Canaanite: A name given to the apostle Simon
(Matthew 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.
