ζῆλος zēlos

Greek word for “zeal” · Strong’s G2205 · used 16 times in 16 verses

Explore it in the Word Atlas

Meaning

ζῆλος, -ου, ὁ and in late Gk., also -εος, τό ();

How it is translated

Glosses given for zēlos in context, with how often each is used:

• jealousy 9
• zeal 6
• fury 1

Where it is used

Chapters where it is used most

2 Corinthians 7 (2), James 3 (2), John 2 (1), Acts 5 (1), Acts 13 (1), Romans 10 (1), Romans 13 (1), 1 Corinthians 3 (1), 2 Corinthians 9 (1), 2 Corinthians 11 (1)

Forms

• ζῆλος 8
• ζῆλον 4
• ζήλου 2
• ζήλῳ 2

Words used with it

Words that share verses with zēlos more often than their overall frequency would suggest:

• ἐριθεία eritheia “rivalry” 4
• ἔρις eris “quarrel” 4
• ἐπιπόθησις epipothēsis “longing” 2
• ἀκαταστασία akatastasia “disorder” 2
• κατά kata “according to” 5
• ἁγνός hagnos “pure” 2
• αἵρεσις ahiresis “sect” 2
• πρᾶγμα pragma “thing” 2
• θυμός thumos “wrath” 2
• πλήθω plēthō, pimplēmi “to fill” 2
• ὅπου hopou “where(-ever)” 2
• περιπατέω peripateō “to walk” 2

Key verses

The verses using zēlos that are most connected by cross-references (King James Version):

• Acts 5:17 — Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
• Acts 13:45 — But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
• Romans 10:2 — For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
• Romans 13:13 — Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
• 1 Corinthians 3:3 — For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
• 2 Corinthians 7:7 — And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind…
• 2 Corinthians 7:11 — For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what…
• 2 Corinthians 11:2 — For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 12:20 — For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings,…
• Philippians 3:6 — Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
• Hebrews 10:27 — But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
• James 3:14 — But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

See all 16 verses in the Word Atlas

Hebrew and Greek text, tagging, glosses and lexicon definitions: STEPBible.org, Tyndale House Cambridge (TAHOT, TAGNT, TBESH, TBESG; CC BY 4.0), adapted. Counts follow King James verse numbering; a word counts each time it is written.