SALOME sə lō’ mǐ (Σαλώμη, G4897, peaceful). 1. One of the women who followed Jesus in Galilee and ministered to Him (Mark 15:40, 41). A comparison between Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40; 16:1, 2 identifies her as the wife of Zebedee, and therefore mother of James and John. Her request for prominence for her sons in the kingdom was rebuked by the Lord and drew the indignation of the other disciples (Matt 20:20-24; Mark 10:35-41). She witnessed the crucifixion (Mark 15:40) and was among those who brought spices to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus (16:1). Many infer from John 19:25 that she was the sister of Mary, the Lord’s mother, but others take the expression as an appositive with “Mary the wife of Clopas” which follows.

2. The daughter of Herodias and Herod Philip (Jos. Antiq. xviii. 5. 4), but unnamed in the gospels. Because her dancing before Herod Antipas, her father’s half-brother, pleased him so much, he promised to grant her whatever request she might make. Prompted by her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist who had rebuked the subsequent marriage of Herodias and Antipas (Matt 14:3-11; Mark 6:16-28). Salome became wife first to her uncle Philip, tetrarch of Trachonitis (Luke 3:1) and then to her cousin Aristobulus, son of Herod, king of Chalcis.