ζῆλος
zelos
zeal
from ζέω; properly, heat, i.e. (figuratively) "zeal" (in a favorable sense, ardor; in an unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband (figuratively, of God), or an enemy, malice):--emulation, envy(-ing), fervent mind, indignation, jealousy, zeal.
Philippians 3:6 · Word #2
Lexicon G2205
| Lemma | ζῆλος |
| Transliteration | zēlos |
| Strong's | G2205 |
| In-context | zeal |
| Literal | zeal |
Morphology N ACC N SG
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Case | ACC — Accusative — Direct object or extent |
| Gender | N — Neuter — Grammatical neuter |
| Number | SG — Singular — One |
Lexical Info
| Lemma | ζῆλος |
| Strong's | G2205 |
SIBI-P1 G2205-04
the zeal-heat (singular; nominative/accusative)
| Root | ζῆλος (zēlos) |
| Core Meanings | heat, ardor, zeal, jealousy, rivalry, fervor |
| Semantic Range | fervent devotion, passionate commitment, religious zeal, jealousy in relationships, envious rivalry, indignation, competitive ardor |
| Conceptual Significance | In biblical usage, ζῆλος can describe covenantal jealousy attributed to God, expressing exclusive devotion and protective passion, or human zeal that may be commendable (for righteousness) or destructive (envy and factionalism). The underlying imagery of heat underscores intensity of emotion and commitment. |
| Morphological Notes | Noun; nominative masculine singular (NMS), nominative neuter singular (NNS), and accusative neuter singular (ANS) forms attested. Singular in number; functions as subject (nominative) or direct object (accusative). |
| Rendering Rationale | The rendering "zeal-heat" preserves the root sense of burning or boiling (from ζέω, "to boil"), conveying both positive ardor and negative jealousy. The article "the" reflects the nominative singular forms (NMS/NNS), while the same singular sense also fits the accusative singular (ANS) where it functions as a direct object. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root ζῆλος (heat, ardor, zeal, jealousy, rivalry, fervor)
| SILEX Code | Transliteration | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
G2205-01 |
zelo | with zeal-heat (dative masculine singular); I am zeal-burning (present active indicative, 1st person singular) |
G2205-02 |
zeloi | he/she is burning-with-zeal (present active indicative, 3rd singular) / zeals (burning-ardors, nominative masculine plural) |
G2205-03 |
zelon | the ardent zeal-heat |
Word Usage (16 occurrences of G2205)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| John 2:17 | ζῆλος | zelos | zeal |
| Acts 5:17 | ζήλου | zelou | with jealousy |
| Acts 13:45 | ζήλου | zelou | with jealousy |