Saint Peter

Name

Saint Peter's original name of Simon or שמעון comes from the Hebrew language meaning hearkening and listening. In standard Hebrew it is pronounced as {{unicode|Šhimʿon}} and in Tiberian Hebrew it is pronounced as {{unicode|Šhimʿôn}}. According to the Greek Holy Scriptures (Mark, Luke, and John), Jesus renames him Petros or Πετρος which comes from the Greek language meaning pebble or piece of rock (but can just as easily be understood to be Matthew changing the feminine "Petra" to the masculine "Petros"). Most scholars understand that Jesus spoke Aramaic, though, and certainly not Greek. The Aramaic word for rock is "kepha" or "kefa", referring to a small transparent green stone used for divination. Thus, Paul's letters refer to Peter as Cephas, preserving the Aramaic original and avoiding the problem presented by the Greek feminine noun "petra".

Related Topics:
Hebrew language - Standard Hebrew - Tiberian Hebrew - Greek language - Aramaic - Cephas

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Jesus refers to the church foundation as "Petra" or πετρα meaning rock. The Gospel of Matthew proclaims that Saint Peter professes Jesus to be the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. Jesus answered, "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:17-19). In the same Holy Scriptures, Saint Paul refers to Saint Peter as Cephas or Kephas. When the Bible lists the Apostles, Peter is always listed first, and Judas Iscariot is always listed last.

Related Topics:
Messiah - Old Testament - Saint Paul - Judas Iscariot

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