What does ζῆλος (zēlos) mean in the Bible?
Ζῆλος names zeal, ardor, eager concern, jealousy, or envy. The disciples remember that zeal for God's house consumes Jesus as He confronts temple corruption.
Greek · G2205
ζῆλος
Zeal
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
ζῆλος G2205
Pronunciation zēlos
What does ζῆλος (zēlos) mean in the Bible?
Ζῆλος names zeal, ardor, eager concern, jealousy, or envy. The disciples remember that zeal for God's house consumes Jesus as He confronts temple corruption.
Reader summary
Full entry for ζῆλος (G2205) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G2205?
The BSB source-word alignment has 16 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include jealousy (7), Zeal (5), with jealousy (2), of raging (1), zealous (1).
Where does ζῆλος (zēlos) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at John 2:17. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Corinthians (5), Acts (2), James (2), Romans (2).
What This Word Actually Means
Ζῆλος names zeal, ardor, eager concern, jealousy, or envy. The disciples remember that zeal for God's house consumes Jesus as He confronts temple corruption. Priestly leaders are filled with jealousy when apostolic witness gains attention, and Corinthian jealousy produces rivalry and division. Paul can affirm zeal for God while warning that zeal without knowledge resists God's righteousness in Christ.
He also welcomes the Corinthians' renewed zeal for him as evidence of restored relationship. Intensity alone is morally open. Its object, knowledge, motive, and fruit determine whether passion serves worship, repentance, protective care, competitive envy, or violent opposition. Biblical zeal must be governed by truth, love, and God's revealed purpose rather than celebrated merely because it burns strongly.
How the Bible Uses It
Ζῆλος names intense concern that can become holy zeal, relational eagerness, jealousy, or envy. Passion is tested by its truth, object, and fruit.
- John.2.17
His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.”
The disciples interpret Jesus' temple action through the psalmist's consuming zeal, placing His costly concern within devotion to the Father's house and mission.
- Acts.5.17
Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out
The high priestly party's jealousy responds to public apostolic fruit with arrest, exposing zeal for threatened status rather than zeal for God's truth.
- Rom.10.2
For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
Paul honors Israel's zeal for God while grieving that it lacks knowledge and seeks self-established righteousness instead of submitting to God's righteousness in Christ.
- 1Cor.3.3
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?
Jealousy and strife reveal Corinthian immaturity because competitive passion fragments God's field and elevates servants over the God who gives growth.
- 2Cor.7.7
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.
Titus reports the Corinthians' longing, mourning, and zeal for Paul, and their eager relational response becomes part of the comfort produced by repentance.
Passage context
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It jealousy 7× Romans 13:13, 1 Corinthians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 11:2, 2 Corinthians 12:20
Zeal 5× John 2:17, 2 Corinthians 7:7, 2 Corinthians 7:11, 2 Corinthians 9:2
with jealousy 2× Acts 5:17, Acts 13:45
of raging 1× Hebrews 10:27
zealous 1× Romans 10:2
Show sample aligned rows
John 2:17 ζῆλος to Zeal Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Acts 5:17 ζήλου to with jealousy Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Acts 13:45 ζήλου to with jealousy Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Romans 10:2 ζῆλον to zealous Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Romans 13:13 ζήλῳ to jealousy Noun - Dative Masculine Singular 1 Corinthians 3:3 ζῆλος to jealousy Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular 2 Corinthians 7:7 ζῆλον to zeal Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular 2 Corinthians 7:11 ζῆλον to zeal Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular 2 Corinthians 9:2 ζῆλος to zeal Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular 2 Corinthians 11:2 ζήλῳ to jealousy Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row John 2:17
Aligned rows 16
Books represented 9
John 1 Acts 2 Romans 2 1 Corinthians 1 2 Corinthians 5 Galatians 1 Philippians 1 Hebrews 1 James 2
Source forms
ζῆλος 8x zēlos John 2:17, 1 Corinthians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 9:2, 2 Corinthians 12:20
ζῆλον 4x zēlon Romans 10:2, 2 Corinthians 7:7, 2 Corinthians 7:11, James 3:14
ζήλου 2x zēlou Acts 5:17, Acts 13:45
ζήλῳ 2x zēlō Romans 13:13, 2 Corinthians 11:2
Parsing patterns
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular 6x John 2:17, 1 Corinthians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 12:20, Galatians 5:20
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular 4x Romans 10:2, 2 Corinthians 7:7, 2 Corinthians 7:11, James 3:14
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular 2x Romans 13:13, 2 Corinthians 11:2
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular 2x Acts 5:17, Acts 13:45
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular 1x Philippians 3:6
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular 1x 2 Corinthians 9:2
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not excuse intimidation, rage, or abuse by calling it zeal for truth; holy zeal remains governed by Christ's character, knowledge, and neighbor love.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that ζῆλος always means either virtuous zeal or sinful jealousy.
