BOANERGES bō’ ə nûr’ jez (Βοανηργές, Βοανεργές, Βανηρεγές). A surname interpreted as meaning “sons of thunder” and given by Jesus to James and John, the sons of Zebedee, at the time they were chosen apostles (Mark 3:17). The root meaning of the word is uncertain. Mark tr. it without showing why the term was appropriate. Jerome thought it referred to their fiery eloquence; others have taken it as referring to their fiery dispositions. It may be that they were at one time zealots or revolutionaries. Perhaps the epithet reflects the ancient mythology about the Dioscuri (Heavenly Twins), the Sons of Zeus or Thunder.