Greek word · G1567

ἐκζητέω

ekzēteō

to seek out

To seek out, search for carefully, look into, require or demand. The prefix ek- ('out') can make 'seek' more intense, although in common Greek the plain and prefixed forms sometimes overlap.

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐκ-ζητέω, -ῶ

[in LXX chiefly for דָּרַשׁ, also for נָצַר, בָּקַשׁ, etc. ;]

1. to seek out or after, search for: with accusative of person(s) (1Ma.9:26); figuratively, τ. κύριον, θεόν (cf. Psalms 14:2, Amos 5:4, al.), Acts 15:17, Romans 3:11, Hebrews 11:6; εὐλογίαν, Hebrews 12:17; ἐξεζήτησαν κ. ἐξηραύνησαν (as in 1Ma.9:26), sought and searched out: 1 Peter 1:10.

2. As in 2 Kings 4:11, Ezekiel 3:18 al. (דָּרַשׁ), to demand, require: Luke 11:50-51 †

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Hebrews 11:6

Range of meaning

To seek out, search for carefully, look into, require or demand. The prefix ek- ('out') can make 'seek' more intense, although in common Greek the plain and prefixed forms sometimes overlap. In the Greek Old Testament it often translates the Hebrew darash: to seek or ask the LORD, consult him, and turn to him in worship and loyalty.

Against the English

KJV 'diligently seek' and BSB/NIV 'earnestly seek' capture the intensity. WEB and ESV's plain 'seek' lose it. NLT's 'sincerely seek' moves the stress from effort and persistence to motive.

Used elsewhere in the period

Psalm 33:11 in the Greek numbering (34:10 in English): 'those who seek out the Lord will not lack any good thing'. Psalm 118:2 Greek (119:2): 'blessed are those who seek him out with their whole heart'. Amos 5:4, 6: 'seek me and live'. Deuteronomy 4:29 links seeking with 'all your heart and all your soul'. Hebrews 12:17 uses the same verb for Esau, who 'sought it with tears' but found no room for repentance.

From the study of Hebrews 12:17

Range of meaning

To seek out, search for diligently, inquire carefully, demand. The prefix ἐκ- intensifies the plain verb ζητέω, "seek".

Against the English

KJV's "sought it carefully" meant, in 1611, "anxiously, full of care". WEB's "diligently" captures the intensity. BSB and ESV drop the intensity ("sought").

How it drifted

"Carefully" in KJV English meant with care, anxiety or sorrow. Today it means cautiously, which hides how desperate Esau was.

Used elsewhere in the period

Hebrews 11:6: God "rewards those who earnestly seek (ἐκζητοῦσιν) him". 1 Peter 1:10: the prophets "searched intently". In the Septuagint it often describes seeking God (Psalm 34:4 [33:5 LXX]; Psalm 119:2, 10).

From the study of Romans 3:11

Range of meaning

To seek out, search for carefully, inquire diligently; with God as object, to turn to him, consult him, devote yourself to him. The prefix ek- strengthens the plain verb zēteō ('seek').

Against the English

'Seeks God' can sound to modern ears like a spiritual quest: searching for meaning, exploring religion, being a 'seeker'. KJV/WEB/YLT "seeketh after" keeps the intensity of the prefix. In the biblical idiom it means actively going to God, relying on him and being loyal to him, the way an Israelite 'sought the LORD' by going to his sanctuary, asking his will, and keeping covenant (the binding relationship between God and his people).

How it drifted

Modern Western religion frames 'seeking' as an individual journey of discovery. In the Hebrew background (darash), seeking God is a relational and covenantal act: turning to him rather than to other gods or to yourself.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the LXX it often renders Hebrew darash. Psalm 14:2 Hebrew reads doresh et-Elohim, 'seeking God.' Compare Deuteronomy 4:29 LXX: 'you will find him when you seek him out with all your heart.' Psalm 33:5 LXX (= 34:4): 'I sought out the Lord, and he answered me.' Amos 5:4 has darash: 'Seek me and live.' To 'inquire of the LORD' through a prophet or at the sanctuary is also darash (Genesis 25:22; 1 Kings 22:8). 2 Chronicles 15:12 uses it for a covenant pledge to 'seek the LORD.' Elsewhere in the NT: Acts 15:17 (Amos 9:12), 'that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord'; Hebrews 11:6, God 'rewards those who seek him out'; 1 Peter 1:10, the prophets 'searched out' salvation.

Similar words

Where it appears

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 11:50 ἐκζητηθῇ may be charged

    As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,

    Here: Aorist passive subjunctive: 'may be demanded / exacted'. This is the Greek Old Testament's wording for God as avenger of blood ('I will require his blood from your hand'). The passive leaves God unnamed, but he is the one who calls the debt in.

  2. Luke 11:51 ἐκζητηθήσεται it will be required

    from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.

    Here: 'It will be demanded back.' This is the biblical phrase for God calling a killer to account for shed blood (Gen 9:5; 2 Chr 24:22). The passive leaves God unnamed but means him as the one who demands it. The future tense makes it a sure coming reckoning.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 15:17 ἐκζητήσωσιν may seek out

    so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things

    Here: An aorist subjunctive: the seeking is pictured as a whole act that is hoped for. The prefix ek- gives intensity: seeking out, turning to God on purpose, in the Old Testament sense of 'seeking the LORD' in worship and loyalty.

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 3:11 ἐκζητῶν is seeking after

    There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.

    Here: A strengthened form of 'seek' (ek-, 'out', added to zēteō). It is the usual Greek Old Testament word for the Hebrew darash: turning to God, asking him for guidance, relying on him in worship and obedience. The present tense means a habitual orientation toward God, not a passing curiosity.

Hebrews · 2

  1. Hebrews 11:6 ἐκζητοῦσιν earnestly seeking out

    And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

    Here: A stronger form of 'seek' (prefix ek-, 'out'). In the Greek Old Testament it often stands for 'seeking the LORD': turning to him, asking him for guidance, and staying loyal to him. The present tense describes people who keep seeking.

  2. Hebrews 12:17 ἐκζητήσας having earnestly sought

    For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.

    Here: "Having sought out earnestly": an intensified form of "seek". In Hebrews 11:6 the same verb describes those who earnestly seek God. Esau sought hard, but what he sought was the blessing.

1 Peter · 1

  1. 1 Peter 1:10 ἐξεζήτησαν sought out

    Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully,

    Here: 'They sought out': seeking with the prefix ek- ('out') added, which makes it more intense, meaning searching until you find. The past tense looks back on the prophets' inquiry as a completed whole.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.