Mary of Clopas and Mary Salome (women in the Bible)
- Elaine R Kelly
- Nov 19
- 8 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Are Mary of Clopas and Mary Salome the same person?
No, I'm not talking about the young woman named Salome who danced for Herod Antipas and then asked for the head of John the Baptist.
I'm talking about the Salome who is named as a disciple of Jesus present at his death and one of the myrrhbearers who carried spices to anoint the body of Jesus at the tomb.
Who is Salome (sometimes called Mary Salome), and who is Mary of Clopas? Who is related to Jesus's mother, Mary? And who is Clopas in John 19:25?
Who is Salome?
Mark's Gospel is the only one that mentions Salome by name. Mark describes her as a disciple, patron, and one of the women who went to anoint Jesus's body:
Salome is named as coming from Galilee to care for Jesus and being at the crucifixion (Mark 15:40-41).
Salome, along with Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, are named as bringing spices to the tomb to anoint Jesus's body (Mark 16:1). Scholars dispute whether "Mary the mother of James" refers to Mary of Clopas or Mary the mother of Jesus.
Matthew does not name Salome, but refers to the mother of Zebedee's sons (Apostles James and John) twice:
The mother of James and John asked Jesus to honour her sons in a special way (Matthew 20:20-21).
The mother of Zebedee's sons followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs (Matthew 27:55-56
Because the descriptions of Salome in Mark closely parallel the descriptions of the mother of James and John in Matthew, most scholars believe that Salome was the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee.
Luke refers to "many women" who followed Jesus to take care of his needs (Luke 8:2; Luke 23:55, Luke 24:1-10). Salome, the mother of Apostles James and John, may be included in this group.
John does not mention Salome by name, but scholars debate whether John makes reference to her here:
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25).
Does this verse list three women or four? It could be that "his mother's sister" is a description of Mary, the wife of Clopas. Alternatively, it could be that "his mother's sister" is a placeholder for Salome.
Is Jesus's mother's sister Salome?
It is possible that Salome was a half-sister of Jesus's mother, Mary, and called sister for short. This idea is based on the fact that Mark's gospel tells us Salome was at the cross, and John's gospel does not name her. Some say Salome was a midwife to Mary when Jesus was born. However, if Salome was the mother of James and John, it's unclear why John would describe her as Jesus's mother's sister rather than calling her his own mother or stating her name.
Since early centuries, the Orthodox and Catholic traditions have held that Salome, also called Mary Salome, was Jesus's mother's half-sister. The tradition is that St Anne (also spelled Hannah or Ann) was married three times and had three daughters, each from a different father. The half-sisters were:
Mary, the mother of Jesus
Mary Salome (who married Zebedee and is the mother of apostles James and John, making these Jesus's cousins and could explain why Jesus asked John to take responsibility for Jesus's mother, John's aunt). An ancient tradition was that Mary Salome was Mary's midwife. Other traditions indicate Salome doubted Mary's midwife and needed to see Jesus's birth for herself.
Mary of Clopas (daughter of Clopas and half-sister to Jesus's mother Mary). This idea comes from the non-biblical Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew and is supported by many Catholics.
Is Jesus's mother's sister Mary of Clopas? Who is Clopas in John 19:25?
It is possible that Mary of Clopas was a sister-in-law of Jesus's mother Mary, and called sister for short. Several early church fathers tell us that Clopas was Joseph's brother, and that the children of Clopas were Jesus's kin. When the gospels refer to Mary, the mother of James, I believe they are referring to Mary of Clopas.
Many scholars believe that Mary of Clopas was not a daughter of Clopas but the wife of Clopas and sister-in-law to Jesus's mother. Mary of Clopas is referred to in the gospels as Mary the mother of James, and yet the father of Apostle James the Less is Alphaeus (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, Acts 1:13). The 2nd-century writer Hegesippus, the 4th-century historian Eusebius, and the 5th-century theologian Jerome all identify Clopas as the same person as Alphaeus (Alphaeus in Aramaic/ Cleopas or Cleophas in Greek), as the brother of Joseph. Eusebius says Clopas had a son, Simeon in Hebrew (Simon in Greek), who was a relative of Jesus and became the second bishop of Jerusalem (after the death of James, the brother of Jesus). Some say that the children of Mary of Clopas are the brothers/kin of Jesus named in the Gospels. Click here for more about Mary of Clopas vs Jesus's mother Mary.
As an aunt of Jesus, she would have followed the Jewish tradition of family guarding the body after death until burial. The only women named as present at the burial are Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary", the "mother of Joses", which is likely Mary of Clopas (Mark 15:47, Matthew 27:61). Theologians still debate who was with Clopas on the road to Emmaus on the day of the resurrection. It could have been his wife, Mary of Clopas.
Who are the Three Marys (Las Tres Marias)?
When I visited the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, I was surprised when the guide pointed out a rock formation called Las Tres Marias. I didn't know who they were, and it turns out there is no unanimity on this.
The three Marys could be the three half sisters (daughters of St Anne in the Catholic tradition):
Mary, mother of Jesus
Mary of Clopas
Mary Salome
The three Marys named at the crucifixion by John:
Mary, mother of Jesus (John 19:25)
Mary Magdalene (Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, John 19:25)
Mary of Clopas (Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, John 19:25)
The three Marys named at the crucifixion by Matthew and Mark (if we assume Mary, the mother of James, refers to Mary of Clopas):
Mary Magdalene (Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, John 19:25)
Mary Salome (Mark 15:40)
Mary of Clopas.
