The Greek verb “ζάω”

Found close to a hundred and fifty times in the New Testament, the Greek verb “zao” means “to be alive,” “to live,” “to live a life,” “recover.”

This word describes both our physical and spiritual existence.  Jesus, who had the power to make the dead “live” (Mt. 9:18), said man does not “live” by bread alone (Mt. 4:4).  Righteous people “live” (Rom. 1:17) because they have a faith which obeys (Rom. 1:5; 16:26) the “living” God (2 Cor. 3:3).  Some “live” a life of sin (Phil. 1:22), but another type of “life” is possible (Gal. 5:25).  All can “live” a godly life (2 Tim. 3:12) for their “lifetime” (Heb. 2:15) and thus have a “living” hope (1 Pet. 1:3) through  Jesus who is “alive” forevermore (Rev. 1:18).  Some have a name which says they are “living” (Rev. 3:1), but in reality, they are spiritually dead.