Ζακχαῖος
Zakchaîos
G2195 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper name designating an individual named Zacchaeus; primarily used as a personal name in Greek sources. In the New Testament, refers specifically to a man of Jericho encountered by Jesus, whose name is derived from Hebrew and carries the underlying sense of 'innocent', 'pure', or 'upright' by association with its etymon.
Semantic Range
personal name (Zacchaeus), with etymological sense of 'pure', 'innocent' in background but not as an active descriptor
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from Hebrew זַכַּי (Zakkai), meaning 'pure' or 'innocent'; the Greek form Ζακχαῖος reflects the original Hebrew consonantal root and is adapted to Greek morphological patterns. The name entered Greek usage through oral or written transmission from Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ζακχαῖος is found only as a proper name in the New Testament (Luke 19:2, 5, 8). The form is a Hellenized version of a Hebrew personal name familiar in the late Second Temple period. The meaning 'pure' or 'innocent' is inherited from the Hebrew, but in Greek usage it functions solely as a name rather than as a descriptive title. The Septuagint does not attest this form; however, similar Hebrew names appear in Jewish inscriptions and rabbinic literature. English Bible tradition uses the transliterated 'Zacchaeus', preserving the Greek/Latinized form. There are no significant shifts in meaning, as it is exclusively a personal name in extant sources. The usage is distinct from titles or other terms denoting purity in Greek (e.g., καθαρός), as Ζακχαῖος serves no descriptive function in the text outside of naming the individual.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (compare זַכַּי); Zacchæus, an Israelite:--Zacchæus.
Root Family
Ζακχαῖος (Zakchaios) — personal name, Zacchaeus
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2195-02 |
Ζακχαῖος | zakchaios | N NOM M SG |
Zacchaeus | Zacchaeus | Zakchaios | 2 |
G2195-01 |
Ζακχαῖε | zakchaie | N VOC M SG |
Zacchaeus | Zacchaeus! | Zakchaios | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2195-02 |
Luke 19:2 | Ζακχαῖος | zakchaios | N NOM M SG |
Zacchaeus | Zacchaeus | Zakchaios |
G2195-01 |
Luke 19:5 | Ζακχαῖε | zakchaie | N VOC M SG |
Zacchaeus | Zacchaeus! | Zakchaios |
G2195-02 |
Luke 19:8 | Ζακχαῖος | zakchaios | N NOM M SG |
Zacchaeus | Zacchaeus | Zakchaios |