ζηλ-όω G2206
To burn with zeal or earnest desire for something good, or to burn with jealousy and envy toward another.
Zeloo is a word of fire -- it can warm or it can scorch. On the positive side, Paul urges believers to 'earnestly desire the greater gifts' (1 Cor 12:31) and to 'be zealous for spiritual gifts' (1 Cor 14:1, 39). On the negative side, the patriarchs were 'jealous of Joseph' (Acts 7:9), and James warns that coveting leads to conflict (Jas 4:2). The same intensity fuels both devotion and destruction. Spanish captures this duality with 'anhelad' (yearn for) versus 'teniendo celos' (having jealousy), while German uses 'eifern' across both senses, preserving the ambiguity inherent in passionate striving.
Senses
1. be zealous, earnestly desire — A positive, energetic pursuit of something worthy -- to be zealous, to eagerly strive after. Paul's exhortation to 'earnestly desire the greater gifts' (1 Cor 12:31) and 'be eager to prophesy' (1 Cor 14:39) exemplify this sense. In Galatians 4:17-18, Paul distinguishes good zeal from manipulative zeal, noting that 'it is good to be zealously sought in a good thing.' Spanish 'anhelad' (long for) and 'celéis' (be zealous) reflect the wholesome, forward-leaning aspiration at work here. 7×
AR["أن-يُغارَ", "اشتاقوا", "تَغاروا", "كُنْ-غَيوراً", "يَغارونَ-عَلَيكُم"]·ben["আগ্রহী-হও", "উদ্যোগী-হও", "উৎসাহী", "উৎসাহী-হও।", "উৎসাহী-হওয়া"]·DE["eifern"]·EN["be-zealous", "earnestly-desire", "they-are-zealous", "to-be-zealous", "you-might-be-zealous-for"]·FR["eifern", "être-zélé"]·heb["לְהִתְקַנֵּא", "מְקַנְּאִים", "קַנְאוּ", "קַנֵּא", "תְקַנְּאוּ"]·HI["जलन-करो", "जोश-कर", "जोशि-हैन", "जोशि-होन", "तुम-जोशि-हो."]·ID["Berusahalah-memperoleh", "bersemangatlah", "dicari-dengan-giat", "kamu-cari-dengan-giat", "mereka-giat-mencari", "rindukanlah"]·IT["essere-zelante"]·jav["Tiyang-punika-ngedap-edapi", "dipunedap-edapi", "kepingin-sanget", "mempeng", "ngersakna", "panjenengan-sami-ngedap-edapi."]·KO["열망하라", "열심하라", "열심히-하노라", "열심히-하도록.", "열심히-함을"]·PT["Buscai-zelosos", "Sê-zeloso", "buscai-zelosos", "ser-zelado", "tenhais-zêlo", "têm-zêlo"]·RU["Ревнуйте", "ревновали", "ревновать", "ревнуй", "ревнуйте", "ревнуют"]·ES["anhelad", "celéis", "os-celan", "ser-celado", "sé-celoso"]·SW["basi-uwe-na-bidii", "kuoneana-wivu", "mwawaonee-wivu", "tamani", "wanawaonea-wivu"]·TR["benim", "gayret edin", "gayretli-ol", "kıskançlıkla-izleyin", "kıskanılmak", "kıskanıyorlar"]·urd["تم-جوش-دکھاؤ", "جوش-دکھاتے-ہیں", "جوش-دکھانا", "جوش-سے-چاہو", "جوشمند-ہو", "چاہو"]
2. be jealous, envy — A negative emotional response of jealousy, envy, or covetousness directed at another person. The patriarchs 'were jealous' of Joseph and sold him into Egypt (Acts 7:9); certain Jews in Thessalonica 'became jealous' and incited a mob (Acts 17:5). Paul's famous declaration that 'love does not envy' (1 Cor 13:4) uses this very word. Spanish 'teniendo celos' (having jealousy) and German 'Ζηλώσαντες' (having become jealous) foreground the possessive, rivalrous character of this sense, distinct from godly zeal. 5×
AR["أَغارُ", "تَحسُدونَ", "تَحسُدُ", "حَسَدُوا", "غاروا"]·ben["ঈর্ষা-করি", "ঈর্ষা-করে", "ঈর্ষা-করে;", "ঈর্ষা-করো"]·DE["eifern", "Ζηλώσαντες", "ζηλώσαντες"]·EN["I-am-jealous", "being-jealous", "having-been-jealous", "is-jealous", "you-are-jealous"]·FR["eifern", "être-zélé"]·heb["מְקַנְּאִים", "מְקַנְּאָה", "מְקַנֵּא", "קִנְאוּ"]·HI["ईर्ष्या-करता-है", "जलते-हो", "जलन-करके", "डाह-करके", "मैं-जलता-हूं"]·ID["Cemburu", "aku-cemburu", "cemburu", "itu-cemburu", "kamu-iri-hati,"]·IT["essere-zelante"]·jav["Meri", "keri,", "kula-iri", "meri", "mèri"]·KO["시기하고,", "시기하여", "시기하지", "질투한다"]·PT["tem-ciúmes;", "tendes-inveja", "tendo-invejado", "zelo"]·RU["Ревнуя", "завидует", "завидуете,", "позавидовав", "ревную"]·ES["Teniendo-celos", "celo", "teniendo-celos", "tenéis-envidia", "tiene-celos"]·SW["Wakiwa-na-wivu", "mnaona-wivu", "ninawionea", "wakimwonea-wivu", "wivu"]·TR["Kıskanınca", "gayret-ederim", "kıskanarak", "kıskanır", "kıskanırsınız"]·urd["جل-کر", "جلتی", "حسد-کر-کر", "حسد-کرتے-ہو٬", "غیرت-رکھتا-ہوں"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ζηλ-όω, (ζῆλος): __I with accusative person, vie with, emulate, τινα Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, Refs 5th c.BC+; in bad sense, to be jealous of, envy, ζηλοῖ δέ τε γείτονα γείτων LXX+8th c.BC+: absolutely, to be jealous, NTthrough jealousy, NT __b with accusative person, to be jealous for, LXX __2 esteem or pronounce happy, admire, praise, τινά τινος one for a thing, Refs 5th c.BC+: more rarely, ζ.…