Who was Zacchaeus in the bible?

Zacchaeus is a man named in Luke 19, identified as “a chief tax collector” who “was rich” (Luke 19:2). His Greek name (Ζακχαῖος) is of Hebrew origin according to the lexicon information given.

Zacchaeus in Scripture

Luke places Zacchaeus in Jericho during Jesus’ passage through the city: “He entered and was passing through Jericho” (Luke 19:1). Immediately after, Zacchaeus is introduced with a brief description of his position and wealth.

“There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.” (Luke 19:2)

Zacchaeus’ interest in Jesus is described in practical, physical terms. He “was trying to see who Jesus was,” but the crowd prevented it “because he was short” (Luke 19:3). In response, he acts decisively: “He ran on ahead, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was going to pass that way” (Luke 19:4). The scene turns when Jesus reaches the spot and addresses Zacchaeus directly, not only calling him by name but also announcing an intention to stay with him that very day.

“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.’” (Luke 19:5)

Zacchaeus responds promptly and positively to Jesus’ words: “He hurried, came down, and received him joyfully” (Luke 19:6). The response of the onlookers is sharply different; Luke records their complaint as a collective murmur about Jesus’ choice to lodge with Zacchaeus, and he quotes their accusation in direct speech.

“When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, ‘He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner.’” (Luke 19:7)

Within that social tension, Zacchaeus “stood and said to the Lord” (Luke 19:8). His speech focuses on giving and restitution. He pledges a major redistribution of his possessions—“half of my goods I give to the poor”—and he also addresses potential wrongdoing in financial dealings: “If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much” (Luke 19:8). The narrative presents this as Zacchaeus’ own declaration to the Lord, with both generosity and repair for harm expressed in the first person.

“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.’” (Luke 19:8)

Jesus answers Zacchaeus with a pronouncement about salvation and with an identifying statement about Zacchaeus’ place within Abraham’s line. Jesus’ response is framed as something that has “come to this house” “today,” and he grounds it in a reason given in the same sentence.

“Jesus said to him, ‘Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.’” (Luke 19:9)

Jesus then states a broader purpose statement that interprets his own mission in terms that correspond to the immediate scene of seeking Zacchaeus and receiving him.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Luke continues by noting that “as they heard these things,” Jesus “went on and told a parable,” linking the Zacchaeus episode to the subsequent teaching. The reason Luke gives is that Jesus “was near Jerusalem,” and that the listeners “supposed that God’s Kingdom would be revealed immediately” (Luke 19:11). The narrative moves into the parable of a nobleman who departs and later returns, beginning with: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return” (Luke 19:12). Although Zacchaeus is no longer mentioned by name in this section, the flow of the chapter connects Jesus’ declaration over Zacchaeus’ house with teaching delivered “as they heard these things” (Luke 19:11).

Name and Meaning

The name is written in Greek as Ζακχαῖος, transliterated Zakchaios (pronounced dzak-chah’-ee-yos). The lexicon information provided describes it as being of Hebrew origin.

Observation

In Luke’s account, Zacchaeus is presented as a wealthy “chief tax collector” (Luke 19:2) who seeks to see Jesus (Luke 19:3–4), receives him “joyfully” (Luke 19:6), and then speaks to the Lord in commitments of giving and restitution (Luke 19:8), after which Jesus declares, “Today, salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Zacchaeus mean?

Zacchaeus is a Greek form of a name of Hebrew origin.

How many times does Zacchaeus appear in the Bible?

Zacchaeus appears 3 times.

Who was Zacchaeus?

Zacchaeus was a man who was a chief tax collector and was rich (Luke 19:2).

What did Jesus say to Zacchaeus?

Jesus said, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house” (Luke 19:5).

Explore Further

If you found this page about Zacchaeus interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.

Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).