Who is Zoe in the bible? Was she a wild, opportunistic gold digger looking for a rich husband? Was she simply a bored housewife who used her attractiveness to commit adultery? Or was she someone else entirely? The truth is that the real identity of this woman has been lost to history, but her legacy lives on in the Bible.
What is the meaning of Zoe in the bible?
So many Christians have taken a liking to the name “Zoe”, so let’s talk about it. The word Zoe basically means life, but some will further describe it as the life of Christ, the God-kind of life, eternal life, and so on.
Zoe is an important word in the bible originating from the Greek language. Due to its importance, it was mentioned so many times in the bible, to emphasize the need for this word as it expresses life beyond living on earth. Zoe has its meaning in both Greek and Hebrew, which still points at one thing; LIFE.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The ”LIFE” in this passage doesn’t mean a long life without death on earth but an enriched life after death. “should not perish” in this context means death will not hold us down after life on earth, just like Christ who resurrected on the third day and took the key of death in order to give us everlasting life. The life of Christ is eternal life which means “Zoe”.
Zoe meaning in Greek
Zoe is the Greek word translated as “life” which also means the God-kind of life. In Greek, Zoe is spelled as “Zao”, according to the Greek, Zoe is simply life, which is mere vitality, of all living things, while pneuma from the word psucho (i.e breath) means immortal life or soul. Zoe and pneuma are both aspects of psucho.
Zoe meaning in Hebrew
As I mentioned earlier, Zoe originated from Greek and comes from the name Eve, which means “life.” Alexandrian Jews translated the Hebrew name Eve to its Greek name, Zoe. It became popular in early Christian circles, which associated the name Zoe with eternal life.
The name given to the first woman created, as the Scripture says, Genesis 3:20 (Zoe), from her unique function as “the mother of all”). After meeting the satisfaction of Adam’s needs as help meet in
Genesis 2:18-22
And out of the ground, the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam, there was not found an help meet for him.
And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
she was later named and positioned as the mother of the human race. Referring clearly to her purpose and destiny in the history of the spirit realm or development of the man of which she is the beginning of life (Genesis 3:16, 20).
Zoe meaning in English
The word Zoe in English means eternal life, although Zoe is not written in our modern translated English bible.
Zoe life in the Bible
In our English-translated bible, Zoe is mentioned as “Life”. Zoe life in the bible is God-kind of life. People may think that Zoe life is different from Zoe. No, there is no difference. Zoe means life and people say Zoe life because it is eternal life, expressed and known to be a special kind of life.
John 1:4
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
we get to see what this life will do for us, Christ brought light to men through his life. So the life of Christ opens our eyes and directs our path. As naturally, light makes it possible for us to see clearly and move about without fear, this light in the life of God opens up our spirit, soul and body to clarity.
So we can say through all the passages in the bible that mentions life, “Zoe” is also mentioned. There are so many other verses in the bible that talk about the life that Christ brought as a gift to mankind on a platter of Grace.
Where is Zoe mentioned in the Bible?
The word Zoe is mentioned in so many chapters of the bible. Over 125 times we can find Zoe in its English translation in the scriptures. Let us look at a few of these bible verses that even though did not clearly say Zoe, mean Zoe; the life of Christ.
Take into consideration that anywhere you see life in the bible passage, it’s referring to Zoe and they all hit hard on the fact that Jesus Christ is Zoe as he is life.
JOHN 6:35
Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
We can see in this bible verse Jesus declared that he is the bread of life “Zoe” and when we go to him hungry or thirsty for eternity, he is always ready to welcome us.
PHILLIPIANS 2:14- 16a
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
Holding firmly to the word of life is Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the way to eternal life. So this verse is telling us that in order for us to shine on this earth, we should try to live a better life and hold on to the word of life which will lead us to eternal life.
JOHN 14:6
Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. It is certain that as a Christian in other to make eternal life you need to have Jesus.
JOHN 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
JOHN 10:10
The devil is always ready and alert to steal our life. But Jesus came to give us life and give it to us in abundance.
1JOHN 5:12
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
If you are in Christ, and you believe in Jesus as your lord and personal saviour then you have eternal life.
Why is Zoe used 125 times in the Bible?
Zoe is mentioned many times in the bible because it is believed that the life of Christ is something we should imitate as Christians on earth, to gain access to eternal life. All the disciples and prophets tried to follow and live the life of Christ, not because of what they stand to gain on earth, but because of the life that comes with being, living, and dying in Christ.
The prophets of old, Jesus Christ, and the apostles, all emphasized this Zoe to establish the understanding of this precious life that will be lived with Christ, now and forever. Jesus Christ firmly stated it boldly even though the people did not understand and some thought he was doing too much by saying a mere man like him was life. see
JOHN 14:6
Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
With that being said, Zoe (eternal life) is important because, Christians need to live their lives, aimed at being like Christ and ultimately embrace Zoe (eternal life).
What does Zoe’s life mean in the Bible?
Reiterating my previous writes, Zoe in the bible means LIFE. more popularly known as eternal life, the life of Christ, and a God-kind life. These are a few verses you can find the word “LIFE” (Zoe):
JOHN 3:16
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
ROMANS 6:26
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This everlasting, eternal life Jesus came to give us is the nature of God. God is a spirit and lives a life that is not bound by the confinement of the earth, that is why having Zoe is having an assurance of the life of God.
John 5:26
As the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.
God sent his only son to die for us. His aim was to make sure the sacrifice will bring eternal life to both you and I through his son.
John 1:4
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Eternal life i.e The life of Christ (Zoe) illuminates and directs our paths.
