📖 Biblical Definition
Joanna was the wife of Chuza, Herod Antipas’s household steward (epitropos) — an aristocratic woman of the Herodian royal court who, after being healed by Christ of some affliction, supported His ministry from her own means: "Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance" (Luke 8:3). She was among the women who came to the empty tomb on Easter morning: "It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles" (Luke 24:10). Her presence in Antipas’s court was almost certainly Luke’s window into the king’s deliberations about Jesus.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Wife of Chuza, steward of Herod Antipas; one of the women who supported Jesus and witnessed the empty tomb (Lk 8:3; 24:10).
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Luke 8:1-3 lists her among the women healed and supporting the ministry; Luke 24:10 names her among the women at the empty tomb who told the apostles.
Her husband Chuza managed Herod Antipas's household — a high government office. Joanna's patronage of an itinerant Galilean rabbi placed her in personal political risk.
📖 Key Scripture
Luke 8:2 — "And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities."
Luke 8:3 — "And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance."
Luke 24:10 — "It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles."
Mark 16:1 — "Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
We picture Christ's followers as fishermen and the poor; the women funding the ministry included a senior Herodian official's wife.
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Luke quietly notes that Christ's ministry was funded in part by aristocratic women of the Herodian court. Joanna had access to wealth, position, and information; she chose to use them to support an itinerant Galilean.
She was also at the tomb. The Easter morning roster includes Mary Magdalene and Joanna — a former demoniac and a steward's wife, side by side. The kingdom's economics and its eyewitness list both refuse modern stereotypes.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Her Hebrew name is the feminine of John.
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Hebrew Yochanan (feminine: Yochannah) — ‘Yahweh has been gracious’.
Note: Greek Iōanna in Luke.
Usage
"An aristocratic court wife was on the Easter morning roster."
"Christ's ministry was funded by women, including the wife of Herod's steward."
"The kingdom is no respecter of address books."