Simon the Canaanite
- proper noun
- According to the Gospels, Simon the Canaanite was among Jesus' chosen twelve apostles.
Examples
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Many scholars believe Simon the Canaanite is the same person as Simon the Zealot.
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In Christian art, Simon the Canaanite is often depicted with a saw, his traditional symbol.
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According to the Gospel, Simon the Canaanite was one of the twelve apostles.
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Did Simon the Canaanite preach in Jerusalem?
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According to the Gospels, Simon the Canaanite was one of Jesus' twelve Apostles who spread his teachings.
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In religious texts, Simon the Canaanite is recognized as a key figure among the Apostles of Jesus.
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Traditionally, Simon the Canaanite is regarded as an important Apostle who played a role in early Christianity.
Synonyms
One of the twelve men who followed Jesus and helped spread his teachings
One of the twelve followers of Jesus, called the Zealot
A man who was one of Jesus's twelve main followers, often called Simon the Zealot
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward proper-name + epithet construction: 'Simon' (a personal name) combined with 'the Canaanite' (a person from Canaan) yields 'Simon from Canaan' and the definite article simply marks the epithet. Such origin-based epithets are compositional and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the referent (Simon who is from Canaan / the apostle known as Simon the Zealot).
Etymology
Simon the Canaanite may not mean a man from Canaan but comes from an old word that meant 'zealous' or very committed long ago. That's why one popular story says he is the same person as Simon the Zealot, and the name points to his strong beliefs.