ἐζήτουν
zētéō
were seeking
To seek, search for, or try to obtain; to attempt to find something or someone by deliberate effort. In extended senses: to strive after, aim for (a goal or desired state); to inquire or investigate. Frequently used for the pursuit of understanding, the seeking of God or God's will, or the search for solutions. Can also convey active plotting or desiring, depending on context.
John 5:18 · Word #5
Lexicon G2212
| Lemma | ζητέω |
| Transliteration | zētéō |
| Strong's | G2212 |
| Definition | To seek, search for, or try to obtain; to attempt to find something or someone by deliberate effort. In extended senses: to strive after, aim for (a goal or desired state); to inquire or investigate. Frequently used for the pursuit of understanding, the seeking of God or God's will, or the search for solutions. Can also convey active plotting or desiring, depending on context. |
Morphology V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | V — Verb — An action or state of being |
| Tense | IMPF — Imperfect — Continuous or repeated past action |
| Voice | ACT — Active — The subject performs the action |
| Mood | IND — Indicative — States a fact or reality |
| Person | 3P — 3rd person — The one spoken about ("he/she/it/they") |
| Number | PL — Plural — More than one |
Common Translation
| Phrase | were seeking |
| Literal | were-seeking |
Lexical Info
| Lemma | ζητέω |
| Strong's | G2212 |
SIBI-P1 Translation G2212-07
they were seeking
| Morphological Notes | Verb; imperfect tense (past ongoing), active voice, indicative mood, 3rd person plural. |
| Rendering Rationale | The imperfect active indicative, third person plural, conveys continuous or repeated action in past time; "they were seeking" preserves the ongoing, active pursuit inherent in the root ζητ-. |
View full lexicon entry for G2212 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
they were seeking
| Same as P1 | Yes |
| Rationale | P1 'they were seeking' properly reflects the imperfect verb and fits the context of ongoing action. |