100 Bible Verses about Zeal

Romans 12:11 ESV / 333 helpful votes

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Revelation 3:19 ESV / 307 helpful votes

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Titus 2:14 ESV / 293 helpful votes

Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Romans 10:2 ESV / 276 helpful votes

For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

John 2:17 ESV / 262 helpful votes

His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Isaiah 59:17 ESV / 229 helpful votes

He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

Psalm 119:139 ESV / 202 helpful votes

My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words.

Psalm 69:9 ESV / 184 helpful votes

For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

Galatians 4:18 ESV / 172 helpful votes

It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you,

2 Kings 10:16 ESV / 163 helpful votes

And he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.” So he had him ride in his chariot.

Colossians 4:13 ESV / 150 helpful votes

For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.

2 Corinthians 7:11 ESV / 139 helpful votes

For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.

Acts 21:20 ESV / 114 helpful votes

And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law,

2 Corinthians 9:2 ESV / 110 helpful votes

For I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.

1 Corinthians 14:12 ESV / 90 helpful votes

So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

Philippians 1:27 ESV / 77 helpful votes

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Numbers 25:11 ESV / 71 helpful votes

“Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy.

John 4:34 ESV / 62 helpful votes

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV / 47 helpful votes

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Philippians 3:6 ESV / 45 helpful votes

As to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Galatians 1:14 ESV / 41 helpful votes

And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.

Galatians 6:9 ESV / 40 helpful votes

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Acts 22:3 ESV / 38 helpful votes

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.

1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV / 33 helpful votes

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Isaiah 9:7 ESV / 31 helpful votes

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 ESV / 30 helpful votes

As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

Romans 10:1 ESV / 30 helpful votes

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

1 Kings 19:10 ESV / 29 helpful votes

He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 27 helpful votes

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Romans 9:1-3 ESV / 27 helpful votes

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Isaiah 37:32 ESV / 27 helpful votes

For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Jude 1:3-22 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. ...

Numbers 25:11-13 ESV / 21 helpful votes

“Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy. Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, and it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.’”

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Colossians 1:29 ESV / 19 helpful votes

For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Matthew 23:15 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

2 Peter 1:10 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

Philippians 3:4-17 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ...

Acts 26:29 ESV / 16 helpful votes

And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

2 Samuel 21:2 ESV / 16 helpful votes

So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the people of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites. Although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had sought to strike them down in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.

1 Peter 2:2 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

Galatians 4:19 ESV / 15 helpful votes

My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!

Numbers 25:13 ESV / 15 helpful votes

And it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.’”

2 Timothy 2:10 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

John 9:4 ESV / 14 helpful votes

We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

Revelation 3:15-16 ESV / 13 helpful votes

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

Jude 1:3 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Ephesians 5:16 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV / 13 helpful votes

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Philippians 3:20 ESV / 12 helpful votes

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Galatians 1:10 ESV / 12 helpful votes

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:1 ESV / 12 helpful votes

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

John 2:13-17 ESV / 12 helpful votes

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

James 2:20-24 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Titus 3:1 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

Ephesians 6:20 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

2 Corinthians 7:10-11 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.

Revelation 3:15 ESV / 10 helpful votes

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

Hebrews 11:24-27 ESV / 10 helpful votes

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

1 Timothy 4:10 ESV / 10 helpful votes

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Colossians 4:12-13 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 10:1-3 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

Ezekiel 5:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes

“Thus shall my anger spend itself, and I will vent my fury upon them and satisfy myself. And they shall know that I am the Lord—that I have spoken in my jealousy—when I spend my fury upon them.

2 Timothy 1:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,

2 Timothy 1:3 ESV / 9 helpful votes

I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

Colossians 2:1 ESV / 9 helpful votes

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,

Philippians 4:17 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

Ephesians 6:14-20 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ...

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 9 helpful votes

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Hebrews 11:15 ESV / 8 helpful votes

If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.

Philippians 4:3 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Philippians 2:30 ESV / 8 helpful votes

For he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Philippians 2:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

Ephesians 4:26 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

2 Corinthians 7:7 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

1 Corinthians 13:3 ESV / 8 helpful votes

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Hebrews 10:34 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

Colossians 4:5 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

Colossians 1:24 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

Ephesians 6:17 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 ESV / 7 helpful votes

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 ESV / 7 helpful votes

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Romans 6:23 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 6:44 ESV / 7 helpful votes

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

Hebrews 13:18 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.

1 Timothy 6:12 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

Philippians 1:15-18 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

2 Corinthians 13:6-9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.

2 Corinthians 12:14 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

2 Corinthians 8:16-18 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.

Acts 1:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.

John 4:21-24 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Isaiah 63:15 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me.

Revelation 2:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Hebrews 11:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

1 Thessalonians 2:2-6 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.

Colossians 4:7-11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

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