εὑρίσκω G2147
To find, discover, or come upon someone or something; passive: to be found, turn out to be, be revealed.
A verb of perception and encounter at the heart of many New Testament narratives. Whether a shepherd finding a lost sheep, a merchant discovering a pearl of great price (Matt 13:44-46), or Mary being found with child (Matt 1:18), εὑρίσκω bridges deliberate search and unexpected discovery. The passive voice often carries a theological weight—being 'found' in Christ or 'found' faithful. Arabic wajada, Korean 찾다/발견하다, and Swahili -pata all capture facets of this rich semantic range, from physical locating to intellectual realization.
1. find, discover — The active sense: to find, discover, or come upon by searching or by chance. This covers the vast majority of occurrences—locating people (Matt 20:6, finding idle workers), objects (Matt 13:44, treasure in a field), or abstract realities (finding rest, finding favor). Arabic wajada/yajidu and Korean 찾았다 consistently render this active discovery. The word moves fluidly between physical search and cognitive recognition. 144×
AR["لَمَّا-وَجَدُوهُ","وَجَدا","وَجَدوا","وَجَدَا","وَجَدَاهُ","وَجَدُوا","وَجَدُونِي","وَجَدُوهَا","وَجَدْنَ","يَجِدُوا","يَجِدُوهُمْ","يَجِدْنَ"]·ben["খুঁজে-পেলেন","তারা-পেল","তারা-পেলেন","পাইল","পেল","পেলেন"]·DE["finden","findet"]·EN["found","they-found"]·FR["trouver"]·heb["מָצְא-וּ","מָצְאוּ"]·HI["और","पाई","पाया","लौटकर"]·ID["Mereka-menemukan","mendapati","menemukan","mereka-menemukan","mereka-temukan"]·IT["trovare"]·jav["ingkang-dipunpanggihaken","ketemu","manggih","manggihaken","sami-manggihaken","tiyang-tiyang-manggihaken"]·KO["발견하였다","발견하지","발견한","발견했다","찾았다","찾았으니"]·PT["acharam","encontraram","encontraram,"]·RU["нашли","нашли,"]·ES["encontraron","hallaron","lo-hallaron"]·SW["hawakuona","kuta","pata","wabaya","wakakuta","wakampata","wakapata","walikuta","walimkuta","walipata"]·TR["buldular"]·urd["اُنہوں-نے-پایا","تندرست","پایا"]
Matt 13:44, Matt 13:46, Matt 18:28, Matt 20:6, Matt 21:19, Matt 22:10, Matt 26:43, Matt 26:60, Matt 27:32, Mark 1:37, Mark 11:4, Mark 11:13 (+38 more)
▼ 2 more senses below
Senses
2. be found, be discovered — The passive sense: to be found, be discovered, turn up, or turn out to be in a certain state. Used when the subject is the one discovered rather than the discoverer—Mary 'was found' with child (Matt 1:18), the lost son 'has been found' (Luke 15:24, 32). Swahili -patikana and Arabic wujida capture this passivity well. Often theologically loaded: being found worthy, being found in Christ, or being revealed in one's true character (Luke 17:18). 31×
AR["أوجَدَ","توجَد","توجَدَ","وُجِدَ","وُجِدَتْ","يوجَد","يوجَدوا","يوجَدَ","يوجَدْ"]·ben["পাওয়া-গেছিল","পাওয়া-গেছে","পাওয়া-গেল","পাওয়া-যাই","পাওয়া-যাবে","পাওয়া-যায়।"]·DE["finden","findet"]·EN["be-found","being-found","may-be-found","might-be-found","was-found","were-found","will-be-found"]·FR["trouver"]·heb["אִמָּצֵא","אֶמָּצֵא","יִמָּצֵא","נִמְצְאָה","נִמְצְאוּ","נִמְצָא","תִּמָּצֵא"]·HI["पअय-गय","पअय-जऔन","पाई-गई","पाई-जाएगी","पाए-गए","पाया-गया","पाया-जाऊं","पाया-जाए","पायी-गई","मिल-गया।"]·ID["didapati","ditemukan"]·IT["trovare"]·jav["dipun-panggih","dipun-panggihaken","dipunpanggih","dipunpanggihaken","kamanggihaken","kapanggih","kapanggih.","kapanggihaken","mboten-kapanggih","pinanggih"]·KO["발견되도록","발견되리라","발견되어","발견되었느니라","발견되었다","발견되었으니","발견되지","발견되지-않았다","찾아졌는냐","찾아졌다"]·PT["achou-se","foi-achada","foi-achado","foi-encontrado","foram-achados","seja-achado","sendo-achado","será-encontrada"]·RU["-нашлась","найден","найден-буду","найден-был","найдена","найденный","найдётся","нашлась","нашлись","нашлись;","нашлось","нашёлся","не-был-найден","оказалась","оказался"]·ES["fue-hallada","fue-hallado","fueron-hallados","sea-hallado","será-hallada","siendo-hallado"]·SW["akionekana","alikutwa","alipatikana","aliyeonekana","amepatikana","aonekane.","hapakuonekana","haukupatikana","iligunduliwa","ilipatikana,","kupatikana","nionekane","niwe","onekana","onekana;","patikana","utaonekana","walipatikana"]·TR["açmaya","bulunacak","bulunayim","bulunayım","bulundu","bulunmus","bulunsun"]·urd["ملا","ٹھہرا","پائی-جائے-گی","پائی-گئی","پائے-گئے","پایا-جاؤں","پایا-جائے","پایا-گیا"]
Matt 1:18, Luke 9:36, Luke 15:24, Luke 15:32, Luke 17:18, Acts 5:39, Acts 8:40, Rom 7:10, Rom 10:20, 1 Cor 4:2, 1 Cor 15:15, 2 Cor 5:3 (+19 more)
3. sense 3 — A participial or specialized sense of obtaining or securing something through effort, as in Hebrews 9:12 where Christ is said to have 'found' (obtained, secured) eternal redemption. Spanish habiendo-obtenido ('having obtained') captures the nuance precisely—this is not stumbling upon something but achieving or procuring it, aligning εὑρίσκω with the sense of acquisition through purposeful action. 1×
AR["وَاجِدًا"]·ben["পেয়ে"]·DE["finden"]·EN["having-found"]·FR["trouver"]·heb["מָצָא"]·HI["पाकर।"]·ID["telah-memperoleh"]·IT["trovare"]·jav["sampun-manggih"]·KO["얻으셨으니"]·PT["tendo-obtido"]·RU["обретя"]·ES["habiendo-obtenido"]·SW["akipata"]·TR["elde-ederek"]·urd["حاصل-کرکے"]
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×)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×)G2212 1. seek, search for, look for (64×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
εὑρίσκω, imperfect ηὕρισκον or εὕρ- Refs 5th c.BC+: future εὑρήσω Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist 2 εὗρον Refs 8th c.BC+; 3rd.pers. plural εὕροσαν LXX+1st c.AD+; Epic dialect infinitive εὑρέμεναι Refs 8th c.BC+: later aorist 1 εὕρησα Refs 4th c.AD+; εὗρα variant in NT+2nd c.AD+: perfect εὕρηκα Refs 5th c.BC+, perfect imperative 2nd pers. singular εὕρηκε Refs 4th c.BC+:—middle, future εὑρήσομαι Refs 5th…