Bible Dictionary: Zacchaeus

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Smith's Bible Dictionary

Zacchaeus

(pure), a tax-collector near Jericho, who, being short in stature climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to obtain a sight of Jesus as he passed through that place. (Luke 19:1-10) Zacchaeus was a Jew, as may be inferred from his name and from the fact that the Saviour speaks of him expressly as "a son of Abraham." The term which designates his office -"the chief among the publicans" -is unusual, but describes him, no doubt, as the superintendent of customs or tribute in the district of Jericho, where he lived. The office must have been a lucrative one in such a region, and it is not strange that Zacchaeus is mentioned by the evangelists as a rich man. The Saviour spent the night probably in the house of Zacchaeus, and the next day pursued his journey. He was in the caravan from Galilee which was going to Jerusalem to keep the Passover.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Pure, a superintendant of customs; a chief tax-gather (publicanus) at Jericho (Luke 19:1-10). "The collection of customs at Jericho, which at this time produced and exported a considerable quantity of balsam, was undoubtedly an important post, and would account for Zacchaeus being a rich man." Being short of stature, he hastened on before the multitude who were thronging about Christ as he passed through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem, and climbed up a sycamore tree that he might be able to see him. When our Lord reached the spot he looked up to the publican among the branches, and addressing him by name, told him to make haste and come down, as he intended that day to abide at his house. This led to the remarkable interview recorded by the evangelist, and to the striking parable of the ten pounds (Luke 19:12-27). At Er-riha (Jericho) there is a large, venerable looking square tower, which goes by the traditional name of the House of Zacchaeus.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ZACCHAEUS

za-ke'-us (Zakchaios, from zakkay, "pure"):

(1) A publican with whom Jesus lodged during His stay in Jericho (Luke 19:1-10). He is not mentioned in the other Gospels. Being a chief publican, or overseer, among the tax-gatherers, Zaccheus had additional opportunity, by farming the taxes, of increasing that wealth for which his class was famous. Yet his mind was not entirely engrossed by material considerations, for he joined the throng which gathered to see Jesus on His entrance into the city. Of little stature, he was unable either to see over or to make his way through the press, and therefore scaled a sycomore tree. There he was singled out by Jesus, who said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house" (Luke 19:5). The offer thus frankly made by Jesus was accepted eagerly and gladly by Zaccheus; and the murmurings of the crowd marred the happiness of neither. How completely the new birth was accomplished in Zaccheus is testified by his vow to give half of his goods to the poor, and to make fourfold restitution where he had wrongfully exacted. The incident reveals the Christian truth that just as the publican Zaccheus was regarded by the rest of the Jews as a sinner and renegade who was unworthy to be numbered among the sons of Abraham, and was yet chosen by our Lord to be His host, so the social outcast of modern life is still a son of God, within whose heart the spirit of Christ is longing to make its abode. "For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).

(2) An officer of Judas Maccabeus (2 Maccabees 10:19). (3) A Zaccheus is mentioned in the Clementine Homilies (iii.63) as having been a companion of Peter and appointed bishop of Caesarea.

(4) According to the Gospel of the Childhood, by Thomas, Zaccheus was also the name of the teacher of the boy Jesus.

C. M. Kerr

Greek

2195. Zakchaios -- Zaccheus, a tax collector
... collector. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Zakchaios Phonetic Spelling:
(dzak-chah'-ee-yos) Short Definition: Zacchaeus Definition: Zacchaeus ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2195.htm - 6k

Library

Zacchaeus
... The DESIRE of AGES Chapter 61 Zacchaeus. [This ... publicans. "The chief among the
publicans," Zacchaeus, was a Jew, and detested by his countrymen. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 61 zacchaeus.htm

Conversion of Zacchaeus, a Publican
... ILLUSTRATIONS: CONVERSION OF ZACCHAEUS, A PUBLICAN. ... And, behold, there was a man
named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. ...
/.../the life of jesus christ for the young/conversion of zacchaeus a publican.htm

The visit to Zacchaeus.
... THE LAST JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM THE VISIT TO ZACCHAEUS. ... And behold, a man called
by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the visit to zacchaeus.htm

