to seek
Zeteo denotes actively pursuing or looking for a person, thing, outcome, or desired quality.
The verb most often marks active pursuit: people look for someone or attempt to obtain, discover, or bring about something. The supplied verses also show pursuit directed toward desired qualities or advantages, hostile aims against a person, and matters sought as proof, a requirement, or a place.
Senses in use
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Looking for a person or thing · dominant
Present and imperfect active forms describe people trying to locate someone: in John 11:56 the APB renders the clause “They were seeking Jesus,” while John 20:15 asks, “Whom are you seeking?” The same pursuit can concern a needed helper or direction, as Acts 13:11 describes a blinded man “seeking people to lead him by the hand.”
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Pursuing a desired aim or benefit · common
The verb can take goals rather than persons as its focus. In 1 Corinthians 10:24 the APB renders an instruction not to seek “his own things, but the things of the other”; in Colossians 3:1 it renders “seek the things above,” and 1 Peter 3:11 joins seeking peace with pursuing it.
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Attempting hostile action against someone · occasional
In several clauses, the pursuit has a hostile intended result. Acts 21:31 has people “seeking to kill him,” and John 10:39 and John 7:30 describe attempts to seize or arrest him; the imperfect active forms portray these as ongoing or repeated attempts in the narrative.
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Seeking a basis, proof, or what is required · rare
The verb also appears where an issue calls for a basis or response rather than a physical object. In 2 Corinthians 13:3 the APB renders the readers as “seeking proof,” while 1 Corinthians 4:2 says faithfulness is sought among stewards; Luke 12:48 uses a future passive form where much “will be required.”
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly uses “seek” or “seeking,” including searches for Jesus, peace, wisdom, and proof. In some clauses it instead presents the result or intended action, such as trying to seize, arrest, kill, or release someone; Those variations should be read as renderings of the whole clause.