παραζηλόω
parazēlóō
G3863 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To provoke or stimulate another to fervor, zeal, or rivalry; to excite strong desire (either positive, such as emulation, or negative, such as jealousy or envy) in someone by comparison, presence, or action. In New Testament usage, most often refers to inciting others to an emotional or competitive response, particularly in spiritual or religious matters.
Semantic Range
to provoke to jealousy, to stimulate to zeal or rivalry, to incite emulation, to arouse envious or competitive feelings
Root / Etymology
From παρά (beside, alongside) and ζηλόω (to be zealous, to envy, to be jealous). Formed as a denominative verb with the sense of 'to incite zeal or envy in another.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, παραζηλόω is not widely attested, but the formation is predictable and understood within Greek morphological patterns. The verb appears in Koine Greek with the sense of stimulating to emulation or jealousy, reflecting an external cause that 'sets beside' (παρά) the zeal or desire (ζῆλος/ζηλόω) of another. In the Septuagint and especially the New Testament (e.g., Romans 10:19, 11:11, 11:14), it often denotes provoking a group (such as Israelite/Judean audiences) to seek after what others possess, particularly in contexts of religious blessing or spiritual status. The English rendering 'provoke to jealousy' or 'provoke to emulation' captures only part of the sense, as the word ranges from negative (envy, resentment) to positive (aspirational emulation). The term is generally used in transitive constructions: X provokes Y to zeal, jealousy, or rivalry. Compared with ζηλόω (to be zealous/jealous oneself) and ζῆλος (zeal, jealousy), παραζηλόω places more emphasis on the external act of causing this feeling in another.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from παρά and ζηλόω; to stimulate alongside, i.e. excite to rivalry:--provoke to emulation (jealousy).
Root Family
παραζηλόω (parazēloō) — to incite jealousy, to provoke zeal, to stimulate emulation
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3863-02 |
παραζηλώσω | parazeloso | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
I might move to jealousy | I will provoke to jealousy | I might provoke to jealousy | 2 |
G3863-03 |
παραζηλοῦμεν | parazeloumen | V PRS ACT IND 1P PL |
do we provoke to jealousy | we incite to jealousy | we provoke to jealousy | 1 |
G3863-01 |
παραζηλῶσαι | parazelosai | V AOR ACT INF |
to provoke to jealousy | to provoke to jealous zeal | provoking to jealousy | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3863-02 |
Romans 10:19 | παραζηλώσω | parazeloso | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
will provoke to jealousy | I will provoke to jealousy | I will provoke to jealousy |
G3863-01 |
Romans 11:11 | παραζηλῶσαι | parazelosai | V AOR ACT INF |
to provoke to jealousy | to provoke to jealous zeal | provoking to jealousy |
G3863-02 |
Romans 11:14 | παραζηλώσω | parazeloso | V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG |
I might move to jealousy | I will provoke to jealousy | I might provoke to jealousy |
G3863-03 |
1 Corinthians 10:22 | παραζηλοῦμεν | parazeloumen | V PRS ACT IND 1P PL |
do we provoke to jealousy | we incite to jealousy | we provoke to jealousy |