ἐπιζητέω, ἐπιζητῶ; imperfect ἐπεζήτουν; 1 aorist ἐπεζήτησα; from Herodotus down; the Sept. for γΘΜψΗωΡ and in 1Sa_20:1; Ecc_7:29 (28) for αΔΜχΕΜωΡ; to inquire for, seek for, search for, seek diligently (German herbeisuchen (the επι( seems to be directive rather than intensive)): τινα, Luk_4:42 (for Rec. ἐζήτουν); Act_12:19; equivalent to to desire, wish for, crave: τί, Mat_6:32; Luk_12:30; Rom_11:7; Php_4:17; Heb_11:14; Heb_13:14; περί τίνος, Act_19:39 (R G T) (but if your inquiry or desire has reference to other matters); with the infinitive, Act_13:7 (as in Polybius 3, 57, 7; Diodorus 19, 8); equivalent to to demand, clamor for: σημεῖον, Mat_12:39; Mat_16:4; Mar_8:12 R G; Luk_11:29 (where T Tr WH ζητεῖ (as L T Tr WH in Mark, the passage cited)).

ἐπιζητέω epizēteō 13x to seek for, make search for, Act_12:19 ; to require, demand, Mat_12:39 ; Mat_16:4 ; Act_19:39 ; to desire, endeavor to obtain, Rom_11:7 ; Heb_11:14 ; to seek with care and anxiety, Mat_6:32 desire; look for; strive for.

ἐπι -ζητέω , -ῶ , [in LXX chiefly for H1875 , 2Ki_8:8 , Isa_62:12 , al. ; also for H1245 , 1Ki_20:1 , Ecc_7:28 ), Hos_3:5 ; H6485 , 2Ki_3:8 ;] "directive" of ζητέω ( MM , Exp., xiv), to inquire for, seek after, wish for: c . acc rei , Mat_6:32 ; Mat_12:39 ; Mat_16:4 , Luk_12:30 , Act_19:39 , Rom_11:7 , Php_4:17 , Heb_11:14 ; Heb_13:14 ; c . acc pers ., Luk_4:42 , Act_12:19 ; c . inf ., Act_13:7 .†

ἐπιζητέω [page 238] A few exx. may be quoted to illustrate the varying shades of meaning of this verb in the NT. Thus for the sense seek for, as in Luk_4:42 , cf. P Hamb I. 27 .4 (B.C. 250) τῆι δὲ ἐφαύριον αὐτὸν ἐπεζήτουν καὶ οὐχ ηὕρισ [κον ἐμ Φιλαδε ]λφείαι , and for inquire, cf. P Fay 39 .14 (A.D. 183) ἐπιζητου̣ͅν̣τ̣ί σοι , in answer to your inquiry, and so P Oxy I. 77 .6 (A.D. 223) : the directive rather than the intensive force of the compound is well seen in P Tebt II. 411 .7 (ii/A.D.) ὁ γὰρ κράτιστος ἐπιστράτηγος ἱκανῶς σε ἐπεζήτησε , has made several inquiries about you. Similarly for desire, cf. P Tebt II. 314 .6 (ii/A.D.) ἐπιζητοῦντος τοῦ [ἀ ]ρχιερέως τὸν παι̣ͅδ̣α ε [ἰ ]δῖν , and for the stronger demand, P Lille I. 7 .6 (iii/B.C.) καὶ ἐπιζητήσαντος αὐτοῦ βυβλάριά τινα , ἃ ἐδεδώκειν ἐν φυ (λακῆι ), P Tebt II. 416 .20 (iii/A.D.) μηδὲν ἐπιζητείτω , let her want for nothing (Edd.). The passive appears in P Oxy I. 80 .15 (A.D. 238 44) τοὺς ἐπιζητουμένους , of criminals who are wanted, P Oxy IX. 1194 .2 ( c. A.D. 265) πρὸς τὰ ἐπιζητηθέντα ὥστε μεταδοθῆναι τὰ λοιπαζόμενα , in answer to the requisition for a report of the arrears (Ed.), ib. 1196 .15 (A.D. 211 12) ἐ̣μφανὴς ὢν ὁπόταν ἐπιζητηθῶ , appearing whenever I may be required (Ed.), and in the interesting P Oxy I. 36 ii. 8 (ii/iii A.D.) from which we learn that if a tax-gatherer had any suspicion that a merchant had more goods on his ship than he had declared (ἀπεγράψατο ) he had the right of requiring the cargo to be unloaded ἐ̣[ὰν ] δ̣ε̣, τελώνης ἐκφορ [τισ ]φῆναι τὸ πλοῖον ἐπιζητήσῃ , ὁ ἔμπορος ἐκφορτιζέ [τ ]ω .

ἐπιζητέω fut. ήσω "to seek after, wish for, miss", Lat. desiderare, τινά Hdt. ; ἐπ. τινά "to make further search" for him, Dem. :—absol., οἱ ἐπιζητοῦντες "the beaters" for game, Xen.

ἐπι-ζητέω, -ῶ [in LXX chiefly for דָּרַשׁ, 4Ki.8:8, Isa.62:12, al.; also for בָּקַשׁ, 3Ki.20:1, Ecc.7:28), Hos.3:5; פָּקַד, 4Ki.3:8 ;] "directive" of ζητέω (MM, Exp., xiv), to inquire for, seek after, wish for: with accusative of thing(s), Mat.6:32 12:39 16:4, Luk.12:30, Act.19:39, Rom.11:7, Php.4:17, Heb.11:14 13:14; with accusative of person(s), Luk.4:42, Act.12:19; with inf., Act.13:7.† (AS)