Ζεύς (G2203) — Greek Lexicon

Ζεύς

Zeús

G2203 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Zeus, the chief deity in the classical Greek pantheon, regarded as the ruler of gods and men, associated especially with the sky, thunder, and sovereignty. In certain contexts, used by writers referencing Greco-Roman religion to denote the principal god, sometimes adapted to parallel functions or titles in other cultural or religious frameworks. Also used in Greco-Roman texts as the standard designation for the highest divine authority.

Semantic Range

Zeus (chief god of the Greeks), ruler of the gods, the principal deity of the Greek pantheon, sky god, equivalent of Roman Jupiter or Jove, title for local or syncretized deities in Hellenistic contexts

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Indo-European root *dyeu- meaning 'sky' or 'shine,' related to Sanskrit Dyaus, Latin Jupiter (from 'Dies-pater,' i.e., Sky Father), and other Indo-European sky gods. The nominative form Ζεύς is unique, with genitive Διός, dative Διί, accusative Δία, and vocative Ζεῦ; the oblique stem Δι- is probably a reflex of the same Indo-European root. Etymology reflects shared ancient roots among Indo-European-speaking peoples, but specific Greek developments are unique to the language.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ζεύς is attested from the earliest Greek literature (Homer, Hesiod) and remains the canonical name for the chief deity throughout classical and Hellenistic times. In most Greek texts, Zeus is depicted as the king of the gods, especially associated with authority, law, weather, and cosmic order. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the term appears only in the context of Greco-Roman religion, specifically when referencing pagan worship (e.g., Acts 14:12-13), and is never used for the Israelite or Judean God. The use of alternative case forms (Διός, etc.) became standard already in archaic Greek, reflecting complex morphological developments. Standard English translations often substitute 'Jupiter' or 'Jove' (from the Latin appellation) for Ζεύς in Roman contexts, but strictly, Ζεύς is the Greek designation. In contact zones, such as Asia Minor or Egypt, Zeus was sometimes syncretized with local deities (e.g., Zeus-Ammon, Zeus Kasios), a fact reflected in wider Hellenistic religious vocabulary. The Greek Ζεύς is distinct from the God of Israel; the two are contrasted especially in Jewish and early Christian polemic literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; in the oblique cases there is used instead of it a (probably cognate) name , which is otherwise obsolete; Zeus or Dis (among the Latins, Jupiter or Jove), the supreme deity of the Greeks:--Jupiter.

Root Family

διά (dia) — through, by means of, by agency of, because of, on account of

Root Ζεύ- to shine, sky (as personified), supreme deity

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G1223	διά	through

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2203-01`	Δία	dia	`N ACC M SG`	Zeus	through	Zeus	1
`G2203-02`	Διὸς	dios	`N GEN M SG`	Zeus	of Zeus	of Zeus	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2203-01`	Acts 14:12	Δία	dia	`N ACC M SG`	Zeus	through	Zeus
`G2203-02`	Acts 14:13	Διὸς	dios	`N GEN M SG`	Zeus	of Zeus	of Zeus

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