993 Boanergés – an Aramaic term transliterated from two Semitic roots: bēn ("sons") and regesh ("of thunder, tumult"; see Strong's OT #1123, 7285). 993 /Boanergés ("sons of thunder") is only used in Mk 3:17. We don't know why Jesus named these brothers (James, John), "sons of tumult," but their passion and boldness in the past no doubt aptly fit their future calling!

He surnamed them Boanerges – M. Vincent, "The reason of its bestowal we do not know. It seems to have been intended as a title of honor, though not perpetuated like the surname Peter (this being the only instance of its occurrence). . . . It is justified by the impetuosity and zeal which characterized both the brothers, which prompted them to suggest the calling of fire from heaven to consume the inhospitable Samaritan village (Lk 9:54); which marked James as the victim of an early martyrdom (Ac 12:2); and which sounds in the thunders of John's Apocalypse" (WS, 98).

["Boanerges" is an Aramaic term, interpreted by Mark (for his non-Jewish audience who were probably Romans). There are some 16 Aramaic and Latin terms in Mark's Gospel (see 2:4, 3:17, 5:9, 5:41, 7:4, 7:11, 7:34, 8, 9, 11;, 12:42, 14:36, 15, 15:34, 15:39, 44).]