What does ζάω (záō) mean in the Bible?
Zao means to live, be alive, or conduct one’s life. It can describe ordinary bodily life, continued existence, a person’s manner of living, resurrection life, or life received through union with Christ.
Greek · G2198
ζάω
To live (literally or figuratively)
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ζάω G2198
Pronunciation záō
What does ζάω (záō) mean in the Bible?
Zao means to live, be alive, or conduct one’s life. It can describe ordinary bodily life, continued existence, a person’s manner of living, resurrection life, or life received through union with Christ.
Reader summary
Full entry for ζάω (G2198) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G2198?
The BSB source-word alignment has 140 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include will live (12), [the] living (11), live (11), living (11), of [the] living (10).
Where does ζάω (záō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 4:4. Its strongest book concentrations include Romans (23), John (17), Revelation (13), Acts (12).
Are there verse guides for ζάω (záō)?
This entry includes 2 verse guides that explain exact original-language forms in context.
What This Word Actually Means
Zao means to live, be alive, or conduct one’s life. It can describe ordinary bodily life, continued existence, a person’s manner of living, resurrection life, or life received through union with Christ. The surrounding clause determines which aspect is active. Jesus promises that the believer will live even through death because He is the resurrection and the life.
Paul describes his present embodied life as lived by faith in the Son of God and says Christ lives in him. Romans joins Christ’s resurrection life to a life directed toward God, while Revelation names Jesus as the Living One who was dead and now lives forever. The verb does not teach that biological life is divine or that Christian life escapes bodily weakness.
It directs readers to the living Christ as the source, pattern, and guarantor of life with God.
How the Bible Uses It
Zao names living in ordinary and theological senses. In the selected passages, Christ lives after death, believers live by faith and toward God, and the gospel promises life whose source and security are in Him.
- John.11.25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.
Jesus identifies Himself as the resurrection and the life before raising Lazarus. The promise that believers will live through death rests on His person and approaching victory, not on human vitality.
- Gal.2.20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Paul contrasts the crucified former self with Christ living in him and his present bodily life by faith. The verse joins union with Christ, ongoing embodiment, love, and the Son’s self-giving.
- Rom.6.10
The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.
Christ’s once-for-all death to sin is followed by the life He lives to God. Paul uses that pattern to call believers to reckon themselves alive to God in Christ rather than available to sin.
- John.6.57
Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
Jesus connects His living relation to the Father with the believer’s life through Him. The discourse makes dependence on Christ central, while its imagery must be read within John’s call to believing reception.
- Rev.1.18
The Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
The risen Jesus names Himself the Living One who was dead and now lives forever. His possession of the keys of Death and Hades grounds the churches’ courage under suffering.
- Rom.1.17
For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Paul quotes Habakkuk to declare that the righteous will live by faith. The line introduces Romans’ gospel argument, where life is bound to God’s righteousness received by faith.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It will live 12× John 4:50, John 4:53, John 5:25, John 6:57
[the] living 11× Acts 10:42, Acts 14:15, Romans 14:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:9
live 11× Mark 5:23, John 6:57, John 14:19, Romans 6:2
living 11× Matthew 16:16, Matthew 26:63, Luke 15:13, Luke 24:5
of [the] living 10× Matthew 22:32, Mark 12:27, Luke 20:38, Romans 9:26
lives 9× John 11:26, Romans 14:7, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 2:15
alive 6× Acts 9:41, Romans 6:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 1 Thessalonians 4:17
to live 6× Acts 22:22, Acts 25:24, Acts 28:4, Romans 8:12
He lives 5× Romans 6:10, Romans 7:1, 1 Corinthians 7:39, 2 Corinthians 13:4
we live 5× Acts 17:28, Romans 14:8, Galatians 5:25
was alive 3× Luke 24:23, John 4:51, Romans 7:9
a living 2× 1 Corinthians 15:45, 1 Peter 1:3
are alive 2× Luke 20:38, 2 Corinthians 4:11
I live 2× Galatians 2:20
returned to life 2× Romans 14:9, Revelation 2:8
shall not live 2× Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4
we will live 2× 2 Corinthians 13:4, James 4:15
you will live 2× Luke 10:28, Romans 8:13
