ἐπιζητ-έω G1934
To seek after earnestly or persistently; to desire, search for, or inquire about something or someone with intensity
An intensified form of zeteo (to seek), the prefix epi- adding persistence and urgency to the search. When Jesus says 'the nations seek after all these things' (Matt 6:32; Luke 12:30), the verb exposes anxious craving for material security. When 'an evil generation seeks a sign' (Matt 12:39; 16:4), it reveals a stubborn demand for proof. Yet the same intensity can be noble: the patriarchs 'sought a homeland' (Heb 11:14), and the crowds at Capernaum 'sought' Jesus because they had tasted something real (Luke 4:42).
Senses
1. seek after, desire earnestly — To seek after earnestly, desire with intensity, or search for something persistently. This covers twelve of thirteen occurrences and spans both commendable and blameworthy seeking. The Gentiles 'seek after' material necessities (Matt 6:32; Luke 12:30), sign-seekers 'demand' a sign (Matt 12:39; 16:4), and the patriarchs 'seek' a heavenly homeland (Heb 11:14; 13:14). Spanish 'buscar' and French 'chercher/rechercher' both convey the diligent searching, while German 'suchen' captures the root idea. The epi- prefix consistently intensifies ordinary seeking into urgent pursuit. 12×
AR["أَطْلُبُ", "تَطلُبُ", "تَطْلُبُهَا", "تَطْلُبُونَ", "طَلَبَ", "كانَت-تَطلُبُهُ", "نَطْلُبُ", "يَطلُبُ", "يَطْلُبُ", "يَطْلُبُونَ"]·ben["আমরা-খুঁজছি", "খুঁজতেন", "খুঁজি", "খোঁজে", "খোঁজে;", "চাইলেন", "তারা-খুঁজছে", "তোমরা-খোঁজ"]·DE["suchen", "sucht"]·EN["I-seek", "seek-after", "seeks", "seeks-earnestly", "sought", "they-seek", "we-seek", "were-seeking", "you-seek"]·FR["chercher", "rechercher"]·heb["בִּקֵּשׁ", "חִפְּשׂוּ", "מְבַקְּשִׁים", "מְבַקְּשִׁים-אַתֶּם", "מְבַקְשִׁים", "מְבַקֵּשׁ"]·HI["खोजता-है", "खोजते-हैं", "खोजते-हैं।", "चअहति-है", "चाहते-हो", "चाहा", "ढूँढती-हैं", "ढूंढती-थी", "धोओनधतेए-है", "मैन-धुनधत-हुन"]·ID["aku mencari", "dicari", "ingin", "kamu-mencari", "kita-cari.", "mencari", "mereka-mencari."]·IT["cercare", "epizētoumen", "epizētousin", "epizētō"]·jav["dipun-padhosi", "kapengin", "kita-madosi", "kula-madosi", "madosi", "madosi,", "nggoleki,", "panjenengan-madosi", "sami-madosi"]·KO["구하나", "구하노라", "구한다", "구했다", "너희가-구하는다면", "우리가-찾고-있다", "찾는", "찾는다", "찾는다고", "찾았다", "추구하나"]·PT["busca", "buscais,", "buscam", "buscamos", "busco", "buscou"]·RU["искали", "ищем", "ищет", "ищете,", "ищу", "ищут", "пожелал"]·ES["busca", "buscaban", "buscamos", "buscan", "busco", "buscáis", "buscó"]·SW["alitaka", "anachokitafuta", "hutafuta", "kinatafuta", "kinatafuta,", "mnatafuta", "natafuta", "tunatafuta.", "wanatafuta", "yakamtafuta", "yanatafuta"]·TR["ararlar", "ariyorum", "arıyor", "arıyorlar", "arıyorlardı", "arıyorsanız", "arıyoruz", "istedi"]·urd["تلاش-کرتا-ہوں", "چاہا", "چاہتے-ہو", "ڈھونڈ-رہا-ہے", "ڈھونڈتی-تھیں", "ڈھونڈتی-ہیں", "ڈھونڈتی-ہے", "ڈھونڈتے-ہیں"]
2. search for (a person) — To search for a specific person with the aim of locating them physically. In Acts 12:19, Herod 'searches for' Peter after his escape from prison, dispatching guards to find and recapture him. Spanish 'buscando' and French 'chercher' are lexically identical to sense 1, but the narrative context narrows the meaning to a manhunt. The distinction is less about different semantics than about a concrete, physical application of the verb's general force. 1×
AR["بَاحِثًا"]·ben["খুঁজে"]·DE["sucht"]·EN["having-searched"]·FR["chercher"]·heb["חִפֵּשׂ"]·HI["ढूंढकर"]·ID["mencari"]·IT["cercare"]·jav["madosi"]·KO["찾아서"]·RU["разыскав"]·ES["buscando"]·SW["akimtafuta"]·TR["arayan"]·urd["ڈھونڈ-کر"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐπιζητ-έω, seek after, wish for, miss, τινά Refs 5th c.BC+; μηδὲν ἐπιζητείτω let her lack nothing, Refs 3rd c.AD+; ἐ. τὸν ἄν θρωπονmake further search for.. , Refs 4th c.BC+; τῆς αἰτίας αἰτίαν ἐπι ζητούσηςrequiring, Refs 2nd c.BC+ the beaters (for game), Refs 5th c.BC+ —passive, τὰ ἐπιζητούμενα περὶ τὴν εὐδαιμονίαν Refs 4th c.BC+; οἱ -ούμενοι criminals `wanted', Refs 3rd c.AD+ __b. request, πρός…