"to seek for, make search for, Acts 12:19; to require, demand, Mt. 12:39; 16:4; Acts 19:39; to desire, endeavor to obtain, Rom. 11:7; Heb. 11:14; to seek with care and anxiety, Mt. 6:32"
Definition and meaning
to seek for, make search for, Acts 12:19; to require, demand, Mt. 12:39; 16:4; Acts 19:39; to desire, endeavor to obtain, Rom. 11:7; Heb. 11:14; to seek with care and anxiety, Mt. 6:32
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐπιζητέω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of epizeteo (G1934) across the King James Bible.
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
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Common questions
Strong's G1934 (epizeteo) is a Greek word that means: to seek for, make search for, Acts 12:19; to require, demand, Mt. 12:39; 16:4; Acts 19:39; to desire, endeavor to obtain, Rom. 11:7; Heb. 11:14; to seek with care and anxiety, Mt. 6:32 It appears 13 times in the King James Bible.
The word epizeteo (G1934) appears 13 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1934 is epizeteo, a Greek word defined as: to seek for, make search for, Acts 12:19; to require, demand, Mt. 12:39; 16:4; Acts 19:39; to desire, endeavor to obtain, Rom. 11:7; Heb. 11:14; to se. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
epizeteo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.