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God gave each of us life. But true life is given to those who believe in Jesus. Everyone is born once, but those who trust in Christ are given new life when they are born-again. God gave us life for a reason: to glorify Him and fulfill His purpose here on earth. He doesn’t want us to live aimlessly, nor does He want us to live mediocre lives. God wants the best for us. He desires for each of us to live a ‘Zoe life.’
Zoe in the Bible stands for life, the God-kind of life.
In this blog, we will explore what it means to live a Zoe life and how we can experience it fully. So join me as we explore Zoe in the Bible and discover the keys to living the God-kind of life (the good kind of life…), and how we can pray to receive and live in that Zoe life.
What does Zoe mean in the Bible?
Zoe (pronounced zoey, like Joey with a “z”) is a lovely name for baby girls. But there is more to the name Zoe than just cuteness. It is important to know the meaning of names before we attach them to our children. And as children of God, it is vital to understand the real meaning of Zoe: the God-kind of life.
So, what is Zoe life in the Bible? God’s Word is full of references to life—God’s life. We see that right from the beginning in Genesis, when God created all living things. And it continues throughout the Word of God. But it isn’t until the New Testament that we get a better understanding of the God kind of life. It is here we will first see the mention of the word Zoe—the life of God.
God gave us physical life when He created us, but He also gave us spiritual life by breathing His life into us through His Holy Spirit. God wants us to live life to the fullest in both the physical (our bodily health), the spiritual (our spiritual health), and the intellectual/mental (the health of our soul). We can only receive (and live) this kind of life through Christ Jesus.
Zoe in the Bible-different translations
So, what does Zoe mean in the Bible? Zoe (ζωή) is a Greek word meaning “life.” In the third century, Alexandrian Jews translated the Hebrew name Eve into Greek language: Zoe. Why is it important to understand the Greek equivalent of the word? Because the New Testament was written in Koine Greek (which was the common language of the Eastern Mediterranean from the 5th century BC until the evolution of Byzantine Greek in the 6th century AD).
A simple overview:
- Zoe in Greek meaning: The name Zoe became popular in the early Christian circles, who associated its meaning of “life” with the gift of eternal life.
- Zoe meaning in Hebrew: Zoe isn’t a Hebrew word, but it is derived from the Hebrew word for life, Eve. The traditional Hebrew meaning of Eve is life or living. It can also mean full of life and mother of life.
Let’s look at the meaning of the Koine Greek words used in our foundational Scripture John 10:10.
Life (Zoë) means living a genuine and vibrant life, completely dedicated to God and sourced from Him. Abundantly (Perissos) means over and above, more than is necessary, super-added. This is the kind of life God wants us to have.
Zoe in the Bible means eternal life or “The God-kind of life.” It is based on the very nature of God—the rich and abundant nature of our God. One way we can grasp more about this type of life is through prayer.
Why is Zoe used 125 times in the Bible?
The word Life is mentioned numerous times in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. It has been oft-quoted that Zoe is mentioned 125 times in the Bible, but actually the Greek word for life, Zoe, is used 135 times in the Bible.
It has the meaning of:
- life: a living soul.
- life: God-kind of life.
The God-kind of life is the absolute fulness of life, which belongs to God. It is real and genuine life; a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed in Christ, and when we die or He returns, eternal life with Him.
While it’s nice to know the Hebrew and Greek meanings, it is more important to grasp the spiritual side of Zoe. The God-kind of life gives us spiritual life—based on the rich, abundant divine nature of God. This life gives us His fullness of love, joy, power, and ability. Our spirit receives the abundant life and divine nature of God when we receive new birth.
This is the kind of life that Jesus said he came to give. The gospel of John is full of references to Zoe, with one famous verse making it clear to all what kind of life we are given in Christ:
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10, NLT)
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)
Jesus came to offer us a better life—a life that is overflowing, abundant, and beyond what is necessary.
This is not a life of accumulating wealth and property, but a life of abundant generosity and fruit-bearing in Jesus’ Name.
So, why is Zoe (life) mentioned so many times in the New Testament? It is an important word because it is the reason Jesus Christ came: to give us life and life more abundantly—both here on Earth and in our eternal life with God in Heaven.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV)
God’s Word itself is also life-giving. It has the power to transform our lives and bring us into a deeper understanding of the God-kind of life. Through prayer and studying His Word, we can experience the fullness of the life that God desires for us.
You must understand, though, that you won’t find the word Zoe in an English translation—you’ll simply find ‘life’.
What is the God kind of life?
The God kind of life is God’s abundant life through Christ, both here on earth and when we are in heaven. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t want us to live mediocre lives, but rather to experience the fullness of His love, joy, power, and ability. The God kind of life is a life that is vibrant, purposeful, and completely dedicated to God.
When we receive Christ and are born again, our spirits are filled with the abundant life and divine nature of God. This life is not just about physical existence, but it includes our spiritual and intellectual well-being as well. God wants us to live life to the fullest in every aspect. That is the true Christian life!
To understand the Biblical meaning of Zoe, the God kind of life, it is a good thing to study the Bible for ourselves and read Scriptures about this life. Reading various Bible quotes will help you understand the different meanings of the word Zoe—different, as in the various aspects of the God-given life.
