ζητέω
zētéō
G2212 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To seek, search for, or try to obtain; to attempt to find something or someone by deliberate effort. In extended senses: to strive after, aim for (a goal or desired state); to inquire or investigate. Frequently used for the pursuit of understanding, the seeking of God or God's will, or the search for solutions. Can also convey active plotting or desiring, depending on context.
Semantic Range
to seek, to search for, to attempt to find, to strive for, to desire, to try to obtain, to inquire, to investigate, to plot (in a negative sense), to pursue (a goal), to be concerned with
Root / Etymology
From the root ζητ-, an early Greek stem meaning 'to seek' or 'to aim for.' Cognate with classical Greek ζητέω, a common verb from Homeric through post-classical Greek with the meaning 'to seek, look for, strive after.' No clear Semitic cognate; the form and meaning are native to Greek.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ζητέω regularly means to seek or search for something both physically (as searching for a lost object) and abstractly (as seeking knowledge or truth). In Hellenistic Greek (including the LXX and New Testament), the sense expands to the seeking of God, righteousness, or spiritual matters. The verb is often used in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew verbs such as בָּקַשׁ (baqash) and דָּרַשׁ (darash), which mean 'to seek, inquire, pursue.' In the New Testament, ζητέω appears in a variety of contexts—seeking people (e.g., to harm or to find), seeking honor or advantage, as well as seeking God or the kingdom of God. 'To worship' is not an inherent meaning but can appear in contexts where seeking God is part of religious devotion (cf. Hebraic thought patterns). The verb can also imply active intent, whether positive (pursuing understanding, God, or peace) or negative (seeking to kill or harm). English translations may render ζητέω variously as 'seek,' 'look for,' 'try to find,' 'endeavor,' or, idiomatically, as 'are concerned with.' Compare with πυνθάνομαι, which more specifically means 'to inquire' or 'to ask a question,' whereas ζητέω connotes more active pursuit or striving. Unlike the sense of 'worship' seen in some older translations or glosses, ζητέω itself does not mean 'to worship,' but can describe the action of seeking God that constitutes worshipful intent.
Translation Consistency
'Seek' best captures the typical and extended senses (to search for, strive after, inquire, attempt to obtain) in natural English. It is the most common biblical rendering, fits both positive and negative contexts, and easily yields natural inflected forms (seeks, sought, seeking) for consistent use across all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain affinity; to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by Hebraism) to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life):--be (go) about, desire, endeavour, enquire (for), require, (X will) seek (after, for, means). Compare πυνθάνομαι.
Root Family
ζητέω (zēteō) — to seek, to search for, to strive after
Word Forms
28 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2212-12 |
ζητεῖτε | zeteite | V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL |
seek | keep seeking | keep seeking | 22 |
G2212-07 |
ἐζήτουν | ezetoun | V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL |
were seeking | they were seeking | they were seeking | 18 |
G2212-08 |
ζητεῖ | zetei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
seeks | he/she seeks | he/she seeks | 11 |
G2212-25 |
ζητοῦντες | zetountes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
seeking | those seeking | those seeking | 9 |
G2212-22 |
ζητῶν | zeton | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
seeking | seeking | seeking | 9 |
G2212-28 |
ζητοῦσίν | zetousin | V PRS ACT IND 3P PL |
are seeking | they are seeking | they are seeking | 9 |
G2212-01 |
ἐζήτει | ezetei | V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG |
he sought | was seeking | he was seeking | 7 |
G2212-21 |
ζητῶ | zeto | V PRS ACT IND 1P SG |
I seek | I am seeking | I am seeking | 4 |
G2212-17 |
ζητήσετέ | zetesete | V FUT ACT IND 2P PL |
you will seek | you will seek | you will seek | 4 |
G2212-09 |
ζητεῖν | zetein | V PRS ACT INF |
to seek | to be seeking | to be seeking | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
117 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2212-09 |
Matthew 2:13 | ζητεῖν | zetein | V PRS ACT INF |
to seek | to be seeking | to be seeking |
G2212-25 |
Matthew 2:20 | ζητοῦντες | zetountes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
seeking | those seeking | those seeking |
G2212-12 |
Matthew 6:33 | ζητεῖτε | zeteite | V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL |
seek | keep seeking | keep seeking |
G2212-12 |
Matthew 7:7 | ζητεῖτε | zeteite | V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL |
Seek | keep seeking | keep seeking |
G2212-22 |
Matthew 7:8 | ζητῶν | zeton | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
one seeking | seeking | seeking |
G2212-24 |
Matthew 12:43 | ζητοῦν | zetoun | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM N SG |
seeking | seeking | seeking |
G2212-25 |
Matthew 12:46 | ζητοῦντες | zetountes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
seeking | those seeking | those seeking |
G2212-25 |
Matthew 12:47 | ζητοῦντές | zetountes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
seeking | those seeking | those seeking |
G2212-26 |
Matthew 13:45 | ζητοῦντι | zetounti | V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG |
seeking | to one seeking | seeking |
G2212-08 |
Matthew 18:12 | ζητεῖ | zetei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
seeks | he/she seeks | he/she seeks |