Zelotes <2208>

1. 1) one burning with zeal, a zealot
2. 2) used of God as jealous of any rival and sternly vindicating his control
3. 3) most eagerly desirous of, zealous for, a thing
   1. 3a) to acquire a thing, (zealous of)
   2. 3b) to defend and uphold a thing, vehemently contending for a thing

From the time of the Maccabees there existed among the Jews a class of men, called Zealots, who vigorously adhered to the Mosaic law and endeavouring even by a resort to violence, after the example of Phinehas, to prevent religion from being violated by others; but in the latter days of the Jewish commonwealth they used their holy zeal as a pretext for the basest crimes.