Powerful example Scriptures Zoe in the Bible
Here are 15 Zoe life Bible verses to get you started:
- John 1:4 (ESV): “ln Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
- John 3:36 (ESV): “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
- John 4:14 (KJV): “But whoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
- John 5:25-26 (KJV): “The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.”
- John 6:40 (ESV): “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life.”
- John 6:53-54 (ESV): “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
- John 6:47-48 (ESV): “Whoever believes has everlasting life. I am that bread of life.”
- John 6:68 (ESV): “Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
- John 8:12 (ESV): “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- Matthew 25:46 (NLT): “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
- Acts 17:25 (NLT): “And human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.”
- Romans 6:4 (NKJV): “Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should also walk in newness of life.”
- Romans 6:23 (ESV): “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
- 1 John 5:11-13: “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life…that you may know that you have eternal life.”
- Revelation 2:10 (ESV): “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Meditate on these Scriptures and ask God to reveal His purpose with it.
Living the God-kind of life
The God-kind of life is a life that is connected to the very essence of God, filled with His love, power, and divine nature. It is a life that is not limited by circumstances or the limitations of this world.
Living a Zoe life means walking in close fellowship with God, allowing His Spirit to guide and empower us. It means aligning our thoughts, desires, and actions with His will. It means living a life of obedience and surrender, trusting God’s plans and timing.
Thus, the God-kind of life also refers to the way we live. Because we have the eternal life Jesus Christ gave us, we have become a new creature. As the apostle Paul said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV).
This does not just mean we have received the God-kind of life in us, but we are also required to stop living a life of the flesh and to walk the godly life. By grace, we can walk that life, because of the God kind of life in us, through the Holy Spirit. He gives us the strength to “Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-25 KNJV).
It is then that we get renewed from the inside, the hidden man of the heart, even if our outside
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV).
Zoe life Prayers
Prayer is a vital aspect of experiencing Zoe life. Through prayer, we communicate with God, seeking His guidance, wisdom, and provision. It is through prayer that we cultivate a deep and intimate relationship with Him, allowing Him to shape and mold us into His image.
You can pray based on Scriptures, or you can pray your own prayers around Zoe life. To get you started, here are some example prayers to pray to receive the divine life God wants you to get and to continue living the God-kind of life.
5 Prayers around Zoe in the Bible:
Prayer 1: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me life and pouring Your life into me. I don’t take it for granted. Give me the grace and endurance to live worthy of my calling, worthy of being Your child. Holy Spirit, help me embrace and live the Zoe life while here on earth. So, when I will be with You in Heaven I will hear You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” The only thing I want is to please You. Let my life be full of Your life and be a testimony of Your grace. I want to draw others to You, just by the way I live. Please Holy Spirit, guide me each day and show me where to go. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name’s sake. Amen.
Prayer 2: Lord God, You are the only true God. Thank You for giving Your Son for me. He is the true word of life. Manifest the God-kind of life in and through me. As I walk in Your light, renew my spirit man day by day, so I reflect more of Your glory each day. I want to be like a tree of life for others, so they can come to me and receive some of Your abundant grace. Father God, let me be a channel of Your love and Zoe life. Thank You, Lord. In the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Prayer 3: Father God, today I pray for my friends and family who feel miserable. They have so much going on in their lives. Pour Your life into them, give them a hug. Holy Spirit, open their eyes so they can see the abundant life You have prepared for them. Help them accept it, embrace it, and step into it. I pray they will find life in You. Bless their path and show them the way. Let them know with You all things are possible. Bring an end to their downcast lives and renew their spirits. Break every spiritual darkness around them and let the glory of the Lord be revealed in their lives. In the Name of the Son of God, I pray. Amen.
Prayer 4: Dear God, thank You for my life. I am grateful. However, I don’t feel like I am living up to my fullest potential. It’s like something is missing. Please pour Your Zoe life into me and help me understand all that You have in store for me. I don’t want to continue living a mediocre life; I want to live in the fullness of Your grace—an abundant life. Fill my heart, fill my mind, fill my spirit. I want to be full of You, so I can see the world through Your eyes. Today I declare I step into my God-kind of life! Thank You, dear Lord, for giving me this confidence. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Prayer 5: Lord Jesus, I haven’t been faithful. Lord Jesus come into my life again. Forgive me. I am sorry. Please fill me with Your life. I have experienced I can’t live life on my own—I’d blow it again. Fill my heart, Lord. Take away the guilt. Instead, fill me with Your life-giving spirit. I decide today to follow You and to live a life pleasing to You. I also know I can’t do this by myself, I need You. Help me see the way to go and prompt me whenever I go wrong. Please let me see a tip of Your glory each day. I embrace the Zoe-life You have planned for me. Thank You, Lord. I am grateful. Amen.
Final Thoughts
Living a Zoe life is not just a distant dream or an unattainable goal. It is a reality that God wants each of us to experience. He wants us to put off our old nature and live fully in the light of eternal life, to experience the real life God has in store for us. By praying and meditating on Zoe in the Bible and embracing the God-kind of life, we can truly live a life that is abundant, fulfilling, and pleasing to Him.
May you experience the God-kind of life each day of your life and may you be an example for others to follow.