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Zeal

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

GREEK · G2205

ζῆλος

zēlos — zeal

ζῆλος, -ου, ὁ and in late Gk., also -εος, τό (2Co.9:2, Php.3:6), [in LXX for קִנְאָה, Num.25:11, al. ;] 1. zeal: 2Co.7:11 9:2; κατά ζῆλος, Php.3:6; with genitive obj., Jhn.2:17 (LXX), Rom.10:2; before ὑπέρ, 2Co.7:7; with genitive subj., θεοῦ, 2Co.11:2; πυρός, Heb.10:27 (cf. Isa.26:11, Wis.5:18, and cf. Westc., in l). 2. jealousy: Rom.13:13, 1Co.3:3 3:2 2Co.12:20, Gal.5:20 (WH, txt, RV), Jas.3:14, 16; πλησθῆναι ζήλου Act.5:17 13:45; pl., ζῆλοι (see B1., § 32, 6), Gal.5:20, WH, mg.† (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3669

כְּנַעֲנִי

ke.na.a.ni — Canaanite

Group of ke.na.an (כְּנַ֫עַן "Canaan" H3667A) § Canaanite, of Cana "zealous" adj descendant or inhabitant of Canaan

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GREEK · G4613

Σίμων

Simōn — Simon

Σίμων, -ωνος, ὁ a Greek name (transliterated סִימוֺן in Heb.) used as a substitute for Συμεών (which see), Simon 1. Simon Peter: Mat.17:25, Mrk.1:29, al. 2. Simon the Zealot (see: ζηλωτής, Καναναῖος): Mat.10:4, Mrk.3:18, Luk.6:15, Act.1:13. 3. One of the Brethren of our Lord (see: ἀδελψός): Mat.13:55, Mrk.6:3. 4. The father of Judas Iscariot, himself surnamed Ἰσκαριώτης (which see): Jhn.6:71 12:4 (Rec.) 13:2,26 5. Simon the Cyrenian: Mat.27:32, Mrk.15:21, Luk.23:26. 6. Simon the Pharisee: Luk.7:40, 43-44. 7. Simon of Bethany, surnamed ὁ λεπρός: Mat.26:6, Mrk.14:3. 8. Simon Magus, a Samaritan sorcerer: Act.8:9, 13 8:18, 24. 9. Simon the tanner, of Joppa: Act.9:43 10:6, 17 10:32 (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7068

קִנְאָה

qin.ah — jealousy

1) ardour, zeal, jealousy 1a) ardour, jealousy, jealous disposition (of husband) 1a1) sexual passion 1b) ardour of zeal (of religious zeal) 1b1) of men for God 1b2) of men for the house of God 1b3) of God for his people 1c) ardour of anger 1c1) of men against adversaries 1c2) of God against men 1d) envy (of man) 1e) jealousy (resulting in the wrath of God)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7065

קָנָא

qa.na — be jealous

1) to envy, be jealous, be envious, be zealous 1a) (Piel) 1a1) to be jealous of 1a2) to be envious of 1a3) to be zealous for 1a4) to excite to jealous anger 1b) (Hiphil) to provoke to jealous anger, cause jealousy

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H6372

פִּינְחָס

pin.chas — Phinehas

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.25; son of: Eleazar (H0499) and the daughter_of_Putiel (H6317H); father of: Abishua (H0050) § Phinehas = "mouth of brass" 1) son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron; his zealousness for the Lord averted a plague on Israel and gained him the promise of the Lord of an everlasting priesthood in his family 2) a priest and the son of the priest Eli 3) the father of a helper of Ezra

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GREEK · G4710

σπουδή

spoudē — diligence

σπουδή, -ῆς, ἡ (σπεύδω), [in LXX chiefly for בָּהַל, its parts and derivatives ;] 1. haste, speed: μετὰ σ. (Wis.19:2), Mrk.6:25, Luk.1:39. 2. zeal, diligence, earnestness: Rom.12:11, 2Co.7:11-12 8:7-8; ἐν σ., Rom.12:8 (see M, Pr, 104); before ὑπέρ, 2Co.8:16; σπουδὴν ἐνδείκνυσθαι, Heb.6:11; σ. παρεισφέρειν, 2Pe.1:5; πᾶσαν σ. ποιεῖσθαι, Ju 3 (see MM, xxiii; M, Pr., 214; Deiss., BS, 361, 364).† (AS)

