ἐπιζητέω

Matthew 6:32 ἐπιζητοῦσιν· seek after;

For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Here: The prefix epi- intensifies 'seek': to go after, crave, make something the object of your pursuit. The present tense pictures ongoing, habitual chasing.

Matthew 12:39 ἐπιζητεῖ· seeks for;

Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Here: "Keeps seeking after" or "demands". The present tense shows an ongoing habit, and the ἐπι- prefix makes the wanting more insistent. They are not asking politely. They are pressing for proof.

Matthew 16:4 ἐπιζητεῖ· seeks;

A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.

Here: A strengthened "seek": they want it badly and keep on wanting it. The present tense describes an ongoing habit, not one request. "Demands" (BSB) catches the pressure.

Luke 4:42 ἐπεζήτουν were sought after

At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place, and the crowds were looking for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving.

Luke 12:30 ἐπιζητοῦσιν· seek for;

For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

Here: A strengthened form of 'seek' (zēteō, used in v. 29 and v. 31). The present tense marks it as an ongoing pursuit: they keep chasing these things as their main concern.

Acts 12:19 ἐπιζητήσας having sought after

After Herod had searched for him unsuccessfully, he examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there.

Acts 13:7 ἐπεζήτησεν desired

an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.

Here: "Sought" or "was eager". The prefix epi- often makes the seeking more intent. This was a deliberate request, not idle curiosity.

Acts 19:39 ἐπιζητεῖτε, you inquire,

But if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly.

Here: Present tense, addressed to the whole crowd ("you" plural): "you are seeking, you are pressing for." The prefix strengthens the verb. It suggests demanding, not idle curiosity, and fits a crowd that has been shouting for two hours (v.34).

Romans 11:7 ἐπιζητεῖ is seeking

What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,

Here: Present tense: Israel *is still* earnestly seeking. The prefix makes it stronger than plain 'seek', meaning to pursue intently. Paul grants Israel real zeal (10:2).

Philippians 4:17 ἐπιζητῶ ἐπιζητῶ I seek after

Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.

Here: Present tense: 'I am not out for' or 'I am not angling for'. It names what a person sets their aim on. Paul denies that the money is his goal.

Hebrews 11:14 ἐπιζητοῦσιν. they are seeking.

Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.

Hebrews 13:14 ἐπιζητοῦμεν. we are seeking for.

For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Here: 'We are earnestly seeking', an ongoing, set-on-it longing and pursuit. It is not a search for something whose location is unknown. It is the same verb used of the patriarchs who 'are seeking a homeland' (11:14). The verb comes last in the sentence, so the verse ends on that longing.