[and] live 1× 1 Peter 2:24
[and] to live 1× Titus 2:12
[as] living 1× Romans 12:1
[even while she] is still alive 1× 1 Timothy 5:6
[home] alive 1× Acts 20:12
[is] living 1× Hebrews 4:12
[Jesus] was alive 1× Mark 16:11
[that] He was alive 1× Acts 1:3
as long as he lives 1× Romans 7:2
being alive 1× Revelation 3:1
come back to life 1× Revelation 20:5
had lived 1× Revelation 13:14
he is still alive 1× Hebrews 9:17
he lives on 1× Hebrews 7:8
He was alive 1× Matthew 27:63
he will live 1× John 6:51
I go on living 1× Philippians 1:22
I lived as 1× Acts 26:5
I might live 1× Galatians 2:19
is [still] alive 1× Romans 7:3
is alive again 1× Luke 15:32
life 1× 2 Corinthians 1:8
Living [One] 1× Revelation 1:18
of living 1× John 7:38
She had been married 1× Luke 2:36
she will live 1× Matthew 9:18
should receive their living 1× 1 Corinthians 9:14
they came to life 1× Revelation 20:4
to be alive 1× Acts 25:19
to life 1× Romans 6:13
we can go on living 1× 1 Thessalonians 3:8
we live on 1× 2 Corinthians 6:9
we may live 1× 1 Thessalonians 5:10
we might live 1× 1 John 4:9
you live 1× Romans 8:13
you lived 1× Colossians 3:7
you still belonged 1× Colossians 2:20
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 4:4 ζήσεται to shall not live Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 9:18 ζήσεται to she will live Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 16:16 ζῶντος to living Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular Matthew 22:32 ζώντων to of [the] living Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural Matthew 26:63 ζῶντος to living Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular Matthew 27:63 ζῶν to He was alive Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Mark 5:23 ζήσῃ to live Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular Mark 12:27 ζώντων to of [the] living Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural Mark 16:11 ζῇ to [Jesus] was alive Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Luke 2:36 ζήσασα to She had been married Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 4:4
Aligned rows 140
Books represented 20
Matthew 6 Mark 3 Luke 9 John 17 Acts 12 Romans 23 1 Corinthians 3 2 Corinthians 9 Galatians 9 Philippians 2 Colossians 2 1 Thessalonians 5 1 Timothy 3 2 Timothy 2 Titus 1 Hebrews 12 James 1 1 Peter 7 1 John 1 Revelation 13
Source forms
ζῶντος 14x zōntos Matthew 16:16, Matthew 26:63, John 7:38, Romans 7:3
ζῇ 13x zē Mark 16:11, John 4:50, John 4:51, John 4:53
ζῆν 12x zēn Luke 24:23, Acts 22:22, Acts 25:19, Acts 25:24
ζήσεται 9x zēsetai Matthew 4:4, Matthew 9:18, Luke 4:4, John 11:25
ζῶν 9x zōn Matthew 27:63, Luke 15:13, John 4:10, John 4:11
ζῶμεν 7x zōmen Acts 17:28, Romans 14:8, 2 Corinthians 6:9, Galatians 5:25
ζῶντες 7x zōntes 2 Corinthians 4:11, 2 Corinthians 5:15, Colossians 2:20, 1 Thessalonians 4:15
ζῶντι 7x zōnti Romans 7:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, 1 Timothy 4:10, Hebrews 9:14
Parsing patterns
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 13x Mark 16:11, John 4:50, John 4:51, John 4:53
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular 13x Matthew 16:16, Matthew 26:63, Romans 7:3, Romans 9:26
Verb - Present Infinitive Active 12x Luke 24:23, Acts 22:22, Acts 25:19, Acts 25:24
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular 9x Matthew 4:4, Matthew 9:18, Luke 4:4, John 11:25
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular 9x Matthew 27:63, Luke 15:13, John 6:51, John 6:57
Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular 7x Romans 7:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, 1 Timothy 4:10, Hebrews 9:14
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural 7x 2 Corinthians 4:11, 2 Corinthians 5:15, Colossians 2:20, 1 Thessalonians 4:15
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular 6x John 6:57, John 14:19, Romans 14:11, Galatians 2:20
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Notice whether the passage describes bodily life, manner of life, dependence, or resurrection.
- Describe Christian life as received from Christ and lived by faith toward God.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that life in Christ guarantees present health, wealth, or freedom from grief.
- Do not claim that Christ living in a believer removes the believer’s responsibility to trust and obey.
Key Verse and Form Guides
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
John 11:25 Verb Third Person Singular Future Middle Deponent Indicative
ζήσεται· zesetai to live (literally or figuratively) The verb states the promised life in Jesus' resurrection saying. Read verse guide John 11:26 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
ζῶν zon to live (literally or figuratively) The participial form pairs living with believing in Jesus' promise about death. Read verse guide Evidence Summary
Greek word. Living physically or spiritually; distinctively means existing in active relationship with God or Christ.
