Lord’s Library editors answer the question “What does the Bible say about zeal?” with specific Bible references.
Have you ever asked yourself the question “What does the Bible say about zeal?” If you have, you’re definitely not alone! And since the Bible helps Christians form a foundational understanding of important topics, it’s imperative that one know how Scripture describes zeal in different contexts.
The Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines zeal as “Passionate ardor in the pursuit of any thing. In general, zeal is an eagerness of desire to accomplish or obtain some object, and it may be manifested either in favor of any person or thing, or in opposition to it, and in a good or bad cause.”
Lord’s Library editors thought it would be a helpful exercise to provide Biblical context. As a result, we compiled this short resource which captures all notable mentions of the word zeal, as well as its other forms. If you’ve been wondering what the King James Bible says about zeal, scroll on for additional detail.
Note: If you want to know what the Bible says about zeal and 206 other important topics (to be exact), our editors recommend Spencer Smith’s Doctrine Matters: Bible Topic Guidebook.
What Does the Bible Say About Zeal?
Numbers 25:11
“Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.”
Numbers 25:13
“And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.”
2 Kings 10:16
“And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.”
Psalms 69:9
“For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.”
Isaiah 9:7
“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
Isaiah 37:32
“For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.”
Acts 22:3
“I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.”
Romans 10:2
“For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”
1 Corinthians 14:12
“Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”
2 Corinthians 7:11
“For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
2 Corinthians 9:2
“For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.”
Galatians 4:18
“But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.”
Colossians 4:13
“For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea and them in Hierapolis.”
Titus 2:4
“That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,”
Revelation 3:19
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
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