Lexical Definition

‎ζάω‎ záō (dzah'-o) to live ^G:V
a primary verb

life(-time), (a-)live(-ly), quick.

• to live (literally or figuratively)

Abbott-Smith

ζάω, -ῶ, [in LXX chiefly for חיה (most freq. ptcp., ζῶν, inf., ζῆν, for חַי);]

1. prop., to live, be alive (v. Syn., s.v. βίος; in cl. usually of animal life, but sometimes of plants, as Arist., Eth. N, i, 7, 12): Ac 20:12, Ro 7:1-3, I Co 7:39, Re 19:20, al.; ἐν αὐτῷ ζῶμεν, Ac 17:28; ἐμοὶ τὸ ζῆν Χριστός, Phl 1:21; διὰ παντὸς τοῦ ζῆν (M, Pr., 215, 249), He 2:15; ὃ δὲ νῦν ζῶ ἐν σαρκί, Ga 2:20; ζῇ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός, Ga 2:20; (ὁ) ζῶν, of God (אֵל חַי and cognate phrases, Jos 3:10, Ho 2:1* (1:10), Is 37:4, al.; v. DCG, ii, 39a), Mt 16:16, Jo 6:57, Ro 9:26, I Th 1:9, He 3:12, Re 7:2, al.; in juristic phrase, ζῶ ἐγώ (חַי אָנִי, Nu 14:21, al.), as I live, Ro 14:11; ζῆν ἐπ’ ἄρτῳ, Mt 4:4, al.; ἐκ, I Co 9:14; of coming to life, [11](/btb/interlinear/41%20-%20Mark/16/Mark.16.11.html)], Ro 6:10 14:9, II Co 13:4; opp. to νεκρός, Re 1:18 2:8; metaph., Lk 15:32; ζῆν ἐκ νεκρῶν, Ro 6:13; of the spiritual life of Christians, Lk 10:28, Jo 5:25, Ro 1:17 8:13; εἰς τ. αἰῶνα, Jo 6:51, 58; σὺν Χριστῷ, I Th 5:10; ὄνομα ἔχεις ὅτι ζῇς, Re 3:1.
2. As sometimes in cl., = βιόω, to live, pass one's life: Lk 2:36, Ac 26:5, Ro 7:9, Col 2:20; ἐν πίστει, Ga 2:20; ἐν τ. ἁμαρτίᾳ, Ro 6:2; εὐσεβῶς, II Ti 3:12; ἀσώτως, Lk 15:13; c. dat. (cl.), ἑαυτῳ (Field, Notes, 164), Ro 14:7, II Co 5:15; τ. θεῷ, Lk 20:38, Ro 6:10, 11, Ga 5:25; τ. Χριστῷ, II Co 5:15; τ. δικαιοσύνῃ, I Pe 2:24; πνεύματι, Ga 5:25; κατὰ σάρκα, Ro 8:12, 13;
3. Of inanimate things, metaph.: ὕδωρ ζῶν (i.e. springing water, as opp. to still water), in a spiritual sense, Jo 4:10, 11 7:38 (DCG, ii, 39 f.): ἐλπὶς ζῶσα, I Pe 1:3; ὁδὸς ζῶσα, He 10:20 (cf. ἀνα-, συν-ζάω; Cremer, 270, 721).

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

ζάω

(contraction from ζώω: ζάω only in Grammars, [Refs 4th c.AD+]; imperative ζῆ [Refs 5th c.BC+] see at {ζῆ}; optative ζῴη; infinitive ζῆν: imperfect ἔζων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔζην in most codices of [Refs 4th c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. plural ἔζων [Refs 5th c.BC+]: future ζήσω [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist 1 ἔζησα [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect ἔζηκα [Refs 4th c.BC+]aorist and perfect are mostly supplied from βιόω.- Exc. participle ζάωντος, [Refs 8th c.BC+] always uses the Epic dialect Ionic dialect Lyric poetry present ζώω (also in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; subjunctive ζώῃ [Refs 5th c.BC+], contraction ζῷ [Refs]; Cretan dialect δώω [Refs]; infinitive ζωέμεναι, -έμεν, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: imperfect ἔζωον [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Ionic dialect ζώεσκον [Refs 8th c.BC+]aorist 1 ἔζωσα (ἐπ-) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; infinitive ζάωσαι [Refs]: perfect participle ἐζωκότα [Refs]; infinitive ζόειν [Refs 7th c.BC+]: imperfect ζόεν [Refs 3rd c.BC+]. (Root g[uglide]iē-, g[uglide]iō- also in βίος and ὑγιής (which see).)

