Dictionary Article

Term used for the second Simon among the Twelve to distinguish him from Simon Peter (Lk 6:15; Acts 1:13). Matthew (Mt 10:4) and Mark (Mk 3:18) use “Cananaean”—Greek and Aramaic equivalents for “zealous defender, enthusiast, one eager to acquire, fanatic” (from root words meaning “burn with zeal, or jealousy; desire eagerly”; Ex 34:14; 2 Macc 4:2). In this general sense, Christ showed zeal for God’s house. Some were “zealots” for spiritual gifts, good works, goodness, and the law, as Paul was for the tradition of the fathers and for God (Jn 2:17; Acts 21:20; 22:3; 1 Cor 14:12; Gal 1:14; Ti 2:14). So, Simon was distinguished from Peter and the others by his religious zeal.

Show passage in OET: LUK 6:15

OET-RV LUK 6:15

15 Matay (Matthew; Grk. Matthaios) and Toma (Thomas), Ya’akov (Halfay’ (Grk. Halfaios) son), Shim’on (the one known as a Zealot),

OET-LV LUK 6:15

15 and Matthaios, and Thōmas, Yakōbos of _Alfaios, and Simōn the one being _called the_Farisaios _zaʸlōtaʸs_group _member,

Show passage in OET: ACT 1:13

OET-RV ACT 1:13

13 They went into the upstairs room where they were staying—Kefa (Peter; Grk. Petros) and Yohan (John; Grk. Yoannes), Ya’akov (James; Grk. Yakobos) and Andreas, Filippos (Philip) and Toma (Thomas), Bar -Talmay (Bartholomew; Grk. Bartholomaios) and Matay (Matthew; Grk. Matthaios), Ya’akov (son of Halfay (Grk. Halfaios)), Shim’on (Simon) (the Zealot member), and Yehudah (Judas; Grk. Yudas) (son of Ya’akov).

OET-LV ACT 1:13

13 And when they _came _in, into the upper _room, they _went _up where they _were staying, which and/both Petros and Yōannaʸs and Yakōbos/(Yaˊₐqoⱱ) and Andreas, Filippos and Thōmas, Bartholomaios and Matthaios, Yakōbos of _Alfaios, and Simōn the Farisaios _zaʸlōtaʸs_group _member, and Youdas/(Yəhūdāh) of _Yakōbos.

Show passage in OET: MAT 10:4

OET-RV MAT 10:4

4 Shim’on (the member of the Kena’anim (Canaanites)), and Yehudah (Judas; Grk. Yudas) Iskariot (who eventually turned Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) in).

OET-LV MAT 10:4

4 Simōn the member _of _Kananitaʸs and Youdas/(Yəhūdāh) the Iskariōtaʸs, who also having _given_ him _over.

Show passage in OET: MRK 3:18

OET-RV MRK 3:18

18 Andreas, Filippos (Philip), Bar -Talmay (Bartholomew; Grk. Bartholomaios), Matay (Matthew; Grk. Matthaios), Toma (Thomas), Ya’akov Halfay (Grk. Halfaios), Thaddaios (Thaddeus), Shim’on from Kena’an (Canaan),

OET-LV MRK 3:18

18 and Andreas, and Filippos, and Bartholomaios, and Matthaios, and Thōmas, and Yakōbos the son of_ the _Alfaios, and Thaddaios, and Simōn the member _of _Kananitaʸs,

Show passage in OET: EXO 34:14

OET-RV EXO 34:14

14 You must not bow down to any other god because Yahweh is a jealous God—jealous to protect his name.

OET-LV EXO 34:14

14 If/because not you _must _bow _down to_a _god another if/because YHWH is_jealous his/its_name is_a _god jealous he.

Show passage in OET: MA2 4:2

OET-RV MA2 4:2

2 He dared to call him a conspirator against the state who was actually the benefactor of the city, the guardian of his fellow countrymen, and a zealot for the laws.

OET-LV MA2 4:2

2 and the/this/who ⟦εὐεργέτην⟧ the/this/who city, and the/this/who ⟦κηδεμόνα⟧ the/this/who ⟦ὁμοεθνῶν⟧, and zealot the/this/who ⟦νόμων⟧, ⟦ἐπίβουλον⟧ the/this/who thing be_bold to_speak.

