A single-minded desire, characterised by enthusiasm and devotion. In Scripture it is often directed towards God, but God is also credited with zeal for his people and for the honour of his name. Misdirected or inappropriate zeal can degenerate into fanaticism.
Zeal for God
1 Kings 19:9–10 See also Numbers 25:1–13; 1 Kings 19:13–14; 2 Kings 10:15–28; Proverbs 23:17
There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”
Zeal for God's house
Psalm 69:7–9 See also John 2:13–17
For I have endured scorn for Your sake, and shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons, because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.
Zeal for God's service
Romans 12:11 See also Nehemiah 3:20; 2 Corinthians 8:16–22
Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Zeal for God's law
Acts 21:20 See also Psalm 119:137–144
When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.
Zeal for the nation
At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.)
God's zeal
Manifested in wrath against sin
Isaiah 42:13 See also Numbers 25:10–11; Deuteronomy 29:18–21; Isaiah 59:12–19; Ezekiel 5:8–13, Ezekiel 36:5–7, Ezekiel 38:18–23
The LORD goes forth like a mighty one; He stirs up His zeal like a warrior. He shouts; yes, He roars in triumph over His enemies:
Manifested in concern for his people
Isaiah 26:11 See also 2 Kings 19:29–31 parallel Isaiah 37:30–32; Isaiah 9:1–7, Isaiah 63:15; Ezekiel 39:25
O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!
Misdirected zeal
Proverbs 19:2 See also Acts 21:40–22:5; Romans 10:1–4; 1 Corinthians 13:3; Galatians 1:13–14, Galatians 4:17–18; Philippians 3:6
Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
Zeal for national identity: the Zealots
Acts 1:13 See also Matthew 10:2–4 parallels Mark 3:16–19, Luke 6:14–16
When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.