR["تَدّاوُسَ", "ثَدّاوُسُ"]·ben["থদ্দিয়,", "থদ্দীয়"]·DE["Thaddaeus", "Θαδδαῖος"]·EN["Thaddaios"]·FR["Thaddée"]·heb["תַּדַּיוֹס", "תַדַּי"]·HI["कनानी", "थद्दी"]·ID["Tadeus", "Tadeus,"]·IT["Taddeo"]·jav["Tadéus,", "Tadéus;"]·KO["다대오"]·PT["Tadeu", "Tadeu,"]·RU["Фаддей", "Фаддея"]·ES["Thaddaios", "Thaddäios"]·SW["Thaddaios,", "Thaddaios;"]·TR["Taday", "Taday'ı,"]·urd["تدی", "تدی-کو"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
Θαδδαῖος, -ου, ὁ (Aram. תּדִאַי, תַּדַּי), Thaddæus: Mat.10:3, Mrk.3:18 (WH, mg., Λεββαῖος, which see).† (From Abbott-Smith. LSJ has no entry)