Barnabas
An Aramaic byname usually read as "son of the prophet", though the New Testament itself explains it as "son of encouragement".
Meaning and origin
Barnabas is the Greek New Testament spelling of an Aramaic byname given to a Cypriot Jew named Joseph, who worked closely alongside the apostle Paul in the early church.
How to pronounce Barnabas
| Hebrew | bar-nah-BAH /baʁnaˈba/ |
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About this entry
Drafted with the help of an AI model, then checked by a person. Last checked on 16 September 2026.
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