Greek · G2212, G1960 · unreviewed

ζητεῖ ἐπιμελῶς

To seek · carefully

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

ζητέω G2212 to seek
Pronunciation zētéō
To seek actively and intentionally, often implying desire, striving, or demanding rather than passive searching.
Open lexicon entry →
ἐπιμελῶς G1960 carefully
Pronunciation epimelōs
Open lexicon entry →

What does ζητεῖ ἐπιμελῶς (zētei epimelōs) mean in the Bible?

ζητέω · ἐπιμελῶς is a Greek word meaning "searches diligently/carefully".

Full entry for ζητεῖ ἐπιμελῶς (G2212, G1960) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

searches diligently/carefully
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Imperfect Present Future Aorist
Voices
Active Passive
Indicative states a fact or reality 75×
Present Active Matt 28:5 · Mark 16:6 · Luke 24:5 · John 1:38 · John 5:44 · John 6:26 · John 7:19 · John 8:37 · John 8:40 · John 16:19 · John 18:4 · John 18:7 · John 18:8 · Acts 10:21 · 2 Cor 13:3 · Matt 18:12 36×
Imperfect Active Matt 26:59 · Mark 11:18 · Mark 12:12 · Mark 14:1 · Mark 14:55 · Luke 5:18 · Luke 6:19 · Luke 11:16 · Luke 19:47 · Luke 22:2 · John 5:18 · John 7:1 · John 7:11 · John 7:30 · John 10:39 · John 11:8 27×
Future Active John 7:34 · John 7:36 · John 8:21 · John 13:33 · Luke 13:24 · Rev 9:6
Aorist Active Luke 20:19 · Acts 16:10 · 2 Tim 1:17
Future Passive Luke 12:48
Present Passive 1 Cor 4:2
Imperfect Passive Heb 8:7
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 26×
Present Active Matt 2:20 · Matt 12:46 · Matt 12:47 · Matt 21:46 · Mark 8:11 · John 6:24 · Acts 10:19 · Rom 10:3 · Gal 2:17 · 1 Thess 2:6 · Matt 7:8 · Luke 11:10 · Luke 13:6 · Luke 13:7 · John 7:18 · John 8:50 26×
Imperative command or strong request 12×
Present Active Matt 6:33 · Matt 7:7 · Luke 11:9 · Luke 12:29 · Luke 12:31 · 1 Cor 14:12 · Col 3:1 · 1 Cor 7:27 · 1 Cor 10:24 10×
Aorist Active Acts 9:11 · 1 Pet 3:11
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract
Present Active Matt 2:13 · Acts 17:27
Aorist Active Luke 19:10
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose
Aorist Active Luke 17:33
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 116 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 3 ongoing 37 prospective 7 imperative 12 background 28 subjunctive 1 infinitive 2 participle 26
Tense
present 75 imperfect 28 future 7 aorist 6
Voice
active 113 passive 3
Mood
indicative 75 participle 26 imperative 12 infinitive 2 subjunctive 1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 2:13 ζητεῖν present active infinitive infinitive Matthew 2:20 ζητοῦντες present active participle participle Matthew 6:33 ζητεῖτε present active imperative imperative Matthew 7:7 ζητεῖτε present active imperative imperative Matthew 7:8 ζητῶν present active participle participle Matthew 12:43 ζητοῦν present active participle participle Matthew 12:46 ζητοῦντες present active participle participle Matthew 12:47 ζητοῦντές present active participle participle Matthew 13:45 ζητοῦντι present active participle participle Matthew 18:12 ζητεῖ present active indicative ongoing Matthew 21:46 ζητοῦντες present active participle participle Matthew 26:16 ἐζήτει imperfect active indicative background Matthew 26:59 ἐζήτουν imperfect active indicative background Matthew 28:5 ζητεῖτε present active indicative ongoing Mark 1:37 ζητοῦσίν present active indicative ongoing Mark 3:32 ζητοῦσίν present active indicative ongoing Mark 8:11 ζητοῦντες present active participle participle Mark 8:12 ζητεῖ present active indicative ongoing Mark 11:18 ἐζήτουν imperfect active indicative background Mark 12:12 ἐζήτουν imperfect active indicative background Mark 14:1 ἐζήτουν imperfect active indicative background Mark 14:11 ἐζήτει imperfect active indicative background Mark 14:55 ἐζήτουν imperfect active indicative background Mark 16:6 ζητεῖτε present active indicative ongoing Luke 2:48 ἐζητοῦμέν imperfect active indicative background Luke 2:49 ἐζητεῖτέ imperfect active indicative background Luke 5:18 ἐζήτουν imperfect active indicative background Luke 6:19 ἐζήτουν imperfect active indicative background Luke 9:9 ἐζήτει imperfect active indicative background Luke 11:10 ζητῶν present active participle participle Luke 11:16 ἐζήτουν imperfect active indicative background Luke 11:24 ζητοῦν present active participle participle Luke 11:29 ζητεῖ present active indicative ongoing Luke 11:9 ζητεῖτε present active imperative imperative Luke 12:29 ζητεῖτε present active imperative imperative Luke 12:31 ζητεῖτε present active imperative imperative Luke 12:48 ζητηθήσεται future passive indicative prospective Luke 13:24 ζητήσουσιν future active indicative prospective Luke 13:6 ζητῶν present active participle participle Luke 13:7 ζητῶν present active participle participle +76 more occurrences

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)
Sources