Placing Mary of Clopas at the crucifixion is based on these descriptions:
Mary, the mother of James and Joses/Joseph (Mathew 27:56),
Mary, the mother of James the Less and Joses (Mark 15:40),
Jesus's mother's sister Mary, the wife of Clopas (John 19:25).
Some place Mary, Jesus's mother, at the crucifixion instead of Mary of Clopas. Matthew and Mark don't mention Jesus's mother at the cross. However, this Mary is the mother of James and Joses, and the earliest Orthodox and Catholic traditions are that Mary had no children other than Jesus. Yes, the Gospels report that Jesus's siblings came to speak to him (Matthew 12:46, Mark 3:31, Luke 8:19). They did not come to praise him but to "take charge of him" because they thought he was not in his right mind. Jesus's brothers did not believe Jesus during his ministry (John 7:5). Jesus siblings joined the women and other disciples after Jesus's resurrection (Acts 1:14). Protestants suggest Jesus's siblilngs were half-siblings (with God as his father); the Orthodox church suggests Jesus's siblings were step-siblings (from Joseph's prior marriage); the Catholic church suggests Jesus's siblings were close cousins or step-siblings, possibly cared for by Clopas and his wife on Joseph's death. Either way, it seems unlikely that Jesus's mother would be described as "the mother of James and Joses" or the "mother of James the Less".
The three Marys who were Myrrh-bearers carrying spices to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus (there are traditionally eight women myrrhbearers in total):
Mary Magdalene (Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:10, John 20:1)
Mary of Clopas Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:10
Mary Salome or Salome (Mark 16:1)
Joanna (Luke 24:10)
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is not named as one going to anoint the body on Easter morning; perhaps she was sitting shiva at home.
Susanna (the patron and disciple of Luke 8:1-3) is not named as going to the tomb.
Mary of Bethany, Lazarus's sister (Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-44), not named at the tomb
Martha of Bethany, Lazarus’s sister (Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-44), not named at the tomb
Was Salome married to Zebedee?
As discussed above, the descriptions of Salome in Mark closely parallel the descriptions of the mother of James and John in Matthew, leading to the conclusion that Salome is the mother of James and John and the wife of Zebedee. Zebedee is a Capernaum fisherman prosperous enough to have hired men (Mark 1:20). The mother of James and John had faith in Jesus and believed Jesus would reign and asked Jesus to honour her sons (Matthew 20:20-22, Mark 10:35-40).
The apostle John personally knew the high priest, Caiphas (John 18:15), so he may have studied with the Jerusalem teachers. John was in Jerusalem following John the Baptist before he followed Jesus (John 1:35-40). Traditionally, James is older, possibly the age of Jesus, and John is one of the youngest disciples. Salome's son James was killed by order of Herod Agrippa I in about AD 44 (Acts 12:2). Salome's son John lived a long life and took care of Jesus's mother.
There is no biblical evidence that Zebedee either supported or opposed his sons' decision to become Jesus's disciples, but there is evidence that Zebedee did not join them. When James and John became disciples of Jesus, "they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men" (Mark 1:20). He is never again mentioned in the Scriptures and was never canonized as a Saint. Salome is named as following Jesus and being present at the crucifixion and at the tomb, but Zebedee is not. It is possible that he did not believe in Jesus and resented his sons' departure from the fishing business. It is possible that Salome had to choose between becoming Jesus's follower or staying with her husband, and chose her faith. Salome may be either widowed, separated, or divorced.
Traditionally, Salome travels alone to Ephesus, visits her son John, and meets the Governor of Ephesus. He is from Veroli, Italy, and she travels with him to Veroli and spreads the good news there. Salome's remains are housed in the Basilica of Santa Maria Salome in Veroli, Italy. Catholic and Orthodox Christians commemorate Salome as a saint. Protestant Christians do not recognize humans canonized as saints, holding to the belief that all believers are part of the priesthood and that believers do not need the intercession of saints to approach God.
Conclusion
Salome is not the same person as Mary of Clopas.
Salome (or Mary Salome) | Mary of Clopas |
Mother of the Apostles James and John, the sons of Zebedee. | Mother of the Apostle James the Less and a son named Joses. |
Disciple and patron present at Jesus's death and carried spices to anoint his body. | Disciple and patron present at Jesus's death and burial and carried spices to anoint his body. |
Catholic and Orthodox traditions portray Salome as a half-sister or cousin of Jesus's mother. Protestants see nothing in the Bible to indicate that Salome was related to Jesus's mother Mary. | Early historians state that Mary of Clopas was the wife of Clopas and the sister-in-law of Jesus's mother. Some Catholics maintain that Mary of Clopas was the daughter of Clopas and Anne (making Mary of Clopas a half-sister of Jesus's mother). |
Both Mary of Clopas and Salome were among those who followed Jesus and supported him in his ministry, death and resurrection. Both were likely among those who witnessed the resurrection and became early evangelists and apostles. For more information on women who followed Jesus, check out my summary of twelve female disciples of Jesus here.
Elaine Ricker Kelly Author is empowering women with historical fiction about women in the Bible and early church and Christian articles about women in leadership, church history and doctrine. Her books include:
Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold, Book 1 (2022)
The Sword: A Fun Way to Engage in Healthy Debate on What the Bible Says About a Woman's Role (2023)
Because She Was Called: from Broken to Bold, Book 2, A Novel of the Early Church, imagines Mary Magdalene's trip to testify before the emperor (2024)
Walk with Mara on Her Healing Journey: 21 Steps to Emotional Resilience (2024)
Finding Her Voice, from Broken to Bold Book 3, Acts of Early Female Apostles: A Novel (2025)
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