Show passage in OET: JHN 2:17

OET-RV JHN 2:17

17 That reminded his followers of the scripture: “I’ll be filled with zeal for your temple.”

OET-LV JHN 2:17

17 the apprentices/followers of _him ˓Were˒_reminded that having _been _written it _is:
The zeal of _the house of _you will _be _consuming me.

Show passage in OET: ACT 21:20

OET-RV ACT 21:20

20 and when they’d heard all that they praised God and told Paulos, “Brother, you’ve noticed how many thousands of Yehudim (Jews) have believed in the messiah but they still strive to observe Mosheh’s (Moses) laws.

OET-LV ACT 21:20

20 And they having _heard were _glorifying the god, and they _said to _him:
You _are _observing, brother, how _many tens _of _thousands are among the Youdaiōns which having _believed, and they _are_ all _being zealous for _the law.

Show passage in OET: ACT 22:3

OET-RV ACT 22:3

3 “I am a Yehudi who grew up in this very city to study under Gamliel. I’ve been raised according to every part of our ancestral law, working hard to obey God like all of you here today.

OET-LV ACT 22:3

3 I am a_ Youdaiōns _man, having _been _born in Tarsos of_ the _Kilikia, but having _been _brought _up in the this city, before the feet of _Gamaliaʸl/(Gamlī^ʼēl), having _been _instructed according _to the_exactness of _our ancestral law, being zealous the for_god, as all you _all are today,

Show passage in OET: CO1 14:12

OET-RV CO1 14:12

12 and it’s the same with all of you. Because you all want spiritual things in order to help grow the assembly, then strive to have many of them.

OET-LV CO1 14:12

12 Thus also you _all, because zealous you _all _are of _spirits, because/for the building of _the assembly, be _seeking that you _all _may _be _being _plentiful.

Show passage in OET: GAL 1:14

OET-RV GAL 1:14

14 I was progressing in Youdaismos quicker than many of my contemporaries, being so much more zealous in observing our ancient traditions.

OET-LV GAL 1:14

14 And I _was _progressing in the Judaism beyond many contemporaries in the descent of _me, being more _abundantly zealous of _the paternal traditions of _me.

Show passage in OET: TIT 2:14

OET-RV TIT 2:14

14 who gave himself for us in order to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify us into his chosen people, eager to do good things.

OET-LV TIT 2:14

14 who gave himself for us, in _order _that he _may _redeem us from all lawlessness, and may _purify to _himself a_people chosen, zealous of _good works.

Jump to OET LUK 6:15 section.

Jump to OET ACT 1:13 section.

Jump to OET MAT 10:4 section.

Jump to OET MRK 3:18 section.

Jump to OET EXO 34:14 section.

Jump to OET MA2 4:2 section.

Jump to OET JHN 2:17 section.

Jump to OET ACT 21:20 section.

Jump to OET ACT 22:3 section.

Jump to OET CO1 14:12 section.

Jump to OET GAL 1:14 section.

Jump to OET TIT 2:14 section.

By the time Luke wrote, the title “Zealot” had become attached especially to a militant, anti-Roman, revolutionary faction, equally religious and political in motivation. This party may have been founded in AD 6, following the death of Herod the Great, by Judas the Galilean and Zadduk the Pharisee. The movement was rooted in Maccabean resistance to foreign rule and infiltration (1 Macc 2:15-28). Zealot opposition to Roman rule was rooted in zeal for the Torah and for God the only King. The Zealot regarded himself as an agent of divine judgment and redemption, resolutely and fearlessly contending against idolatry, apostasy, and collaboration. The Zealots thought that the Messiah would become their leader.

As hostility between Rome and Judea sharpened, the religious motivation was channeled by nationalist feeling into a “holy war.” Whereas the Maccabees had been forced to take arms in self-defense, the Zealots became increasingly militaristic. Josephus (Antiquities 18.1.1-6; War 4.3.9), with some prejudice, calls them brigands and robbers. Their Latin name was sicarii, assassins, but supporters would call them patriotic guerrillas. They reached preeminence in the revolt against Rome (AD 66–70). Their last refuge and stronghold, at Masada, was overcome in AD 73, when the surviving 960 committed suicide.

Simon probably was, or had been, a member of this movement’s earlier phase, around AD 30. It is less probable that Judas Iscariot (possibly Sicarius) and the “sons of thunder” (Mk 3:17) were. Judas the Galilean (Acts 5:37-38), and even Paul (21:38), were considered Zealots.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary