ἐκζητέω
ekzētéō
G1567 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To seek out thoroughly, to search for with diligence or intensity; by extension, to inquire into or investigate carefully. In certain contexts, it may convey the sense of earnestly striving after, longing for, or demanding something, sometimes with religious earnestness or devotion. The term often emphasizes the intensity or thoroughness of the seeking, beyond ordinary searching, and can connote a careful, persevering quest for a person, truth, or object.
Semantic Range
to seek out thoroughly, to examine or investigate carefully, to strive after, to demand, to long for earnestly, to inquire into with diligence
Root / Etymology
From the preposition ἐκ (out of, from) and the verb ζητέω (to seek, to look for). The compound formation intensifies the meaning of ζητέω, emphasizing the act of searching 'out' fully or completely.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἐκζητέω is used for thorough or exhaustive investigation, such as seeking out a person or inquiring into a matter in detail. In the Septuagint, it can frequently render Hebrew verbs like דָּרַשׁ (darash, to inquire or seek), often in covenantal or religious contexts referring to the seeking of God or His will. In the New Testament, the term retains a sense of earnest or diligent seeking, often with an intensified theological or ethical aspect—such as seeking justice, truth, or God's favor. English translations usually render it as 'seek out,' 'search diligently,' or 'inquire,' but may obscure the intensive nuance present in the Greek. The term is more forceful than simply ζητέω, suggesting a process marked by effort and persistence. In Hellenistic literature, it is used for any form of detailed searching—both secular and religious.
Translation Consistency
“Seek” is the natural, versatile English verb that best captures the typical sense of ἐκζητέω — to search for or strive after with diligence or intensity. It easily supports senses like ‘seek out,’ ‘search,’ ‘inquire into,’ and ‘earnestly long for,’ while remaining simple and consistent across all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐκ and ζητέω; to search out, i.e. (figuratively)investigate, crave, demand, (by Hebraism) worship:--en- (re-)quire, seek after (carefully, diligently).
Root Family
ἐκζητέω (ekzēteō) — to seek, to search, to investigate, to strive after
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1567-07 |
ἐξεζήτησαν | exezetesan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
searched | they sought out thoroughly | they sought out thoroughly | 1 |
G1567-06 |
ἐκζητοῦσιν | ekzetousin | V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL |
seek | to the diligently seeking ones | diligently seeking | 1 |
G1567-04 |
ἐκζητηθήσεται | ekzetethesetai | V FUT PASS IND 3P SG |
it will be required | will be thoroughly sought out | will be thoroughly sought out | 1 |
G1567-05 |
ἐκζητῶν | ekzeton | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
seeking | earnestly seeking out | earnestly seeking out | 1 |
G1567-02 |
ἐκζητήσωσιν | ekzetesosin | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL |
seek | they might seek out thoroughly | seek out thoroughly | 1 |
G1567-03 |
ἐκζητηθῇ | ekzetethe | V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG |
it may be required | may be thoroughly sought out | may be required | 1 |
G1567-01 |
ἐκζητήσας | ekzetesas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
he sought | having thoroughly sought out | having thoroughly sought out | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1567-03 |
Luke 11:50 | ἐκζητηθῇ | ekzetethe | V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG |
it may be required | may be thoroughly sought out | may be required |
G1567-04 |
Luke 11:51 | ἐκζητηθήσεται | ekzetethesetai | V FUT PASS IND 3P SG |
it will be required | will be thoroughly sought out | will be thoroughly sought out |
G1567-02 |
Acts 15:17 | ἐκζητήσωσιν | ekzetesosin | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL |
seek | they might seek out thoroughly | seek out thoroughly |
G1567-05 |
Romans 3:11 | ἐκζητῶν | ekzeton | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
seeking | earnestly seeking out | earnestly seeking out |
G1567-06 |
Hebrews 11:6 | ἐκζητοῦσιν | ekzetousin | V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL |
seek | to the diligently seeking ones | diligently seeking |
G1567-01 |
Hebrews 12:17 | ἐκζητήσας | ekzetesas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
he sought | having thoroughly sought out | having thoroughly sought out |
G1567-07 |
1 Peter 1:10 | ἐξεζήτησαν | exezetesan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
searched | they sought out thoroughly | they sought out thoroughly |