Melted by Kindness
... LUKE Chaps. XIII to XXIV MELTED BY KINDNESS. 'And when Jesus came to the place,
He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/melted by kindness.htm

Ciii. Zacchæus. Parable of the Pounds. Journey to Jerusalem.
... Jericho is about seven miles from the Jordan and about seventeen and a half from
Jerusalem.] 2 And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/ciii zacchaeus parable of the.htm

The Kingdom of God: Its Tasks
... And he entered and was passing through Jericho. And behold, a man called by
name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich. ...
/.../rauschenbusch/the social principles of jesus/chapter v the kingdom of.htm

A Day to be Remembered
... "And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house.""Luke 19:9.
OBSERVE, DEAR FRIENDS, that our Lord spoke this sentence to Zacchaeus. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 46 1900/a day to be remembered.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xvi. 9, "Make to Yourselves ...
... yourselves friends of the mammon of iniquity. Had Zacchaeus what he had from
good sources? [3505] Read and see. He was the chief of the ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxiii on the words.htm

The Man that Stopped Jesus
... who stopped Christ, on that same journey; for not only the petition of Bartimaeus,
but the curiosity"which was more than curiosity"of Zacchaeus, stopped Him ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the man that stopped jesus.htm

At the Dedication of a Church
... understood this! What are we poor men about? We read about consecration
in the Gospel account of Zacharias (Zacchaeus). He would ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon xxxv at the dedication.htm

Thesaurus

Zacchaeus (3 Occurrences)
... Jericho, which at this time produced and exported a considerable quantity of balsam,
was undoubtedly an important post, and would account for Zacchaeus being a ...
/z/zacchaeus.htm - 10k

Publican (7 Occurrences)
... One who farmed the taxes (eg, Zacchaeus, Luke 19:2) to be levied from a town or
district, and thus undertook to pay to the supreme government a certain amount. ...
/p/publican.htm - 9k

Quick (49 Occurrences)
... Luke 19:5 As soon as Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus,
come down quickly, for I must stay at your house to-day." (Root in WEY ...
/q/quick.htm - 24k

Zacchae'us (3 Occurrences)
Zacchae'us. Zacchaeus, Zacchae'us. Zaccheus . Multi-Version Concordance
Zacchae'us (3 Occurrences). ... Zacchaeus, Zacchae'us. Zaccheus . Reference Bible.
/z/zacchae'us.htm - 7k

Zac'cai (2 Occurrences)
Zac'cai. Zaccai, Zac'cai. Zacchaeus . Multi-Version Concordance Zac'cai (2
Occurrences). ... (See RSV). Zaccai, Zac'cai. Zacchaeus . Reference Bible.
/z/zac'cai.htm - 6k

Unjustly (11 Occurrences)
... Luke 19:8 Zacchaeus however stood up, and addressing the Lord said, "Here and now,
Master, I give half my property to the poor, and if I have unjustly exacted ...
/u/unjustly.htm - 9k

Jericho (59 Occurrences)
... Here he gave sight to two blind men (Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52), and brought
salvation to the house of Zacchaeus the publican (Luke 19:2-10). ...
/j/jericho.htm - 38k

Local (5 Occurrences)
... them. (See NIV). Luke 19:2 There was a man there called Zacchaeus, who was
the local surveyor of taxes, and was wealthy. (WEY). Acts ...
/l/local.htm - 8k

Wrongfully (15 Occurrences)
... Be content with your wages." (WEB ASV). Luke 19:8 Zacchaeus stood and said to
the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. ...
/w/wrongfully.htm - 10k

Waiting (274 Occurrences)
... Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus, waiting before him, said to the Lord, See, Lord, half of
my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from anyone wrongly ...
/w/waiting.htm - 35k

Bible Concordance

Zacchaeus (3 Occurrences)

Luke 19:2 There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY NIV)

Luke 19:5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY NIV)

Luke 19:8 Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY NIV)

Subtopics

Zacchaeus

Zacchaeus (Zaccheus): Hosts Jesus

Related Terms

Publican (7 Occurrences)

Quick (49 Occurrences)

Zacchae'us (3 Occurrences)

Zac'cai (2 Occurrences)

Unjustly (11 Occurrences)

Jericho (59 Occurrences)

Local (5 Occurrences)

Wrongfully (15 Occurrences)