Quick Definition
Κανανίτης, ου, ὁ n.m. a Canaanite
Strong's Definition
of Chaldee origin (compare 7067); zealous; Cananites, an epithet
KJV Usage: Canaanite (by mistake for a derivative from 5477)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun-name, m. | -ου
11.88 · Groups and Classes of Persons and Members of Such Groups and Classes · Socio-Political
zealot, nationalist (the Aramaic equivalent of ζηλωτής[b] and not in any way related to the geographical terms Cana or Canaan): 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.
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
Καναναῖος, -ου, ὁ
(late Heb. קַנְאָנָא),
a Cananæan or Zealot (cf. ζηλωτής): Mt 10:4, Mk 3:18 (Rec. -νίτης).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
Καναναῖος. Dalman (Words, p. 50) thinks that the original Greek form of this surname (Mt τοῦ, Mk 318) was Kavvatos = 930, “a zealot” (cf. Lk 61). On the form see also Moulton Gr. ii. p. 109, Burkitt Syrzac Forms of NT Proper Names (Brit. Acad. 1912), p. 5.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
Κανανίτης, Καναναῖος (Kananitēs, Kananaios) — Zealot. Καναναῖος, -ου, ὁ or Καναναῖος (late Heb. קָנָא), 1. an emulator, zealous admirer or follower , [5th/4th c.BC], etc. 2. a zealot , used to translate Κανανίτης or Καναναῖος (from the Hebr. qana, to glow, be zealous) , [Refs 1st c.AD]