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Greek · G2222, G166 · unreviewed

ζωή

Life (literally or figuratively) · perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well)

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

ζωή G2222 life (literally or figuratively)
Pronunciation zōḗ
Eternal divine life of grace and glory, distinct from mere biological existence or earthly duration
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αἰώνιος G166 perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well)
Pronunciation aiṓnios
Eternal quality without end; applied to punishment, life, and God's attributes in eschatological contexts.
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What does ζωή (zōḗ) mean in the Bible?

ζωή · αἰώνιος is a Greek word meaning "life (literally or figuratively)". :--life(-time). Defines the salvation sought. This term runs through the canonical themes of Messiah, Redemption.

Full entry for ζωή (G2222, G166) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

life (literally or figuratively)
Extended definition

:--life(-time).

Why This Word Matters
Defines the salvation sought. John 17:1–5
Relational knowledge of God through Christ. Mark 10:17–31
Defines salvation as relational knowledge of God.
Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Feminine Luke 12:15 · John 1:4 · John 6:63 · John 11:25 · John 12:50 · John 14:6 · John 17:3 · Acts 8:33 · Rom 6:23 · Rom 8:6 · Rom 8:10 · Rom 8:38 · Rom 11:15 · 1 Cor 3:22 · 2 Cor 4:10 · 2 Cor 4:11 24×
Genitive · Singular · Feminine John 5:29 · John 6:35 · John 6:48 · John 6:51 · John 6:68 · John 8:12 · Acts 2:28 · Acts 3:15 · Acts 5:20 · Acts 13:46 · Rom 5:18 · Rom 6:4 · Rom 8:2 · 2 Cor 2:16 · 2 Cor 5:4 · Eph 4:18 47×
Dative · Singular · Feminine Luke 16:25 · Rom 5:10 · Rom 5:17 · 1 Cor 15:19 4×
Accusative · Singular · Feminine Matt 7:14 · Matt 18:8 · Matt 18:9 · Matt 19:16 · Matt 19:17 · Matt 19:29 · Matt 25:46 · Mark 9:43 · Mark 9:45 · Mark 10:17 · Mark 10:30 · Luke 10:25 · Luke 18:18 · Luke 18:30 · John 3:15 · John 3:16 60×
135 total occurrences across all forms in the biblical text Morphology: MorphGNT SBLGNT — CC BY-SA 3.0
Canonical Themes
Messiah Redemption
Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses
John 17:1–5 ζωὴ αἰώνιος zōḗ · aiṓnios Nominative · Singular · Feminine
eternal life
Mark 10:17–31 ζωὴ αἰώνιος zōḗ · aiṓnios Accusative · Singular · Feminine
eternal life
Additional Occurrences
John 17:1-5 ζωὴ αἰώνιος zōḗ · aiṓnios
eternal life
Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 11 — Jerusalem Recognizes God’s Grace to the Gentiles Acts 13 — The Spirit Sends the Mission and the Word Turns to the Gentiles Acts 17 — The Gospel Reasoned from Scripture and Proclaimed to the Nations Acts 5 — Holy Fear, Bold Witness, and Joyful Suffering Galatians 6 — Boasting Only in the Cross: Spirit-Shaped Community and New Creation John 1 — The Word Made Flesh, Witnessed, and Followed John 10 — The Good Shepherd, the Door, and the Son One with the Father John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel John 3 — New Birth, Lifted-Up Son, and the Love of God for the World John 4 — Living Water, True Worship, and the Savior of the World John 5 — The Son Who Gives Life, Judges, and Is Witnessed by the Father John 6 — The Bread of Life, the Words of Eternal Life, and the Crisis of True Discipleship John 8 — The Light of the World, True Freedom, and the I AM Before Abraham Luke 10 — The Kingdom Mission Expanded, Mercy Defined, and the Better Portion Chosen Luke 12 — Fear God, Confess Christ, Seek the Kingdom, and Be Ready Luke 18 — Persistent Faith, Humble Mercy, and the King on the Road to Jerusalem Mark 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 3 — The Servant-King Confronted: Sabbath Mercy, Demonic Accusation, and the Family of God Mark 9 — Glory, Unbelief, Suffering, Humility, and Radical Discipleship Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 19 — Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 7 — Kingdom Discernment, the Narrow Way, and the Wise Builder Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness Philippians 4 — Rejoicing, Peace, Contentment, and Gospel Partnership in Christ Romans 16 — Gospel Partnership, Holy Greeting, False-Teacher Warning, and Doxology to the God Who Establishes Romans 5 — Peace with God, Rejoicing in Grace, and Life Through the One Man Jesus Christ Romans 6 — Dead to Sin and Alive to God in Christ Jesus Romans 8 — No Condemnation, Life in the Spirit, and the Unbreakable Love of God in Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

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

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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