ζήτ-ησις G2214
A seeking, investigation, or controversy; a dispute or debated question, especially on matters of law or doctrine
From the verb zeteo ('to seek'), this noun covers the spectrum from philosophical inquiry to heated religious controversy. In the New Testament it leans overwhelmingly toward the latter: John 3:25 reports a 'dispute' between John's disciples and a Jew about purification; Acts 15:2, 7 describe the sharp 'debate' at the Jerusalem Council over circumcision; and the Pastoral Epistles warn against 'controversies' that breed strife (1 Tim 1:4; 6:4; Titus 3:9). German 'Streitfrage' (contested question) and Arabic 'mubahathat/jidal' both foreground the adversarial quality. Only Acts 25:20 preserves the older, more neutral sense of judicial 'inquiry,' where Festus confesses uncertainty about how to conduct the investigation into charges against Paul.
Senses
1. controversy, dispute — A controversy, dispute, or debated question, especially concerning matters of Jewish law, religious doctrine, or theological practice. John 3:25 introduces a 'dispute' about ceremonial purification; Acts 15:2, 7 use it for the sharp debate over Gentile circumcision at the Jerusalem Council; and the Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim 1:4; 6:4; 2 Tim 2:23; Titus 3:9) warn against 'foolish controversies' that produce quarrels rather than edification. Spanish 'controversias/disputa,' German 'Streitfrage,' and Arabic 'jidal' all capture the contentious, adversarial nature of these debates. 7×
AR["-المُباحَثاتِ", "المُباحَثاتِ", "جِدالٌ", "جِدالٍ", "مُباحَثاتٍ", "مُجَادَلَةٌ"]·ben["অনুসন্ধান", "তর্ক", "প্রশ্নগুলি,", "বিতর্ক", "বিতর্কগুলি"]·DE["Streitfrage", "ζητήσεως"]·EN["controversies", "debate", "dispute", "speculations"]·FR["dispute", "question"]·heb["וִיכּוּחַ", "חֲקִירוֹת", "מַחְלֹקֶת", "שְׁאֵלוֹת"]·HI["प्रशन", "वाद-विवाद", "विवअदोन", "विवअदोन,", "विवाद"]·ID["perdebatan", "perdebatan-perdebatan", "pertanyaan-pertanyaan"]·IT["ekzētēseis", "ricerca", "zetesis", "zētēseis"]·jav["padu", "pitakenan", "pitakènan", "pitakènan,"]·KO["논쟁들과", "논쟁들을", "논쟁들을,", "논쟁이", "토론이"]·PT["controvérsias", "discussão", "especulações", "questões"]·RU["рассуждению", "состязаний", "спор", "споров", "спору", "споры"]·ES["controversias", "discusión", "disputa"]·SW["mabishano", "maswali", "mjadala", "ubishi", "wa-mjadala"]·TR["bir-tartışma", "tartışmalar", "tartışmaları", "tartışmanın"]·urd["بحث", "بحثوں", "سوالات-سے"]
2. inquiry, investigation — A formal inquiry or investigation, retaining the word's classical sense of a judicial or administrative search for truth. In Acts 25:20, the Roman governor Festus explains to King Agrippa that he was 'at a loss regarding the inquiry (zetesis) about these things,' referring to the legal examination of charges brought against Paul by the Jewish authorities. Spanish 'investigación' and the judicial connotation of the Greek distinguish this from the polemical 'dispute' sense -- Festus is not arguing a position but genuinely uncertain how to proceed with the case. 1×
AR["التَّحْقِيقِ"]·ben["অনুসন্ধান"]·DE["ζήτησιν"]·EN["inquiry"]·FR["dispute"]·heb["חֲקִירָה"]·HI["जाँचकी"]·ID["penyelidikan"]·IT["ricerca"]·jav["pitakènan"]·KO["조사를"]·PT["investigação"]·RU["исследовании"]·ES["investigación"]·SW["uchunguzi"]·TR["araştırmayı"]·urd["تحقیقات"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)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×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ζήτ-ησις, εως, ἡ, seeking, search for, κατ᾽ Εὐρώπης ζήτησιν ἐκπλῶσαι Refs 5th c.BC+; κατὰ βίου τε καὶ γῆς ζ. Refs; ἀνδρὸς κατὰ ζήτησιν in quest of him, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 searching, examining, ζήτησιν ἐποιέετο τῶν νεῶν searched the ships, Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 inquiry, investigation, especially of a philosophic nature, Refs 5th c.BC+; ζ. τοῦ μέλλοντος διὰ ὀρνίθων ποιεῖσθαι inquire into the future by…