What does ζωή · ζάω mean in the Bible?
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Greek · G2222, G2198
ζωή / ζάω
Life (literally or figuratively) · to live (literally or figuratively)
Reading a lexicon entry
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
ζωήG2222life (literally or figuratively)
Pronunciationzōḗ
Eternal divine life of grace and glory, distinct from mere biological existence or earthly duration
Open lexicon entry →ζάωG2198to live (literally or figuratively)
Pronunciationzáō
Living physically or spiritually; distinctively means existing in active relationship with God or Christ.
Open lexicon entry →What does ζωή / ζάω (zōē / zaō) mean in the Bible?
ζωή · ζάω is a Greek phrase meaning "Life and live; Jesus is life and gives life beyond death.".
Full entry for ζωή / ζάω (G2222, G2198) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G2222, G2198?
G2222, G2198 is connected to 135 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. Life and live; Jesus is life and gives life beyond death.
Source Gloss
Life and live; Jesus is life and gives life beyond death.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 4 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 patterns4Aligned forms135Case patternAccusative (60)Number patternSingular (135)
Nominative · Singular · FeminineLuke 12:15 · John 1:4 · John 6:63 · John 11:25 · John 12:50 · John 14:6 · John 17:3 · Acts 8:33 · Rom 6:23 · Rom 8:6 · Rom 8:10 · Rom 8:38 · Rom 11:15 · 1 Cor 3:22 · 2 Cor 4:10 · 2 Cor 4:1124×
Genitive · Singular · FeminineJohn 5:29 · John 6:35 · John 6:48 · John 6:51 · John 6:68 · John 8:12 · Acts 2:28 · Acts 3:15 · Acts 5:20 · Acts 13:46 · Rom 5:18 · Rom 6:4 · Rom 8:2 · 2 Cor 2:16 · 2 Cor 5:4 · Eph 4:1847×
Dative · Singular · FeminineLuke 16:25 · Rom 5:10 · Rom 5:17 · 1 Cor 15:194×
Accusative · Singular · FeminineMatt 7:14 · Matt 18:8 · Matt 18:9 · Matt 19:16 · Matt 19:17 · Matt 19:29 · Matt 25:46 · Mark 9:43 · Mark 9:45 · Mark 10:17 · Mark 10:30 · Luke 10:25 · Luke 18:18 · Luke 18:30 · John 3:15 · John 3:1660×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 134 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present99future20aorist13imperfect2
Voice
active123middle11
Mood
participle57indicative55infinitive12subjunctive10
NT Occurrences
Matthew 4:4ζήσεταιfuture middle indicativeprospectiveMatthew 9:18ζήσεταιfuture middle indicativeprospectiveMatthew 16:16ζῶντοςpresent active participleparticipleMatthew 26:63ζῶντοςpresent active participleparticipleMatthew 27:63ζῶνpresent active participleparticipleMark 5:23ζήσῃaorist active subjunctivesubjunctiveMark 16:11ζῇpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 2:36ζήσασαaorist active participleparticipleLuke 4:4ζήσεταιfuture middle indicativeprospectiveLuke 10:28ζήσῃfuture middle indicativeprospectiveLuke 15:13ζῶνpresent active participleparticipleLuke 15:32ἔζησενaorist active indicativecompletedLuke 20:38ζῶσινpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 24:23ζῆνpresent active infinitiveinfinitiveLuke 24:5ζῶνταpresent active participleparticipleJohn 4:10ζῶνpresent active participleparticipleJohn 4:11ζῶνpresent active participleparticipleJohn 4:50ζῇpresent active indicativeongoingJohn 4:51ζῇpresent active indicativeongoingJohn 4:53ζῇpresent active indicativeongoingJohn 5:25ζήσουσινfuture active indicativeprospectiveJohn 6:51ζῶνpresent active participleparticipleJohn 6:51ζήσειfuture active indicativeprospectiveJohn 6:57ζῶνpresent active participleparticipleJohn 6:57ζῶpresent active indicativeongoingJohn 6:57ζήσειfuture active indicativeprospectiveJohn 6:58ζήσειfuture active indicativeprospectiveJohn 7:38ζῶντοςpresent active participleparticipleJohn 11:25ζήσεταιfuture middle indicativeprospectiveJohn 11:26ζῶνpresent active participleparticipleJohn 14:19ζῶpresent active indicativeongoingJohn 14:19ζήσετεfuture active indicativeprospectiveActs 1:3ζῶνταpresent active participleparticipleActs 7:38ζῶνταpresent active participleparticipleActs 9:41ζῶσανpresent active participleparticipleActs 10:42ζώντωνpresent active participleparticipleActs 14:15ζῶνταpresent active participleparticipleActs 20:12ζῶνταpresent active participleparticipleActs 22:22ζῆνpresent active infinitiveinfinitiveActs 25:19ζῆνpresent active infinitiveinfinitive+94 more occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Word Origins
ζωή / ζάω is built from this root: