Greek · G2222, G2198 · unreviewed
ζωή / ζάω
Life (literally or figuratively) · to live (literally or figuratively)
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
ζωή G2222 life (literally or figuratively)
Pronunciation zōḗ
Eternal divine life of grace and glory, distinct from mere biological existence or earthly duration
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ζάω G2198 to live (literally or figuratively)
Pronunciation záō
Living physically or spiritually; distinctively means existing in active relationship with God or Christ.
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What does ζωή / ζάω (zōē / zaō) mean in the Bible?
ζωή · ζάω is a Greek word meaning "Life and live; Jesus is life and gives life beyond death.". Life and live; Jesus is life and gives life beyond death.
Full entry for ζωή / ζάω (G2222, G2198) · Browse the biblical lexicon
Meaning
Life and live; Jesus is life and gives life beyond death.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Nominative · Singular · Feminine Luke 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 4:11 24×
Genitive · Singular · Feminine John 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 4:18 47×
Dative · Singular · Feminine Luke 16:25 · Rom 5:10 · Rom 5:17 · 1 Cor 15:19 4×
Accusative · Singular · Feminine Matt 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 3:16 60×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 134 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 99 future 20 aorist 13 imperfect 2
Voice
active 123 middle 11
Mood
participle 57 indicative 55 infinitive 12 subjunctive 10
NT Occurrences
Matthew 4:4 ζήσεται future middle indicative prospective Matthew 9:18 ζήσεται future middle indicative prospective Matthew 16:16 ζῶντος present active participle participle Matthew 26:63 ζῶντος present active participle participle Matthew 27:63 ζῶν present active participle participle Mark 5:23 ζήσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Mark 16:11 ζῇ present active indicative ongoing Luke 2:36 ζήσασα aorist active participle participle Luke 4:4 ζήσεται future middle indicative prospective Luke 10:28 ζήσῃ future middle indicative prospective Luke 15:13 ζῶν present active participle participle Luke 15:32 ἔζησεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 20:38 ζῶσιν present active indicative ongoing Luke 24:23 ζῆν present active infinitive infinitive Luke 24:5 ζῶντα present active participle participle John 4:10 ζῶν present active participle participle John 4:11 ζῶν present active participle participle John 4:50 ζῇ present active indicative ongoing John 4:51 ζῇ present active indicative ongoing John 4:53 ζῇ present active indicative ongoing John 5:25 ζήσουσιν future active indicative prospective John 6:51 ζῶν present active participle participle John 6:51 ζήσει future active indicative prospective John 6:57 ζῶν present active participle participle John 6:57 ζῶ present active indicative ongoing John 6:57 ζήσει future active indicative prospective John 6:58 ζήσει future active indicative prospective John 7:38 ζῶντος present active participle participle John 11:25 ζήσεται future middle indicative prospective John 11:26 ζῶν present active participle participle John 14:19 ζῶ present active indicative ongoing John 14:19 ζήσετε future active indicative prospective Acts 1:3 ζῶντα present active participle participle Acts 7:38 ζῶντα present active participle participle Acts 9:41 ζῶσαν present active participle participle Acts 10:42 ζώντων present active participle participle Acts 14:15 ζῶντα present active participle participle Acts 20:12 ζῶντα present active participle participle Acts 22:22 ζῆν present active infinitive infinitive Acts 25:19 ζῆν present active infinitive infinitive
+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 Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
1 Corinthians 9 — Rights Surrendered, the Gospel Advanced, and Discipline for the Prize Acts 11 — Jerusalem Recognizes God’s Grace to the Gentiles Acts 13 — The Spirit Sends the Mission and the Word Turns to the Gentiles Acts 14 — Through Many Hardships into the Kingdom Acts 17 — The Gospel Reasoned from Scripture and Proclaimed to the Nations Acts 25 — Paul Appeals to Caesar and Is Set Before Agrippa Acts 5 — Holy Fear, Bold Witness, and Joyful Suffering Acts 7 — Stephen Testifies to Israel’s Resistance and Christ’s Glory Galatians 6 — Boasting Only in the Cross: Spirit-Shaped Community and New Creation John 1 — The Word Made Flesh, Witnessed, and Followed John 10 — The Good Shepherd, the Door, and the Son One with the Father John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel John 3 — New Birth, Lifted-Up Son, and the Love of God for the World John 4 — Living Water, True Worship, and the Savior of the World John 5 — The Son Who Gives Life, Judges, and Is Witnessed by the Father John 6 — The Bread of Life, the Words of Eternal Life, and the Crisis of True Discipleship John 7 — The Feast, the Divided Crowd, and the Living Water of Jesus John 8 — The Light of the World, True Freedom, and the I AM Before Abraham Luke 10 — The Kingdom Mission Expanded, Mercy Defined, and the Better Portion Chosen Luke 12 — Fear God, Confess Christ, Seek the Kingdom, and Be Ready Luke 18 — Persistent Faith, Humble Mercy, and the King on the Road to Jerusalem Luke 20 — The Rejected Son, the Questioned Authority, and the Lord Who Silences His Opponents Luke 24 — The Risen Christ Opens the Scriptures, Commissions Witnesses, and Ascends in Blessing Mark 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Mark 9 — Glory, Unbelief, Suffering, Humility, and Radical Discipleship Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 19 — Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 7 — Kingdom Discernment, the Narrow Way, and the Wise Builder Philippians 1 — Gospel Partnership and Joyful Witness in Christ Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness Philippians 4 — Rejoicing, Peace, Contentment, and Gospel Partnership in Christ Romans 10 — Christ the End of the Law and the Righteousness Received by Faith Romans 12 — Living Sacrifices, Renewed Minds, Humble Service, and Love Without Hypocrisy Romans 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience Romans 5 — Peace with God, Rejoicing in Grace, and Life Through the One Man Jesus Christ Romans 6 — Dead to Sin and Alive to God in Christ Jesus Romans 8 — No Condemnation, Life in the Spirit, and the Unbreakable Love of God in Christ
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain