Strong's Definition
the same as 2208; a Zealot, i.e. (specially) partisan for Jewish political independence
KJV Usage: Zelotes
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m. | -οῦ | ζηλόω
25.77 · Attitudes and Emotions · Be Eager, Be Earnest, In a Devoted Manner
enthusiast, zealous person one who is deeply committed to something and therefore zealous
ACT 21:20 · ACT 22:3 · 1CO 14:12 · GAL 1:14 · TIT 2:14 · 1PE 3:13
11.88 · Groups and Classes of Persons and Members of Such Groups and Classes · Socio-Political
zealot, nationalist a member of a Jewish nationalistic group seeking independence from Rome It is possible that ζηλωτής in LUK 6:15 and Καναναῖος in MAT 10:4 function not so much as a designation of an individual belonging to the particular Jewish nationalistic party (according to some scholars such a party may not have been organized at that time), but of one whjo is simply zealous for national independence (see ζηλωτής[a] ‘enthusiast, zealous person,’ 25.77). Therefore, one might speak of Simon as ‘Simon the patriot’ (the same applies to ACT 1:13, the only other occurrence of ζηλωτής[b] in the NT). To render ζηλωτής[b] as ‘armed insurrectionist’ or ‘guerilla fighter’ (as some translators have suggested) would be reading into the text more than is specifically warranted.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ζηλωτής, -οὔ, 6, (ζηλόω), one burning with zeal; a zealot; 1. absol., for the Hebr. sap, used of God as jealous of any rival and sternly vindicating his control: Ex. xx. 5; Deut. iv. 24, ete. From the time of the Maccabees there existed among the Jews a class of men, called Zealots, who rigorously adhered to the Mosaic law and endeavored even by a resort to violence, after the example of Phinehas (Num. xxv. 11, ζηλωτὴς Φινεές 4 Mace. xviii. 12), to prevent religion from being violated by others; but in the latter days of the Jewish commonwealth they used their holy zeal as a pretext for the basest crimes, Joseph. b. 1. 4, 3,9; 4,5,1; 4,6,3; 7,8,1. To this class perhaps Simon the apostle had belonged, and hence got the surname ὁ ζηλωτής : Lk. vi. 15; Actsi. 13; [ef. Schiirer, Neutest. Zeitzesch., Index s. v. Zeloten; Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, i. 237 sqq. ]. 2. with gen. of the obj.: w. gen. of the thing, most eagerly desirous of, zealous for,athing; a. to acquire a thing, [zealous of | (see ζηλόω, 2): 1 Co. xiv. 12; Tit. ii. 14; 1 Pet. iii. 13 LT Tr WH, (ἀρετῆς, Philo, praem. et poen. § 2; τῆς εὐσεβείας, de monarch. 1. i. § 3; εὐσεβείας x. δικαιοσύνης, de poenit. §1; τῶν πολεμικῶν ἔργων, Diod. 1, 73; περὶ τῶν ἀνηκόντων εἰς σωτηρίαν, Clem. Rom. 1 Cor. 45,1). Ὁ. to defend and uphold a thing, vehemently contending for a thing, [zealous for]: νόμου, Acts xxi. 20 (2 Mace. iv. 2); τῶν πατρικῶν παραδόσεων, Gal. i. 14 (τῶν αἰγυπτιακῶν πλασμάτων, Philo, vit. Moys. iii. § 19; τῆς ἀρχαίας x. σώφρονος ἀγωγῆς, Diod. excerpt. p. 611 [fr. 1. 37, vol. ii. 564 Didot]) ; w. gen. of pers.: θεοῦ, intent on protecting the majesty and authority of God by contending for the Mosaic law, Acts xxii. 3. (In prof. auth. also an emulator, admirer, imitator, follower of any one.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ζηλωτής zēlōtēs 8x
pr. a generous rival, an imitator; in NT an aspirant, 1 Cor. 14:12; Tit. 2:14; a devoted adherent, a zealot, Acts 21:20; 22:3; Gal. 1:14
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ζηλωτής. With the use of ζηλωτής in such passages as 1 Cor 147%, cf. from the inserr. Sy/7 308%8 (ii/B.c.) γίνωνται δὲ kal ἄλλοι 1[ηλ]ωταὶ τῆς αὐτῆς αἱρέσεως, 26. 5215 (B.C. 100) γινόμενοι δὲ καὶ ζηλωταὶ τῶν καλλίστων ἐκ τῆς πρώτης ἡλικίας, and OGIS 339” (c. B.C. 120) ζηλωταὶ μὲν τῶν καλλίστων γίνωνται. A close parallel to Ac 225 may be found in Musonius p. 378, where the ideal king is styled ζηλωτὴς . . τοῦ Διός: cf. Sthenidas of Locris (Stob. Flor. ii. p. 2651) ἀντίμιμος kal ζαλωτὰς τῶ πράτω bea.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ζηλωτής (zēlōtēs) — Zealot. ζηλ-ωτής, οῦ, ὁ, emulator, zealous admirer or follower, μιμητὴς καὶ ζ. τῆς πατρῴας ἀρετῆς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μαθήσεως [NT+1st c.BC+]; Θουκυδίδου, Ἀντισθένους, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; perhaps champion, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
2. jealous, θεὸς ζ. [LXX]
II. zealot, used to translate Κανανίτης or Καναναῖος, [NT+1st c.AD+]