pselaphao describes touching or feeling something, and in one setting seeking God as though feeling after him.

The term most often describes direct bodily contact or something open to such contact: hands touch in 1 John 1:1, an invitation is given to touch in Luke 24:39, and Hebrews 12:18 speaks of what may be touched. Acts 17:27 uses it in the stated search for God, where the APB renders the clause “they might feel after him and find him.”

1. Direct contact with what is tangible · dominant

   In 1 John 1:1, the aorist active plural form occurs in the clause that the speakers' hands had contact with what they had heard and seen; the APB renders “our hands touched.” In Luke 24:39, the aorist active plural form is an invitation directed toward the speaker's hands and feet, while Hebrews 12:18 uses a present passive participle for what “may be touched” in contrast to what the readers have not come to.

   1 John 1:1Luke 24:39Hebrews 12:18
2. Seeking as though feeling after · rare

   In Acts 17:27, the aorist active optative plural form stands in the purpose clause about seeking God and finding him; the APB renders the clause “they might feel after him and find him.”

   Acts 17:27

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the term with “touched” in 1 John 1:1 and “touch me” in Luke 24:39, describes what “may be touched” in Hebrews 12:18, and uses “feel after him” in Acts 17:27. These are verse-level renderings rather than definitions.