noun
zēlos
Greekζῆλος (zēlos)
Strong’sG2205
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
stem zēl-16 times in the New Testamentin 9 of 27 books5 of 16 forms occur
Translated as
What it means
ζῆλος, -ου, ὁ and in late Gk., also -εος, τό (II Co 9:2, Phl 3:6),
[in LXX for קִנְאָה, Nu 25:11, al.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2205 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saiddzay'-los
properly, heat, i.e. (figuratively) "zeal" (in a favorable sense, ardor; in an unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband (figuratively, of God), or an enemy, malice)
Fromfrom G2204;
King Jamesemulation, envy(-ing), fervent mind, indignation, jealousy, zeal.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Every form
| Job in the sentence case | masculine singular | neuter singular | masculine plural | neuter plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | zēlos6×ζῆλος | zēlem2×ζῆλος | zēlois | zēleim |
| object accusative | zēlon4×ζῆλον | zēloin | ||
| direct address vocative | zēlor | zēloir | ||
| of, belonging to genitive | zēlou2×ζήλου | zēleu | zēloiu | zēleiu |
| to, for dative | zēlo2×ζήλῳ | zēle | zēloi | zēlei |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
zēl is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Words built on the same stem
Where it appears
16 occurrences, every one of them listed
zēlos“jealousy”subjectnominative singular6×
John 2:17“zeal”mimnēskila tois mathētois autou hoti grafirētem atō; Tos zēlos tou oikou su katesthieti min.His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.”
1 Corinthians 3:3“jealousy”ēti gar sarkikois avō. hopou gar en vi zēlos kai eras, ouchi sarkikois avō kai kata anthrōpon peripatavō?for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?
2 Corinthians 12:20“jealousy”fobemō gar mē pōs ercharatos ouk hoioin thelamō heuriskameia vin, kamis heuriskimeia vi hoion ouk thelavō, mē pōs eras, zēlos, thumois, eritheiais, katalaliais, psithurismois, fusiōsiais, akatastasiais;For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
Galatians 5:20“jealousy”eidōlolatrias, farmakeias, echthrais, eras, zēlos, thumois, eritheiais, dichostasiais, hairesiais,idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions,
Hebrews 10:27“fury”foberas de tinas ekdochas krisiau kai pureu zēlos esthiarō mellarōteu toin hupenantioin.but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.
James 3:16“envy”hopou gar zēlos kai eritheias, ekei akatastasias kai pantem faulem pragmem.For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
zēlon“zeal”objectaccusative singular4×
Romans 10:2“zeal”marturamō gar autoi hoti zēlon theou echalō; alla ouk kata epignōsian,For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
2 Corinthians 7:7“zeal”ouk monem de en ta parousia autou, alla kai en ta paraklēsia ha parakalita epi vi, anangellarōtos ni tan vu epipothēsian, ton vu odurmon, ton vu zēlon huper mu, hōste min mallon chairira.and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.
2 Corinthians 7:11“zeal”idou gar autem houtem tem kata theon lupira posan katergazeta vi spoudan, alla apologian, alla aganaktēsian, alla fobon, alla epipothēsian, alla zēlon, alla ekdikēsian; en pante sunistanava heautoin hagnoin arō te pragme.Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
James 3:14“envy”ei de zēlon pikron echavō kai eritheian en ta kardia vu, mē katakauchevōr kai pseudevōr kata tau alētheiau.But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
zēlou“jealousy”of, belonging togenitive singular2×
Acts 5:17“jealousy”Anistanaratos de tos archierevos kai pantois tois sun auto, tas arōtas hairesias toiu Saddoukaioiu, pimplēila zēlouThen the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out
Acts 13:45“jealousy”horaratois de tois Ioudaiois toin ochloin pimplēila zēlou kai antilegale tei hupo Paulou lalirōtei blasfēmarōtois.But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.
zēlo“jealousy”to, fordative singular2×
Romans 13:13“jealousy”hōs en hēmera euschēmonōs peripataneia, mē kōmoi kai methai, mē koitai kai aselgeiai, mē era kai zēlo,Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
2 Corinthians 11:2“jealousy”zēlamō gar vin theou zēlo, harmozema gar vin heno anēro parthenan hagnan paristanara to Christo;I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
zēlem“zeal”subject or objectdirect singular2×
2 Corinthians 9:2“zeal”oidamē gar tan prothumian vu han huper vu kauchemō Makedōnoi hoti Achaias paraskeuazetē apo perusin, kai tem vu zēlem erethizata toin polloteroin.For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.
Philippians 3:6“zeal”kata zēlem diōkarōtos tan ekklēsan, kata dikaiosunan tan en nomo gineratos amemptos.as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.