zēlos · zeal, jealousy

What it means

zēlos (ζῆλος) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “zeal, jealousy”.

Zeal, ardor; also jealousy.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. A burning desire for something or someone.
2. Envy, resentment at another's good.
3. Rage, like a consuming fire.

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• jealousy ×9
• zeal ×6
• fury ×1

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• John×1
• Acts×2
• Romans×2
• 1 Corinthians×1
• 2 Corinthians×5
• Galatians×1
• Philippians×1
• Hebrews×1
• James×2

• John 2:17

  His disciples remembered that it is written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

• Acts 5:17

  But the high priest and all who were with him, which was the party of the Sadducees, rose up and were filled with jealousy,

• Acts 13:45

  But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and were contradicting the things spoken by Paul, blaspheming.

• Romans 10:2

  For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

• Romans 13:13

  As in the day, let us walk decently, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in sexual excess and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy.

• 1 Corinthians 3:3

  for you are still fleshly. For where there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and walking according to man?

• 2 Corinthians 7:7

  and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted over you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

• 2 Corinthians 7:11

  For look at this very thing, being grieved according to God: how much earnestness it produced in you, even defense, even indignation, even fear, even longing, even zeal, even punishment! In everything you showed yourselves to be pure in the matter.

• 2 Corinthians 9:2

  for I know your eagerness, which I boast about to the Macedonians on your behalf, saying that Achaia has been prepared since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them.

• 2 Corinthians 11:2

  For I am jealous for you with God’s jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to the Messiah.

• 2 Corinthians 12:20

  For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not such as I wish, and I may be found by you such as you do not wish; that perhaps there may be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, rivalries, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disorders;

• Galatians 5:20

  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of rage, rivalries, divisions, factions,

• Philippians 3:6

  as to zeal, persecuting the assembly; as to the righteousness that is in the law, having become blameless.

• Hebrews 10:27

  but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

• James 3:14

  But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth.

• James 3:16

  For where there are jealousy and rivalry, there is disorder and every vile practice.