12 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G4704

σπουδάζω

spoudazō — be eager

σπουδάζω (σπουδή), [in LXX chiefly for בָּהַל ;] to make haste; hence, to be zealous or eager, to give diligence: with inf. (see M, Pr., 205 f.), Gal.2:10, Eph.4:3, 1Th.2:17, 2Ti.2:15 4:9 4:21, Tit.3:12, Heb.4:11, 2Pe.1:10 3:14; with accusative and inf. (on this construction see Mayor in l; MM, xxiii), 2Pe.1:15 (for other constructions see LS, see word).† (AS)

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GREEK · G2207

ζηλωτής

zēlōtēs — zealot

ζηλωτής, -οῦ, ὁ (ζηλόω), [in LXX for קַנָּא (θεὸς ζ.), Exo.20:5 34:14, Deu.4:24 5:9 6:15; קַנּוֹא, Nam.1:2 (θεός); pl., I Est.8:72; ζ. τῶν νόμων, 2Ma.4:2;τὸν ζ. Φινεές, 4Ma.18:12 (cf. Num.25:11)* ;] 1. in cl. an emulator, zealous admirer (Plat., al.). 2. eagerly desirous, zealous; (a) absol., as in OT, ll. with; (b) with genitive obj.: (zealous to acquire or to defend), 1Co.14:12, Tit.2:14, 1Pe.3:13; τ. νόμου (2Mac, l.with), Act.21:20; παραδόσεων, Gal.1:14; with genitive of person(s), θεοῦ, Act.22:3. 3. In FlJ, NT, a Zealot, member of the Jewish party so called: as surname of the Apostle Simon, Luk.6:15, Act.1:13.† (AS)

6 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G4709

σπουδαίως

spoudaiōs — diligently

σπουδαίως adv. (σπουδαῖος), [in LXX: Wis.2:6 * ;] 1. with haste or zeal, i.e. earnestly, zealously, diligently: Luk.7:4, 2Ti.1:17, Tit.3:13; compar., -οτέρως, Php.2:28 (RV, Lft., Weymouth, al., but see infr.) 2. hastily, speedily: compar., -οτέρως, Php.2:28 (Thayer, Zorell, see word; ICC, in l, al., but see supr.).† (AS)

3 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G2204

ζέω

zeō — be fervent

ζέω [in LXX for רוּם, רָתַח, metaphorically, 4Ma.18:20 ;] to boil, be hot; metaphorically, of anger, love, zeal: ptcp., fervent: τ. πνεύματι, Act.18:25, Rom.12:11.† (AS)

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GREEK · G2208

ζηλωτής

zēlōtēs — Zealot

Ζηλωτής In FlJ, NT, a Zealot, member of the Jewish party so called: as surname of the Apostle Simon, Luk.6:15, Act.1:13.† (AS)

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GREEK · G4705

σπουδαῖος

spoudaios — eager

σπουδαῖος, -α, -ον (σπουδή), [in LXX: Eze.41:25 * ;] in haste; hence, zealous, eager, diligent, earnest: before ἐν, 2Co.8:22; compar., -οτεροσς 2Co.8:17 (here in superl. sense, see Bl., § 44, 3) 2Co.8:22.† (AS)

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GREEK · G1616

ἐκτένεια

ekteneia — earnestness

ἐκ-τένεια, -ας, ἡ (ἐκτενής), [in LXX: Jdth.4:9, 2Ma.14:38, 3Ma.6:41 * ;] zeal, intentness, earnestness (cf. Deiss., BS, 262): Act.26:7.† (AS)

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GREEK · G1618

ἐκτενής

ektenēs — fervent

ἐκτενής, -ές (ἐκτείνω), [in LXX: 3Ma.3:10 3Mac 5:29 * ;] stretched, strained. Metaphorical, earnest, zealous: 1Pe.4:8 .† (AS)

