ζηλ-ωτής G2207
A zealot or devotee; one passionately committed to a cause, law, or tradition; also the epithet 'the Zealot' for the apostle Simon
Derived from zelos ('zeal, jealousy'), this noun identifies a person consumed by passionate devotion. In its common usage, it describes fervent commitment to the Jewish law and ancestral traditions -- Paul declares himself 'a zealot for my ancestral traditions' (Gal 1:14), and the Jerusalem elders note how many thousands are 'zealots for the law' (Acts 21:20). Paul also applies it to spiritual gifts (1 Cor 14:12) and to the redeemed community as 'zealous for good works' (Titus 2:14). Arabic 'ghayyur' (fervent) and Spanish 'celoso' both carry the same heat of passionate conviction. As a proper epithet, 'the Zealot' distinguishes the apostle Simon from Simon Peter (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13), possibly indicating political nationalism or simply intense religious devotion.
Senses
1. zealous person, devotee — A zealous person, devotee, or enthusiast -- one passionately and fervently committed to a cause, body of teaching, or way of life. Paul calls himself 'a zealot for the traditions of my fathers' (Gal 1:14); the Jerusalem church reports myriads of believers who are 'zealots for the law' (Acts 21:20); and Paul exhorts Titus's congregation to be 'zealous for good works' (Titus 2:14). In 1 Cor 14:12, the Corinthians are 'zealots for spiritual gifts.' Arabic 'ghayyur,' Korean 'yolsimhi haneunja,' and Spanish 'celoso' all convey the consuming, almost jealous quality of such devotion. 6×
AR["غَيورينَ", "غَيورًا", "غَيُورٌ", "غَيُورُونَ", "مُشتاقونَ"]·ben["আগ্রহী", "উদ্যোগী", "উৎসাহী"]·DE["Eiferer", "ζηλωταὶ", "ζηλωτὴς"]·EN["zealot", "zealots", "zealous"]·FR["Zélote", "zélé"]·heb["קַנְאִים", "קַנַּאי", "קַנָּא", "קַנָּאִים"]·HI["उत्साही", "जलशेएल", "जल्पर", "जोशि"]·ID["bersemangat-untuk", "pencinta-pencinta", "penggemar", "rajin"]·IT["zelota", "zēlōtai", "zēlōtēn", "zēlōtēs"]·jav["ingkang-ngersakaken", "sem", "semangat", "temen", "tiyang-mursid"]·KO["열심-있는-자들이", "열심한-자들이니", "열심한-자로", "열심히-하는-자", "열심히-하는-자들이", "열심히-하는-자를"]·PT["zeloso", "zelosos"]·RU["ревнителем", "ревнители", "ревнитель", "ревнителя", "ревнителями"]·ES["celoso", "celosos"]·SW["mwenye-bidii", "wa-wema", "wenye-bidii"]·TR["gayretli", "gayretlileri"]·urd["جوشیلا", "جوشیلے", "غیرت-مند", "غیرتمند"]
2. Zealot (epithet of Simon) — A proper epithet applied to the apostle Simon, one of the Twelve, distinguishing him from Simon Peter. Listed as 'Simon the Zealot' (Simon ho Zelotes) in both Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13, corresponding to 'the Cananaean' (ho Kananaios) in Matthew and Mark -- from Aramaic qan'ana ('zealous one'), not from 'Canaan.' Whether this indicates membership in the anti-Roman Zealot movement or simply marks Simon as a man of intense religious passion remains debated. Spanish 'Zelotes' and French 'Zélote' transliterate the title directly. 2×
AR["الغَيورَ", "الغَيُورُ"]·ben["উদ্যোগী"]·DE["Ζηλωτὴν", "Ζηλωτὴς"]·EN["Zealot"]·FR["Zélote", "zélé"]·heb["הַקַּנָאִי", "קַנַּאי"]·HI["ज़ेलोतेस"]·ID["Zelot", "Zelot,"]·IT["zelota", "zeloten"]·jav["Zélot", "dipun-sebat-Zélot,"]·KO["시몬", "열심당원"]·PT["Zelote"]·RU["Зилот,", "Зилотом"]·ES["Zelōtḗs", "Zēlōtḗn"]·SW["Zelote", "Zēlōtḗs"]·TR["Gayur;", "ve"]·urd["غیور"]
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-ωτής, οῦ, ὁ, emulator, zealous admirer or follower, μιμητὴς καὶ ζ. τῆς πατρῴας ἀρετῆς Refs 5th c.BC+; μαθήσεως NT+1st c.BC+; Θουκυδίδου, Ἀντισθένους, Refs 2nd c.AD+; perhaps champion, Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 jealous, θεὸς ζ. LXX __II zealot, used to translate Κανανίτης or Καναναῖος, NT+1st c.AD+