"to seek, look for, Mt. 18:12; Lk. 2:48, 49; to search after, Mt. 13:45; to be on the watch for, Mt. 26:16; to pursue, endeavor to obtain, Rom. 2:7; 1 Pet. 3:11; to desire, wish, want, Mt. 12:47; to seek, strive for, Mt. 6:33; to endeavor, Mt. 21:46; to require, demand, ask for, M..."
Definition and meaning
to seek, look for, Mt. 18:12; Lk. 2:48, 49; to search after, Mt. 13:45; to be on the watch for, Mt. 26:16; to pursue, endeavor to obtain, Rom. 2:7; 1 Pet. 3:11; to desire, wish, want, Mt. 12:47; to seek, strive for, Mt. 6:33; to endeavor, Mt. 21:46; to require, demand, ask for, Mk. 8:11; Lk. 11:16; 12:48; to inquire or ask questions, question, Jn. 16:19; to deliberate, Mk. 11:18; Lk. 12:29; in NT from Hebrew, ζητεῖν τὴν ψυχήν, to seek the life of any one, to seek to kill, Mt. 2:20
In the original Greek the word is written: ζητέω
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 zeteo (G2212) across the King James Bible.
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
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Common questions
Strong's G2212 (zeteo) is a Greek word that means: to seek, look for, Mt. 18:12; Lk. 2:48, 49; to search after, Mt. 13:45; to be on the watch for, Mt. 26:16; to pursue, endeavor to obtain, Rom. 2:7; 1 Pet. 3:11; to desire, wish, want, Mt. 12:47; to se... It appears 116 times in the King James Bible.
The word zeteo (G2212) appears 116 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2212 is zeteo, a Greek word defined as: to seek, look for, Mt. 18:12; Lk. 2:48, 49; to search after, Mt. 13:45; to be on the watch for, Mt. 26:16; to pursue, endeavor to obtain, Rom. 2:7; 1 . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
zeteo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.