Greek word · G1830
ἐξερευνάω
exereunaō
to search out
To search out thoroughly, examine closely, explore. Used of searching a place, tracking something down or investigating a matter. This is the only place it occurs in the New Testament.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
ἐξ-εραυνάω
(Rec. ἐξερευνάω), -ῶ, [in LXX for חָקַר, נָצַר, etc. ;]
to search out, search carefully: before περί, 1 Peter 1:10.†
(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 1 Peter 1:10
- Range of meaning
To search out thoroughly, examine closely, explore. Used of searching a place, tracking something down or investigating a matter. This is the only place it occurs in the New Testament.
- Against the English
KJV 'searched diligently', BSB 'investigated carefully' and WEB 'searched diligently' all catch the thoroughness. The ex- prefix carries the sense of searching something through to the end.
- Used elsewhere in the period
LXX Ps 119(118):2 (paired with ekzēteō, as above); 1 Macc 9:26 uses the same root for hunting down Judas's friends. The simple verb eraunaō comes in the next verse (1 Pet 1:11), 'searching what time...', and the doubled verb here leads into it.
Where it appears
1 Peter · 1
-
1 Peter 1:10 ἐξηραύνησαν searched out diligently
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully,
Here: 'They searched out': close examination, the way someone tracks a trail or goes through a house. Paired with the previous verb, it says the prophets put real, careful effort into the question.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.