__I properly of animal life, live, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; also of plants, τὸ ζῆν κοινὸν εἶναι φαίνεται καὶ τοῖς φυτοῖς [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐλέγχιστε ζωόντων vilest of living men, [ζάωντος καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ δερκομένοιο 1.88, compare 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 16.439; ζάων καὶ βλέπων 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 677; ζώει τε καὶ ἔστιν 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 24.263; ζώντων καὶ ὄντων 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 18.72; τοῦ εἶναί τε καὶ ζῆν ἕνεκα 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 369d; ζάωσα πόλις καὶ ἐγρηγορυῖα [prev. author] “Lg.” 809d; ζάων καὶ ἔμψυχος [prev. author] “Phdr.” 276a ">Refs 8th c.BC+]; ῥεῖα ζώοντες living at ease, of the gods, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ζάων κατακαυθῆναι to be burnt alive, [Refs 5th c.BC+] whereby men live in comfort, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ τοῖς αἰσχίστοις ἔργοις, ἐπὶ τοῖς παροῦσιν ἀγαθοῖς, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also ζῆν ἀπό τινος to live on a thing, [NT+6th c.BC+]: with participle, ζῆν συκοφαντῶν [Refs 5th c.BC+] for oneself, uncertain reading in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ ζῆν,= ζωή, [NT+5th c.BC+]; also, a living, τὸ ζ. οὐκ ἔχομεν [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; ζήτω ὁ βασιλεύς long live the king, [LXX]; βασιλεῦ, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ζῆθι[LXX]; asseverations, ζάω ἐγώ, καὶ ζάων τὸ ὄνομά μου, καί.. [LXX]; ζῇ κύριος, εἰ.., ὅτι..,[LXX]
__I.2 ={βιόω}, live, pass one's life, with accusative cognate, ζώεις δ᾽ ἀγαθὸν βίον [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐκ τῶν ἄλλων ὧν ἔζης from the other acts of your life, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__I.3 aorist 1 ἔζησα, causal, quicken, ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ σου ζῆσόν με [LXX]
__II live in the fullest sense, δι᾽ ὧν ζῆν ἐπιστάμεθα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; in religious or mystical sense, [NT], cf. Ramsay Cilies and Bishoprics [Refs]; θεὸς ζάων [LXX]: frequently metaphorically of things, to be in full vigour, ὄλβος ζώει μάσσων [ζάωσι 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 819; ζάωντι χρώμενος ποδί 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Fragmenta” 790; [μαντεῖα] αἰεὶ ζάωντα περιποτᾶται [prev. author] “OT” 482 ">Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀεὶ ζῇ ταῦτα [νόμιμα] [Refs]; τὰς ξυμφορὰς τῶν βουλευμάτων ζώσας μάλιστα have most living power, [ζάωντα NT.Acts.7.38; χρόνῳ τῷ ζάωντι καὶ παρόντι 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 1169 ">NT+5th c.BC+]; ζάωσα φλόξ living fire, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὕδωρ ζάων spring water, [LXX+NT+1st c.BC+]

ζάω

(contraction from ζώω: ζάω only in Grammars, [Refs 4th c.AD+]; imperative ζῆ [Refs 5th c.BC+] see at {ζῆ}; optative ζῴη; infinitive ζῆν: imperfect ἔζων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔζην in most codices of [Refs 4th c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. plural ἔζων [Refs 5th c.BC+]: future ζήσω [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist 1 ἔζησα [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect ἔζηκα [Refs 4th c.BC+]aorist and perfect are mostly supplied from βιόω.- Exc. participle ζάωντος, [Refs 8th c.BC+] always uses the Epic dialect Ionic dialect Lyric poetry present ζώω (also in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; subjunctive ζώῃ [Refs 5th c.BC+], contraction ζῷ [Refs]; Cretan dialect δώω [Refs]; infinitive ζωέμεναι, -έμεν, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: imperfect ἔζωον [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Ionic dialect ζώεσκον [Refs 8th c.BC+]aorist 1 ἔζωσα (ἐπ-) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; infinitive ζάωσαι [Refs]: perfect participle ἐζωκότα [Refs]; infinitive ζόειν [Refs 7th c.BC+]: imperfect ζόεν [Refs 3rd c.BC+]. (Root g[uglide]iē-, g[uglide]iō- also in βίος and ὑγιής (which see).)

