Canaanite, The

the designation of the apostle Simon, otherwise known as “Simon Zelotes.” It occurs in (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18) and is derived from a Chaldee or Syriac word by which the Jewish sect or faction of the “Zealots” was designated—a turbulent and seditious sect, especially conspicuous at the siege of Jerusalem. They taught that all foreign rule over Jews was unscriptural, and opposed that rule in every way.

A name given to the apostle Simon (Matt. 10:4; Mark 3:18). The word here does not, however, mean a descendant of Canaan, but is a translation, or rather almost a transliteration, of the Syriac word Kanenyeh (R.V. rendered “Cananaen”), which designates the Jewish sect of the Zealots. Hence he is called elsewhere (Luke 6:15) “Simon Zelotes;” i.e., Simon of the sect of the Zealots. (See SIMON.)