Clopas; Cleophas
The Man at the Cross
Clopas is mentioned by name in John 19:25, which describes the women who stood near the cross during Jesus' crucifixion: "Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene." This single reference is the only direct mention of Clopas in the New Testament, but it places him at the center of one of the most significant moments in biblical history through his wife's presence at the crucifixion.
The Name: Clopas vs. Cleophas
The name appears as "Cleophas" in the King James Version and "Clopas" in most modern translations, reflecting the underlying Greek text more accurately. It is important to distinguish Clopas from Cleopas, a different name borne by one of the two disciples who encountered the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:18). Although the names look similar in English, Clopas is an Aramaic name while Cleopas is Greek, and most scholars treat them as referring to different individuals.
Mary the Wife of Clopas
The identification of "Mary the wife of Clopas" has been the subject of extensive discussion. The passage in John 19:25 can be read as listing either three or four women at the cross, depending on whether "his mother's sister" and "Mary the wife of Clopas" refer to the same person or two different women. If they are the same person, then Mary the wife of Clopas was the sister of Jesus' mother Mary, making Clopas the brother-in-law of Joseph and the uncle of Jesus.
Possible Identification with Alphaeus
Some scholars have identified Clopas with Alphaeus, the father of the apostle James the Less (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18). This identification rests on the linguistic argument that both names could be variant forms of the same Aramaic original. If this identification is correct, then James the son of Alphaeus (one of the twelve apostles) would be the son of Clopas and therefore a cousin of Jesus. However, this connection remains speculative, and many modern scholars consider it uncertain.
Early Church Tradition
The early church historian Hegesippus, as quoted by Eusebius, records a tradition that Clopas was the brother of Joseph, the husband of Mary. If this tradition is accurate, Clopas would have been Jesus' uncle, and his children would have been Jesus' cousins. This tradition also connects to the broader question of who the "brothers of the Lord" mentioned in the Gospels were — whether they were literal siblings, half-siblings, or cousins of Jesus.
Significance
Although Clopas himself appears only indirectly in Scripture through his wife, his family's connection to Jesus' inner circle is noteworthy. His wife's faithful presence at the cross, while most of the male disciples had fled, testifies to the devotion of the women who followed Jesus. The family of Clopas appears to have been closely connected to the early Christian community, reflecting the network of family relationships that characterized the first generation of believers.
Biblical Context
Clopas is mentioned in John 19:25 as the husband of Mary, one of the women at the cross. The related name Cleopas appears in Luke 24:18 (the Emmaus road), though most scholars consider these different individuals. James the son of Alphaeus (Matthew 10:3) may be connected to Clopas if the two names are variants of the same Aramaic original.
Theological Significance
Clopas's family connection to the cross narrative highlights the theme of faithful witness in the face of suffering. His wife Mary stood at the cross when many others had fled, embodying the costly discipleship that Jesus called for. The family connections between Clopas and Jesus' household also illuminate how the early church grew along networks of kinship and personal relationship.
Historical Background
Hegesippus, a second-century church historian cited by Eusebius, records the tradition that Clopas was Joseph's brother. This would place the family of Clopas within the extended Holy Family. The early Jerusalem church was led for decades by members of Jesus' extended family, including James the brother of the Lord and later Simeon son of Clopas, who according to Eusebius became the second bishop of Jerusalem after James' martyrdom.