Quick Definition
ἐπιζητέω v. I seek after, desire, search for
Strong's Definition
from 1909 and 2212; to search (inquire) for; intensively, to demand, to crave
KJV Usage: desire, enquire, seek (after, for)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | ζητέω
27.42 · Learn · Try To Learn
to seek, to search, to try to find out by looking for to try to learn the location of something by searching for it (presumably somewhat more emphatic or goal-directed than in the case of ζητέω[a] ‘to try to learn where something is,’ 27.41)
25.9 · Attitudes and Emotions · Desire, Want, Wish
to desire, to want to to desire to have or experience something, with the probable implication of making an attempt to realize one’s desire
MAT 6:32 · MAT 12:39 · MAT 16:4 · LUK 12:30 · ACT 13:7 · ACT 19:39 · ROM 11:7 · PHP 4:17 · PHP 4:17 · HEB 11:14 · HEB 13:14
1 It is possible that ἐπιζητέω[b] focuses somewhat more upon the goal, but such a distinction does not hold for all contexts.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐπι-ζητέω, -ῶ ; impf. ἐπεζήτουν ; 1 aor. ἐπεζήτησα ; fr. Ildt. down ; Sept. for wy and in 1S. xx.1; Ecel. vii. 29 (28) for wpa; to inquire for, seek for, search for, seek diligently, (Germ. herbeisuchen [the ém- seems to be directive rather than intensive]): τινά, Lk. iv. 42 (for Ree. ἐζήτουν) ; Acts xii. 19; i. q. to desire, wish for, crave: τί, Mt. vi. 32; Lk. xii. 30; Ro. xi. 7; Phil. iv.17; Heb. xi. 14; ΧΙ. 14; περί τινος, Acts xix. 39 [RG ΤΊ (but if your inquiry or desire has reference to other matters) ; with the inf. Acts xiii. 7 (as in Polyb. 3, 57, 7; Diod. 19, 8); 1. q. to demand, clamor for: σημεῖον, Mt. xii. 39; xvi. 4; Mk. viii. 12 RG; Lk. xi. 29 (where T Tr WH (pret {as L T Tr WH in Mk. 1. c.]).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐπιζητέω epizēteō 13x
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
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἐπι-ζητέω, -ῶ
[in LXX chiefly for דָּרַשׁ, IV Ki 8:8, Is 62:12, al.; also for בָּקַשׁ, I Ki 20:1, Ec 7:29(28)), Ho 3:5; פָּקַד, IV Ki 3:8 ;]
"directive" of ζητέω (MM, Exp., xiv),
to inquire for, seek after, wish for: c. acc rei, Mt 6:32 12:39 16:4, Lk 12:30, Ac 19:39, Ro 11:7, Phl 4:17, He 11:14 13:14; c. acc pers., Lk 4:42, Ac 12:19; c. inf., Ac 13:7.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἐπιζητέω. 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 Lk 4?, cf. P Hamb I. 274(B.c. 250) τῆι δὲ ἐφαύριον αὐτὸν ἐπεζήτουν καὶ οὐχ nipio[kov ἐμ Φιλαδεῖλφείαι, and for ‘‘inquire,”’ cf. P Fay 391: (A.p. 183) ἐπιζητotytl σοι, ‘in answer to your inquiry,” and so P Oxy I. 77§ (A.D. 223): the directive rather than the intensive force of the compound is well seen in P Tebt II. 4117 (ii/a..) ὃ yap κράτιστος ἐπιστράτηγος ἱκανῶς oe ἐπεζήτησε, ‘“has made several inquiries about you.” Similarly for ‘‘ desire,” cf. P Tebt 11. 3145 (ii/A.D.) ἐπιζητοῦντος τοῦ [ἀ]ρχιερέως τὸν παῖδα ε[ἰ]δῖν, and for the stronger “" demand,” P Lille I. 7® (iii/B.C.) καὶ ἐπιζητήσαντος αὐτοῦ βυβλάριά τινα, ἃ ἐδεδώκειν ἐν φυίλακῆι), P Tebt IT. 416%° (iii/a-p.) “Jet her want for nothing” (Edd.). P Oxy I. 80'S (A.p. 238-44) τοὺς ἐπιζητουμένους, of criminals who are ‘‘ wanted,” P Oxy IX. 1194? (¢. A.D. πρὸς τὰ ἐπιζητηθέντα ὥστε μεταδοθῆναι τὰ λοιπαζόμενα, “‘in answer to the requisition for a report of the arrears” (Ed.), 76. 119615 (A.D. 211-12) ἐμφανὴς ὧν ὁπόταν ἐπιζητηθώ, Ὁ Pecaune Ww henev er I anny be ee 2 (Ede ) and in the μηδὲν ἐπιζητείτω, that if a tax- po had any ce 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— av] δὲ τελώνης ἐκφορ[ τισ]θῆναι τὸ πλοῖον ἐπιζητήσῃ, ὃ ἔμπορος ἐκφορτιζέϊ τω.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἐπιζητέω (epizēteō) — to seek after. ἐπιζητ-έω, seek after, wish for, miss, τινά [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μηδὲν ἐπιζητείτω let her lack nothing, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; ἐ. τὸν ἄν θρωπονmake further search for.. , [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τῆς αἰτίας αἰτίαν ἐπι ζητούσηςrequiring, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] the beaters (for game), [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, τὰ ἐπιζητούμενα περὶ τὴν εὐδαιμονίαν [Refs 4th c.BC+]; οἱ -ούμενοι criminals `wanted', [Refs 3rd c.AD+] __b. request, πρός τινας ὁμολογίαν [Refs 6th c.AD+]
2. seek for besides, μηδ᾽ ἕτερ᾽ ἐπιζήτει καλά [Refs 4th c.BC+]; inquire further, περὶ.. [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
3. passive, ἐπιζητεῖται is matter of question, ἐ. πότερον.. [Refs 4th c.BC+]
4. demand, require, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]