2207. zélótés

Lexicon

zélótés: Zealot, enthusiast, fervent supporter

Original Word: ζηλωτής
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: zélótés
Pronunciation: dzay-lo-tace'
Phonetic Spelling: (dzay-lo-tace')
Definition: Zealot, enthusiast, fervent supporter
Meaning: one who is eagerly devoted to a person or a thing, a zealot.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Zealot

From zeloo; a "zealot" -- zealous.

see GREEK zeloo

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 2207 zēlōtḗs – a person with zealous enthusiasm who (literally) "boils over with passion" ("someone burning with zeal," J. Thayer). See 2205 (zēlos).

2707 /kataphrontḗs ("a zealous person") is used of "one who is deeply committed to something and therefore zealous – 'enthusiast, zealous person' " (L & N, 1, 25.77).

[This term is also used of the extreme faction of the Pharisees called "zealots of the Law" (Lk 6:15; Ac 1:13).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from zéloó
Definition
zealous
NASB Translation
zealous (6).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2207: ζηλωτής

ζηλωτής, ζηλωτου, ὁ (ζηλόω), one burning with zeal; a zealot;

1. absolutely, for the Hebrew קַנָּא, used of God as jealous of any rival and sternly vindicating his control: Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 4:24, etc. From the time of the Maccabees () there existed among the Jews a class of men, called Zealots, who rigorously adhered to the Mosaic law and endeavored even by a resort to violence, after the example of Phinehas (Numbers 25:11, ζηλωτής Φινης 4 Macc. 18:12), to prevent religion from being violated by others; but in the latter days of the Jewish commonwealth they used their holy zeal as a pretext for the basest crimes, Josephus, b. j. 4, 3, 9; 4, 5, 1; 4, 6, 3; 7, 8, 1. To this class perhaps Simon the apostle had belonged, and hence, got the surname ὁ ζηλωτής: Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13; (cf. Schürer, Neutest. Zeitgesch., Index under the word Zeloten; Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, i. 237ff).

2. with the genitive of the object: with the genitive of the thing, most eagerly desirous of, zealous for, a thing;

a. to acquire a thing (zealous of) (see ζηλόω, 2): 1 Corinthians 14:12; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 3:13 L T Tr WH (ἀρετῆς, Philo, praem. et poen. § 2; τῆς εὐσεβείας, de monarch. 50:1, § 3; εὐσεβείας καί δικαιοσύνης, de poenit. § 1; τῶν πολεμικων ἔργων, Diodorus 1, 73; περί τῶν ἀνηκόντων εἰς σωτηρίαν, Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 45, 1 [ET]).

b. to defend and uphold a thing, vehemently contending for a thing (zealous for): νόμου, Acts 21:20 (2 Macc. 4:2); τῶν πατρικῶν παραδόσεων, Galatians 1:14 (τῶν αἰγυπτιακων πλασματων, Philo, vit. Moys. iii. § 19; τῆς ἀρχαίας καί σώφρονος ἀγωγης, Diodorus excerpt., p. 611 (from 50:37, vol. 2:564 Didot)); with the genitive of person: Θεοῦ, intent on protecting the majesty and authority of God by contending for the Mosaic law, Acts 22:3. (In secular authors also an emulator, admirer, imitator, follower of anyone.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ζηλόω (zēloō), meaning "to be zealous" or "to be jealous."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H7065 קָנָא (qanah): To be jealous or zealous.
• H7068 קִנְאָה (qin'ah): Jealousy, zeal, ardor.
• H7072 קַנָּא (qanna): Jealous, zealous.

These Hebrew terms reflect similar themes of fervent devotion and passionate commitment, often in the context of God's covenant relationship with Israel and His expectations of faithfulness and obedience from His people.

Usage: The term ζηλωτής is used in the New Testament to describe individuals who are fervently devoted to a cause, particularly in a religious or political context. It is notably used to describe Simon the Zealot, one of Jesus' twelve apostles, indicating his association with the Zealot movement, a Jewish political movement that sought to overthrow Roman rule.

Context: The term ζηλωτής appears in the New Testament to denote individuals who exhibit fervent zeal, often in a religious or political context. The most prominent mention is in reference to Simon the Zealot, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. In Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13, Simon is specifically identified as "the Zealot," suggesting his association with the Zealot movement. This movement was known for its passionate opposition to Roman occupation and its advocacy for Jewish independence, often resorting to radical and militant measures.

The Zealots were a significant force in the socio-political landscape of first-century Judea. Their zeal for the Law and the sovereignty of Israel was rooted in a deep-seated belief in the divine mandate for Jewish autonomy. This fervor is reflected in the broader biblical theme of zeal for God's law and righteousness, as seen in passages like Romans 10:2, where Paul speaks of the Israelites having "zeal for God, but not according to knowledge."

The concept of zeal, as embodied by the ζηλωτής, is a double-edged sword in biblical teaching. While zeal for God and His commandments is commended, it must be tempered with knowledge and understanding to avoid misguided or destructive actions. This balance is crucial in the Christian life, where believers are called to be zealous for good works (Titus 2:14) while exercising discernment and love.

Forms and Transliterations

ζηλωται ζηλωταί ζηλωταὶ Ζηλωτην ζηλωτήν Ζηλωτὴν ζηλωτης ζηλωτής ζηλωτὴς ζηλωτόν ζηλωτός zelotai zelotaí zelotaì zēlōtai zēlōtaí zēlōtaì Zeloten Zelotḕn Zēlōtēn Zēlōtḕn zelotes zelotḕs zēlōtēs zēlōtḕs

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 6:15 N-AMS
GRK: τὸν καλούμενον Ζηλωτὴν
INT: who [was] called Zealot

Acts 1:13 N-NMS
GRK: Σίμων ὁ ζηλωτὴς καὶ Ἰούδας
INT: Simon the Zealot and Judas [brother]

Acts 21:20 N-NMP
GRK: καὶ πάντες ζηλωταὶ τοῦ νόμου
NAS: and they are all zealous for the Law;
KJV: they are all zealous of the law:
INT: and all zealous ones for the law

Acts 22:3 N-NMS
GRK: πατρῴου νόμου ζηλωτὴς ὑπάρχων τοῦ
NAS: being zealous for God
KJV: and was zealous toward God,
INT: ancestral law a zealous one being the

1 Corinthians 14:12 N-NMP
GRK: ὑμεῖς ἐπεὶ ζηλωταί ἐστε πνευμάτων
NAS: you, since you are zealous of spiritual
KJV: ye are zealous of spiritual
INT: you since zealous you are of spiritual gifts

Galatians 1:14 N-NMS
GRK: μου περισσοτέρως ζηλωτὴς ὑπάρχων τῶν
NAS: more extremely zealous for my ancestral
KJV: more exceedingly zealous of the traditions
INT: of me more abundantly zealous being of the

Titus 2:14 N-AMS
GRK: λαὸν περιούσιον ζηλωτὴν καλῶν ἔργων
NAS: possession, zealous for good
KJV: people, zealous of good
INT: a people specially chosen zealous of good works

1 Peter 3:13 N-NMP
GRK: τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ ζηλωταὶ γένησθε
NAS: you prove zealous for what is good?
INT: for that which [is] good zealous you should be

Strong's Greek 2207
8 Occurrences

ζηλωταὶ — 3 Occ.
Ζηλωτὴν — 2 Occ.
ζηλωτὴς — 3 Occ.