"And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus."
Biblical Name · Aramaic Origin
Barnabas Meaning in the Bible
Barnabas
boy
Barnabas means "Son of encouragement", a boy's name of Aramaic origin. Barnabas appears in the King James Bible, and Acts 4:36 is the passage most often tied to it. Barnabas' name calls us to be encouragers. His life shows that believing in people — especially those others have written off — can unleash extraordinary potential for God's kingdom.
Is Barnabas in the Bible?
Yes — Barnabas appears in the King James Bible, including Acts 4:36.
Pronunciation:/BAR-nuh-bus/
What does Barnabas mean?
Barnabas is a boy name of Aramaic origin meaning "Son of encouragement". Barnabas means "son of encouragement" in Aramaic — a nickname given by the apostles to a Levite named Joseph from Cyprus. This name perfectly captured his character: Barnabas was the great encourager of the early church.
Which Bible Character Are You?
Take this free Bible personality quiz to discover which Bible character you are most like. 10 questions, instant result with a King James verse.
One of 36 free KJV quizzes — see them all.
Editor’s reflection
Not his real name — a nickname the apostles gave him: son of consolation.
Barnabas is Aramaic, and Acts translates it for us: 'Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,)' (Acts 4:36). Scholars debate the second element — bar-nebuah, 'son of prophecy,' fits the Aramaic more neatly than 'consolation' — but Luke's own gloss is the one to keep, and it matches the man exactly.
He earns the name by action. He sells a field and lays the money at the apostles' feet (Acts 4:37). He vouches for Saul of Tarsus when the Jerusalem church is still afraid of him (Acts 9:27). He is sent to Antioch and, seeing the work needs Saul, goes to Tarsus to find him (Acts 11:25-26). Almost everything Paul became runs through Barnabas being willing to take a risk on people.
He and Paul later split sharply over John Mark, whom Paul would not take again and Barnabas would (Acts 15:37-39). The contention was 'so sharp between them, that they departed asunder' — and Mark, the man Barnabas refused to give up on, ends up written into a gospel and, eventually, back in Paul's good graces (2 Timothy 4:11).
As a given name Barnabas is rare and warm in English; Barney and Barnaby are the living forms of it.
“Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation).”
What does Barnabas mean in the Bible?
Barnabas means "Son of encouragement" and is a name of Aramaic origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Barnabas means "son of encouragement" in Aramaic — a nickname given by the apostles to a Levite named Joseph from Cyprus. This name perfectly captured his character: Barnabas was the great encourager of the early church.
Barnabas sold a field and laid the money at the apostles' feet. He vouched for the newly converted Saul (Paul) when the other apostles were afraid of him. He traveled with Paul on the first missionary journey and later gave the young John Mark a second chance when Paul refused to take him.
Barnabas' willingness to invest in people others had given up on is his greatest legacy. His mentorship of both Paul and Mark helped shape two of the most influential figures in church history.
Where does Barnabas appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Barnabas is connected to 1 key passage in the King James Bible, beginning with Acts 4:36. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord."
Take the KJV Bible with You
Download the complete King James Bible as a free PDF — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Which books of the Bible mention Barnabas?
Barnabas is mentioned across 4 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Barnabas?
Barnabas' name calls us to be encouragers. His life shows that believing in people — especially those others have written off — can unleash extraordinary potential for God's kingdom.
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Barnabas:
Related Reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
Character
Barnabas in the Bible
Son of Encouragement
Personality Quiz
Which Bible Leadership Style Do You Have?
Free KJV leadership quiz — Nehemiah the builder, Barnabas the encourager, Daniel
Commentary
1 Samuel 30:6 Commentary
In-depth study • Encouragement in Crisis
Bible Story
The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11–32 • Grace and Forgiveness
Bible Story
The Prodigal Son's Brother
Luke 15:25-32 • Grace & Forgiveness
Commentary
Mark 10:45 Commentary
In-depth study • Servant Leadership and Ransom
What names are related to Barnabas?
Names like Barnabas
Other Aramaic biblical names that share the spirit of "Son of encouragement" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Barnabas
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Barnabas
Download a printable name card with the KJV verse and meaning — perfect for Pinterest, Instagram, or a baptism keepsake.
Barnabas name meaning: frequently asked questions
Acts 4:36 translates it as 'son of consolation' — an encourager. It was a nickname given by the apostles; his given name was Joses (Joseph). Some scholars read the Aramaic as 'son of prophecy,' but Luke's own translation is the one the Bible supplies.
Yes — Barnabas appears in the King James Bible, including Acts 4:36.
Barnabas means "Son of encouragement." It is an Aramaic name. The King James Bible uses it in Acts 4:36, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Barnabas
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Barnabas?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Barnabas?
You can read every verse where Barnabas appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.