Source Gloss
to live (literally or figuratively)
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 142 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 4:4 Verb Third Person Singular Future Middle Deponent Indicative
ζήσεται zhsetai
I live
Read verse Matthew 9:18 Verb Third Person Singular Future Middle Deponent Indicative
ζήσεται. zhsetai
I live
Read verse Matthew 16:16 Verb Present Active Participle Genitive Singular Masculine
ζῶντος. zwntov
I live
Read verse Matthew 22:32 Verb Present Active Participle Genitive Plural Masculine
ζώντων. zwntwn
I live
Read verse Matthew 26:63 Verb Present Active Participle Genitive Singular Masculine
ζῶντος, zwntov
I live
Read verse Matthew 27:63 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
ζῶν, zwn
I live
Read verse Mark 5:23 Verb Third Person Singular Future Middle Deponent Indicative
ζήσεται. zhsetai
I live
Read verse Mark 12:27 Verb Present Active Participle Genitive Plural Masculine
ζώντων· zwntwn
I live
Read verse Mark 16:11 Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
ζῇ zh
I live
Read verse Luke 2:36 Verb Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Feminine
ζήσασα zhsasa
I live
Read verse Luke 4:4 Verb Third Person Singular Future Middle Deponent Indicative
ζήσεται zhsetai
I live
Read verse Luke 10:28 Verb Second Person Singular Future Middle Deponent Indicative
ζήσῃ. zhsh
I live
Read verse Luke 15:13 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
ζῶν zwn
I live
Read verse Luke 20:38 Verb Present Active Participle Genitive Plural Masculine
ζώντων· zwntwn
I live
Read verse Luke 20:38 Verb Third Person Plural Present Active Indicative
ζῶσιν. zwsin
I live
Read verse Luke 24:5 Verb Present Active Participle Accusative Singular Masculine
ζῶντα zwnta
I live
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 4 Aligned forms 140 Tenses Present, Future, Aorist, Imperfect Voices Active, Middle
Tenses
Voices
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 61×
Present Active Matt 16:16 · Matt 26:63 · Rom 7:3 · Rom 9:26 · 2 Cor 3:3 · 2 Cor 6:16 · 1 Tim 3:15 · Heb 3:12 · Heb 10:31 · Heb 12:22 · 1 Pet 1:23 · Rev 7:2 · Rev 15:7 · Matt 27:63 · Luke 15:13 · John 6:51 60×
Aorist Active Luke 2:36 1×
Indicative states a fact or reality 57×
Present Active Mark 16:11 · John 4:50 · John 4:51 · John 4:53 · Rom 6:10 · Rom 7:1 · Rom 14:7 · 1 Cor 7:39 · 2 Cor 13:4 · Gal 2:20 · Heb 7:8 · Heb 9:17 · John 6:57 · John 14:19 · Rom 14:11 · Acts 17:28 28×
Future Middle Matt 4:4 · Matt 9:18 · Luke 4:4 · John 11:25 · Rom 1:17 · Rom 10:5 · Gal 3:11 · Gal 3:12 · Heb 10:38 · Luke 10:28 · Rom 8:13 11×
Future Active Rom 6:2 · 2 Cor 13:4 · Heb 12:9 · Jas 4:15 · John 6:51 · John 6:57 · John 6:58 · John 5:25 · John 14:19 9×
Aorist Active Luke 15:32 · Rom 14:9 · Rev 2:8 · Rev 13:14 · Rev 20:4 · Rev 20:5 · Acts 26:5 7×
Imperfect Active Rom 7:9 · Col 3:7 2×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 12×
Present Active Luke 24:23 · Acts 22:22 · Acts 25:19 · Acts 25:24 · Acts 28:4 · Rom 8:12 · 1 Cor 9:14 · 2 Cor 1:8 · Phil 1:21 · Phil 1:22 · 2 Tim 3:12 · Heb 2:15 12×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 10×
Aorist Active 1 Thess 5:10 · Titus 2:12 · 1 Pet 2:24 · 1 John 4:9 · Mark 5:23 · Gal 2:19 6×
Present Active Rom 14:8 · 2 Cor 5:15 · 1 Pet 4:6 4×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 134 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 99 future 20 aorist 13 imperfect 2
Voice
active 123 middle 11
Mood
participle 57 indicative 55 infinitive 12 subjunctive 10
NT Occurrences
Matthew 4:4 ζήσεται future middle indicative prospective Matthew 9:18 ζήσεται future middle indicative prospective Matthew 16:16 ζῶντος present active participle participle Matthew 26:63 ζῶντος present active participle participle Matthew 27:63 ζῶν present active participle participle Mark 5:23 ζήσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Mark 16:11 ζῇ present active indicative ongoing Luke 2:36 ζήσασα aorist active participle participle Luke 4:4 ζήσεται future middle indicative prospective Luke 10:28 ζήσῃ future middle indicative prospective Luke 15:13 ζῶν present active participle participle Luke 15:32 ἔζησεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 20:38 ζῶσιν present active indicative ongoing Luke 24:23 ζῆν present active infinitive infinitive Luke 24:5 ζῶντα present