__I properly of animal life, live, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; also of plants, τὸ ζῆν κοινὸν εἶναι φαίνεται καὶ τοῖς φυτοῖς [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐλέγχιστε ζωόντων vilest of living men, [ζάωντος καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ δερκομένοιο 1.88, compare 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 16.439; ζάων καὶ βλέπων 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 677; ζώει τε καὶ ἔστιν 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 24.263; ζώντων καὶ ὄντων 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 18.72; τοῦ εἶναί τε καὶ ζῆν ἕνεκα 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 369d; ζάωσα πόλις καὶ ἐγρηγορυῖα [prev. author] “Lg.” 809d; ζάων καὶ ἔμψυχος [prev. author] “Phdr.” 276a ">Refs 8th c.BC+]; ῥεῖα ζώοντες living at ease, of the gods, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ζάων κατακαυθῆναι to be burnt alive, [Refs 5th c.BC+] whereby men live in comfort, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ τοῖς αἰσχίστοις ἔργοις, ἐπὶ τοῖς παροῦσιν ἀγαθοῖς, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also ζῆν ἀπό τινος to live on a thing, [NT+6th c.BC+]: with participle, ζῆν συκοφαντῶν [Refs 5th c.BC+] for oneself, uncertain reading in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ ζῆν,= ζωή, [NT+5th c.BC+]; also, a living, τὸ ζ. οὐκ ἔχομεν [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; ζήτω ὁ βασιλεύς long live the king, [LXX]; βασιλεῦ, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ζῆθι[LXX]; asseverations, ζάω ἐγώ, καὶ ζάων τὸ ὄνομά μου, καί.. [LXX]; ζῇ κύριος, εἰ.., ὅτι..,[LXX]
__I.2 ={βιόω}, live, pass one's life, with accusative cognate, ζώεις δ᾽ ἀγαθὸν βίον [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐκ τῶν ἄλλων ὧν ἔζης from the other acts of your life, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__I.3 aorist 1 ἔζησα, causal, quicken, ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ σου ζῆσόν με [LXX]
__II live in the fullest sense, δι᾽ ὧν ζῆν ἐπιστάμεθα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; in religious or mystical sense, [NT], cf. Ramsay Cilies and Bishoprics [Refs]; θεὸς ζάων [LXX]: frequently metaphorically of things, to be in full vigour, ὄλβος ζώει μάσσων [ζάωσι 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 819; ζάωντι χρώμενος ποδί 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Fragmenta” 790; [μαντεῖα] αἰεὶ ζάωντα περιποτᾶται [prev. author] “OT” 482 ">Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀεὶ ζῇ ταῦτα [νόμιμα] [Refs]; τὰς ξυμφορὰς τῶν βουλευμάτων ζώσας μάλιστα have most living power, [ζάωντα NT.Acts.7.38; χρόνῳ τῷ ζάωντι καὶ παρόντι 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 1169 ">NT+5th c.BC+]; ζάωσα φλόξ living fire, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὕδωρ ζάων spring water, [LXX+NT+1st c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: 1Cor.9.14 ☩ Heb.2.15 ☩ LXX.1Kgs.10.24 ☩ LXX.Dan.3.9 ☩ LXX.Num.14.21 ☩ LXX.1Kgs.19.6 ☩ LXX.Ps.118.37* ☩ Rom.7.9 ☩ LXX.Deut.5.26 ☩ Acts.7.38 ☩ LXX.Num.5.17 ☩ John.4.10 ☩ 1Cor.9.14 ☩ Heb.2.15 ☩ LXX.1Kgs.10.24 ☩ LXX.Dan.3.9 ☩ LXX.Num.14.21 ☩ LXX.1Kgs.19.6 ☩ LXX.Ps.118.37* ☩ Rom.7.9 ☩ LXX.Deut.5.26 ☩ Acts.7.38 ☩ LXX.Num.5.17 ☩ John.4.10}