- Do not treat sincerity and intensity as substitutes for accurate knowledge of the gospel.
Evidence Summary
HolinessJustice
Greek word. Passionate intensity directed at a cause, ranging from noble devotion to destructive jealousy.
Strong's G2205
Lexical occurrences 16 verses Greek text appearances 17 times 16 shown below Word forms 6 forms 16 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Acts 5:17-26 Source Gloss
zeal
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 17 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
John 2:17 Noun Nominative Singular Masculine
ζῆλος zhlov
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse Acts 5:17 Noun Genitive Singular Masculine
ζήλου, zhlou
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse Acts 13:45 Noun Genitive Singular Masculine
ζήλου, zhlou
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse Romans 10:2 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
ζῆλον zhlon
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse Romans 13:13 Noun Dative Singular Masculine
ζήλῳ. zhlw
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse 1 Corinthians 3:3 Noun Nominative Singular Masculine
ζῆλος zhlov
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse 2 Corinthians 7:7 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
ζῆλον zhlon
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse 2 Corinthians 7:11 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
ζῆλον, zhlon
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse 2 Corinthians 9:2 Noun Nominative Singular Masculine
ζῆλος zhlov
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse 2 Corinthians 11:2 Noun Dative Singular Masculine
ζήλῳ· zhlw
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse 2 Corinthians 12:20 Noun Nominative Plural Masculine
ζῆλοι, zhloi
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse Galatians 5:20 Noun Nominative Plural Masculine
ζῆλοι, zhloi
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse Philippians 3:6 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
ζῆλον zhlon
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse Colossians 4:13 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
ζῆλον zhlon
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse Hebrews 10:27 Noun Nominative Singular Neuter
ζῆλος zhlov
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verse James 3:14 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
ζῆλον zhlon
eagerness, zeal, rivalry
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 6 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 6 Aligned forms 16 Case pattern Nominative (7) Number pattern Singular (16)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Nominative · Singular · Masculine John 2:17 · 1 Cor 3:3 · 2 Cor 12:20 · Gal 5:20 · Heb 10:27 · Jas 3:16 6×
Nominative · Singular · Neuter 2 Cor 9:2 1×
Genitive · Singular · Masculine Acts 5:17 · Acts 13:45 2×
Dative · Singular · Masculine Rom 13:13 · 2 Cor 11:2 2×
Accusative · Singular · Masculine Rom 10:2 · 2 Cor 7:7 · 2 Cor 7:11 · Jas 3:14 4×
Accusative · Singular · Neuter Phil 3:6 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
New Testament Witnesses
Envy or intense rivalry.
zeal
Additional Occurrences
John 2:13-25 ζῆλος zēlos
zeal, fervor
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 16 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
ζῆλος is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Reflects righteous passion for God's holiness. Acts 5:17-26
Expresses covenantal passion for pure worship. John 2:13–25
The leaders’ motive is revealed as jealousy, highlighting spiritual resistance to gospel growth.
Canonical Themes
Holiness Justice
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Zeal magnifies the allegiance already directing it. Jesus' zeal for His Father's house serves holy worship and carries Him toward costly rejection. The Sadducean leaders display equally intense energy, but jealousy turns their authority against the apostles. Romans 10 makes the diagnostic explicit: zeal for God can remain tragically misdirected when it refuses the righteousness revealed in Christ.
Corinthian jealousy likewise exposes worldly competition, while later relational zeal accompanies grief, repentance, and restored comfort. Churches should not confuse calm temperament with maturity or fervor with faithfulness. They should form passions through Scripture, knowledge of Christ, love of neighbor, and accountable fruit so eager service does not become envy, coercion, or defense of institutional status.
Anchor passage
John.2.17
Doctrinal connections
- Psalm 69:7-12, costly zeal for God's house
- John 2:13-22, Jesus' zeal and the temple of His body
- Acts 5:12-21, jealous authority opposing apostolic witness
- Romans 9:30-10:4, zeal without knowledge and God's righteousness
- 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, jealousy, servants, and God-given growth
- 2 Corinthians 7:5-12, grief, repentance, and renewed zeal
Ζῆλος can denote ardent positive concern or negative jealousy and envy. The same noun spans these senses because intense concern may protect what is loved or resent another's good.
From Old to New Testament
The Lord's zeal accomplishes covenant purposes, prophets burn for pure worship, and human jealousy repeatedly corrupts leadership. Jesus embodies zeal ordered perfectly to the Father.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain