Zacchaeus

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A wealthy tax collector in ancient Jericho who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus and subsequently became his disciple, known from the Gospel of Luke
2. The chief publican of Jericho in the New Testament who sought out Jesus, repented of his dishonest practices, and committed to making restitution to those he had wronged
3. A biblical character described as a short man of considerable wealth who encountered Jesus and underwent spiritual conversion, becoming an example of redemption and discipleship in Christian tradition

Etymology: "Zacchaeus" is the name of the tax collector in the Gospel of Luke who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus pass by. Its meaning in Hebrew is "pure" or "innocent," a rather ironic label for a man whose profession was so widely resented. The name passed from Hebrew into Ancient Greek as "Zakkhaîos," then into Late Latin as "Zacchaeus," and from there into English as a proper name. Because the name is so closely tied to the Gospel story, it has long been used more as a figure of speech than as a common personal name. The Hebrew root behind it, "zacha," means "be clean" or "be pure," which links it to a whole family of Semitic words about cleanliness and innocence. The name's meaning and its story sit awkwardly together, which is part of why it has stayed memorable.