What does ζητέω · πρῶτος mean in the Bible?
ζητέω · πρῶτος is a Greek phrase meaning "seek first, pursue as priority".
Greek · G2212, G4413
ζητεῖτε πρῶτον
To seek · foremost (in time, place, order or importance)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are 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 →
πρῶτος G4413 foremost (in time, place, order or importance)
Pronunciation prōtos
Foremost in time, place, or rank; often implies priority or supremacy rather than mere sequence.
Open lexicon entry →
What does ζητεῖτε πρῶτον (zēteite prōton) mean in the Bible?
ζητέω · πρῶτος is a Greek phrase meaning "seek first, pursue as priority".
Full entry for ζητεῖτε πρῶτον (G2212, G4413) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G2212, G4413?
G2212, G4413 is connected to 117 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. seek first, pursue as priority
Source Gloss
seek first, pursue as priority
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 5 Aligned forms 117 Tenses Imperfect, Present, Future, Aorist Voices Active, Passive
Tenses
Voices
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 6×
Aorist Active Luke 20:19 · Acts 16:10 · 2 Tim 1:17 3×
Future Passive Luke 12:48 1×
Present Passive 1 Cor 4:2 1×
Imperfect Passive Heb 8:7 1×
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 2×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 3×
Present Active Matt 2:13 · Acts 17:27 2×
Aorist Active Luke 19:10 1×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 1×
Aorist Active Luke 17:33 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 116 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
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 Origins
ζητεῖτε πρῶτον is of uncertain origin - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain