Bible Dictionary
BAR-JONAH
Bar-Jonah means “son of Jonah” and is the patronymic given to Simon Peter by Jesus. The name indicates Peter’s father was called Jonah, or possibly John.
Definition
Bar-Jonah is an Aramaic patronymic meaning “son of Jonah.” It is the designation given by Jesus to Simon Peter. The name indicates that Peter’s father was called Jonah, although the Gospel of John gives the father’s name as John in the preferred reading.
Biblical Usage
Jesus addressed Simon Peter as “Bar-Jonah.” The designation identifies Peter by his paternal relationship and appears in the context of Jesus’ words to him.
Historical Background
Bar is Aramaic for “son” and corresponds to the Hebrew ben. The difference between Jonah in Matthew and John in the Gospel of John may reflect a contraction of names or a father known by two names.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>bar-jo'-na (Bar-ionas): Simon Peter's patronymic (Mt 16:17). Bar is Aramaic for "son" (compare Bar-timaeus, Bartholomew, etc.), and corresponds to Hebrew ben. Thus we are to understand that Peter's father's name was Jonah. But in Joh 1:42; 21:15-17, according to the best reading, his name is given as John (so the Revised Version (British and American), instead of the King James Version Jona, Jonas). There are two hypotheses to account for this difference:</p><p>(1) Ionas (Jonah) in Mt 16:17 may be simply a contraction of Ioanes (John);</p><p>(2) Peter's father may have been known by two names, Jonah and John.</p><p>D. Miall Edwards</p>