"to have strong affection towards, be ardently devoted to, 2 Cor. 11:2; to make a show of affection and devotion towards, Gal. 4:17; to desire earnestly, aspire eagerly after, 1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1, 39; absol. to be fervent, to be zealous, Rev. 3:19; to be jealous, envious, spiteful,..."
Definition and meaning
to have strong affection towards, be ardently devoted to, 2 Cor. 11:2; to make a show of affection and devotion towards, Gal. 4:17; to desire earnestly, aspire eagerly after, 1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1, 39; absol. to be fervent, to be zealous, Rev. 3:19; to be jealous, envious, spiteful, Acts 7:9; 17:5; 1 Cor. 13:4; Jas. 4:2; pass. to be an object of warm regard and devotion, Gal. 4:18
In the original Greek the word is written: ζηλόω
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of zeloo (G2206) across the King James Bible.
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
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Common questions
Strong's G2206 (zeloo) is a Greek word that means: to have strong affection towards, be ardently devoted to, 2 Cor. 11:2; to make a show of affection and devotion towards, Gal. 4:17; to desire earnestly, aspire eagerly after, 1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1, 39; a... It appears 11 times in the King James Bible.
The word zeloo (G2206) appears 11 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2206 is zeloo, a Greek word defined as: to have strong affection towards, be ardently devoted to, 2 Cor. 11:2; to make a show of affection and devotion towards, Gal. 4:17; to desire earnestl. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
zeloo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.