active participle participle John 4:10 ζῶν present active participle participle John 4:11 ζῶν present active participle participle John 4:50 ζῇ present active indicative ongoing John 4:51 ζῇ present active indicative ongoing John 4:53 ζῇ present active indicative ongoing John 5:25 ζήσουσιν future active indicative prospective John 6:51 ζῶν present active participle participle John 6:51 ζήσει future active indicative prospective John 6:57 ζῶν present active participle participle John 6:57 ζῶ present active indicative ongoing John 6:57 ζήσει future active indicative prospective John 6:58 ζήσει future active indicative prospective John 7:38 ζῶντος present active participle participle John 11:25 ζήσεται future middle indicative prospective John 11:26 ζῶν present active participle participle John 14:19 ζῶ present active indicative ongoing John 14:19 ζήσετε future active indicative prospective Acts 1:3 ζῶντα present active participle participle Acts 7:38 ζῶντα present active participle participle Acts 9:41 ζῶσαν present active participle participle Acts 10:42 ζώντων present active participle participle Acts 14:15 ζῶντα present active participle participle Acts 20:12 ζῶντα present active participle participle Acts 22:22 ζῆν present active infinitive infinitive Acts 25:19 ζῆν present active infinitive infinitive
+94 more occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
New Testament Witnesses
Alive and active, in contrast to lifeless idols.
Alive, possessing life.
To live.
living
living one
Additional Occurrences
Luke 20:27–40 ζώντων záō
Living
Luke 24:1–12 ζῶντα záō
Living
Mark 12:18–27 ζάω záō
to live
Showing 8 selected witnesses from 140 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
ζάω is a primary verb - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Affirms ongoing covenant life beyond death. 1 Timothy 4:6-10
Affirms that Jesus is alive, not merely remembered. Acts 14:8-20
Contrasts the true God with lifeless idols. Acts 25:13-22
Affirms Paul’s claim that Jesus is living. Luke 20:27–40
Hope rests in the active, reigning God, not in human effort. Luke 24:1–12
Canonical Themes
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Zao gathers several dimensions of life without collapsing them. Paul still lives in the body, yet he says Christ lives in him and that his present life is by faith in the Son who loved him. Romans 6 adds direction: resurrection life is life to God, not simply release from an old condition. John locates life in Jesus Himself and promises that death cannot defeat those who believe in Him.
Revelation confirms that promise through the Living One who passed through death and holds its keys. Romans 1 links life to faith within the gospel’s revelation of God’s righteousness. These passages keep Christian life personal, embodied, dependent, moral, and eschatological. They refuse both triumphalism and passivity. The believer’s life is not self-made invulnerability; it is a received participation in Christ’s life that expresses itself through faith, obedience, hope, and orientation toward God.
Anchor passage
John.11.25
Doctrinal connections
- John.11.25 grounds life beyond death in Jesus as the resurrection and the life.
- Gal.2.20 joins union with Christ to present embodied life by faith in the self-giving Son.
- Rom.6.10 presents the risen Christ’s life as directed toward God and patterns the believer’s new allegiance.
- John.6.57 describes life as dependent on the sent Son within His relation to the living Father.
- Rev.1.18 identifies Jesus as the Living One who conquered death and holds its keys.
- Rom.1.17 places living by faith within the gospel revelation of God’s righteousness.
Zao is a verb whose forms may describe being alive, continuing to live, conducting one’s life, or living in relation to someone or something. Complements such as by faith, to God, or because of Me specify its force. The local Greek index records about 140 occurrences for exact G2198.
From Old to New Testament
Genesis presents life as God’s gift, Deuteronomy sets life before covenant hearers, and Habakkuk 2:4 supplies the line Paul quotes in Romans 1. The prophets’ resurrection hope and God’s identity as the living God prepare for Jesus’ claim to be the resurrection and the life.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain