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ζηλωτής

zēlōtḗs

G2207 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

One who is fervently committed to a cause or fervently supports or emulates something or someone, especially in a religious or ideological context; a person marked by intense enthusiasm or devotion. In specific historical contexts, can denote a member of a group advocating religious or political purity, or (in later sources) an adherent of the Zealot movement.

Semantic Range

one who is zealously devoted, ardent admirer, enthusiastic supporter, imitator, political or religious activist (sometimes, especially later, member of a zealot movement)

Root / Etymology

ζηλωτής derives from the verb ζηλόω (to be zealous, to desire, to emulate) which is itself from the noun ζῆλος (zeal, ardor, jealousy). Cognate with Latin zelotes and Hebrew קנאי (qannaʾ).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ζηλωτής referred broadly to an imitator or enthusiastic admirer, one who emulates another’s virtues or achievements. By the Hellenistic and Roman periods, particularly in the context of Judea, ζηλωτής took on more specific applications. In certain Second Temple and New Testament passages (e.g., Luke 6:15; Acts 21:20), ζηλωτής may designate an ardent adherent to Torah observance or, in later usage, a member of the Zealot movement—a group advocating resistance against Roman rule, though this more technical party affiliation is more pronounced in later Jewish historiography (Josephus, Ant. 18.1.1). English translation traditions often render ζηλωτής as "zealot" (sometimes capitalized for the political group), but this can collapse the more general sense of "fervently devoted person" with the narrower party identity. In the New Testament texts, whether ζηλωτής should be read with connotations of organized factionalism (as with Simon the Zealot) or simply as 'an ardent devotee' remains debated. The term is distinct from other Greek words for follower or partisan such as μαθητής (disciple) or ὁπαδός (follower). In the Septuagint and other Koine literature, denotes passionate commitment, sometimes with righteous, sometimes with violent, overtones.

Translation Consistency

primary "zealot" 4 occurrences

Zēlōtḗs denotes a person marked by fervent devotion or activism; the noun “zealot” is the most natural, concise English equivalent for a person who is zealously devoted and also carries the historical/religious activist sense found in the SILEX range. It maps cleanly to typical translations and keeps rendering consistent across all forms.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"zealous devotees" (3x) "zealous" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ζηλόω; a "zealot":--zealous.

Root Family

ζηλωτής (zēlōtēs) — zealous one, fervent supporter, ardent devotee, imitator

Root ζηλ- to be zealous, to be eager, to emulate

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2207-01 ζηλωταὶ zelotai N NOM M PL zealous zealous devotees zealous devotees 3
G2207-03 Ζηλωτὴς zelotes N NOM M SG zealous zealous devotee zealot 3
G2207-02 Ζηλωτὴν zeloten N ACC M SG Zealot a zealous devotee a zealot 2

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2207-02 Luke 6:15 Ζηλωτὴν zeloten N ACC M SG Zealot a zealous devotee a zealot
G2207-03 Acts 1:13 Ζηλωτὴς zelotes N NOM M SG Zealot zealous devotee zealot
G2207-01 Acts 21:20 ζηλωταὶ zelotai N NOM M PL zealous zealous devotees zealous devotees
G2207-03 Acts 22:3 ζηλωτὴς zelotes N NOM M SG zealous zealous devotee zealot
G2207-01 1 Corinthians 14:12 ζηλωταί zelotai N NOM M PL zealous zealous devotees zealous devotees
G2207-03 Galatians 1:14 ζηλωτὴς zelotes N NOM M SG zealous zealous devotee zealot
G2207-02 Titus 2:14 ζηλωτὴν zeloten N ACC M SG zealous a zealous devotee zealous
G2207-01 1 Peter 3:13 ζηλωταὶ zelotai N NOM M PL zealous followers zealous devotees zealous devotees
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