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GREEK · G4708

σπουδαιοτέρως

spoudaioterōs — more eagerly

earnestly, zealously, with vigor; (compar.) all the more eager, with special urgency eagerly earnestly, eagerly, diligently, Lk. 7:4; 2Tim. 1:17; Tit. 3:13; comparative σπουδαιοτέρως, more earnestly, with special urgency, Phil. 2:28

1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G6041

ζηλεύω

zēleuō — to envy

ζηλεύω, late and rare form of ζηλόω, which see; 1. to envy, be jealous. 2. to be zealous: Rev.3:19.† (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2743

חָרוּץ

cha.ruts — Haruz

A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 2Ki.21.19; father of: Meshullemeth (H4922) § Haruz = "zealous" a man of Jotbah, father of Meshullemeth, wife of Manasseh and mother of Amon

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GREEK · G7450

ἐπισπεύδω

epispeudō — to hurry

1. to urge on, further or promote an object, (Herdotus Historicus): of persons, to urge on , (Xenophon Historicus) 2. intransitive to hasten onward , (Euripides); ἐπισπ. εἴς τι to be zealous for, aim at an object, (Xenophon Historicus) (ML)

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GREEK · G7602

ζηλωτός

zēlōtos — zealous

1. to be emulated, worthy of imitation , (Plato Philosophus) 2. to be deemed happy, to be envied , (Theognis Elegiacus), etc. 3. of conditions, enviable, blessed , (Euripides) (ML)

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GREEK · G8894

προθυμέομαι

prothumeomai — to feel eager

1. to be ready, willing, eager, zealous to do a thing, with infinitive, (Herdotus Historicus), attic; also πρ. ὅπως (Herdotus Historicus), attic 2. absolute to shew zeal, exert oneself , (Herdotus Historicus):—; to be of good cheer , (Xenophon Historicus) 3. with accusative rei, to be eager or zealous for, promote eagerly, desire ardently , (Thucydides), etc. (ML)

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GREEK · G8929

πρόσκειμαι

proskeimai — to join up with

1. to be placed or laid by or upon, to lie by or upon , οὔατα προσέκειτο handles were upon it, (Iliad by Homer); τῇ θύρᾳ προσκεῖσθαι to keep close to the door, (Aristophanes Comicus); δοκοὶ τῷ τείχει προσκείμεναι lying near the wall, (Thucydides):—; ὁ προσκείμενος ἵππος the inside horse (turning a corner), (Sophocles Tragicus) 2. to lie beside, cling to , (Sophocles Tragicus): of a woman, to be given to wife , τινί (Herdotus Historicus) 3. generally, to be involved in or bound up with good or evil, with dative, (Sophocles Tragicus) 4. to be attached or devoted to , τινί (Herdotus Historicus), etc.; πρ. τῷ λεγομένῳ to put faith in a story, (Herdotus Historicus); πρ. οἴνῳ to be addicted to wine, (Herdotus Historicus); ἄγραις hunting, (Sophocles Tragicus), etc. 5. to press upon, be urgent with a person, with dative, (Herdotus Historicus); προσκείμενος with zeal , (Thucydides) 6. in military sense, to press close or hard, pursue closely , τινί (Thucydides); absolute to follow close , (Aristophanes Comicus); τὸ προσκείμενον the enemy , (Herdotus Historicus) 7. with a thing for the subject, to fall to, belong to , τοῖσι θεῶν τιμὴ αὕτη προσκέαται (Herdotus Historicus); πρ. τινι δοῦλος (Euripides):—; to be laid upon as a charge, to do something, with infinitive, (Herdotus Historicus) 8. to be added or attached to , (Sophocles Tragicus):—;absolute, ἡ χάρις προσκείσεται (Sophocles Tragicus) (ML)

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Historical dictionary entry

An earnest temper; may be enlightened (Num. 25:11-13; 2 Cor. 7:11; 9:2), or ignorant and misdirected (Rom. 10:2; Phil. 3:6). As a Christian grace, it must be grounded on right principles and directed to right ends (Gal. 4:18). It is sometimes ascribed to God (2 Kings 19:31; Isa. 9:7; 37:32; Ezek. 5:13).

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Zeal in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →