A "seek" is not the same as a "search".

In Greek, the words for "seek", "zeal" and "damage" are related.

More: Seeking damages from zealous jealousy

In Greek, the word for "search" is related to "research".

In English, "seek" means to look for and implies that one knows that the object of the seek exists and it is possible to obtain it. Thus the "for" in "seek for" is redundant and unnecessary.

In English, "search" means to look for something and implies that the object of the search may not actually exist. The English word "research" is a search for something that may or may not exist. Here are the relevant words.

• The ancient Greek word "ερευνώ" ≈ "search, investigate".
• The ancient Greek word "ζητέω" ≈ "seek" but has a secondary meaning, depending on context, of searching after or looking for.

Is there the same distinction in ancient Greek as in English? Let us "search" the scriptures to see if this is so.

Seeking and searching have are used in aspects of the problem solution types of existence, effective, and efficient aspects of solutions and problem solving in general.

Someone may seek to climb Mount Everest but, since the paths are well known, does not need to search for a way to do it.

Columbus was seeking a way to China (for spices) using a route he had decided would work.

Later, explorers were searching for a northwest passage to China, around North and South America, since such a route was not known to even exist.

In computer science, there are different algorithms for seeking than for searching.

• One can search a list to find a given element - or find that the element does not exist.
• One can seek a track on a disk - that is known to exist before the seek starts.

Let us look at seek and search separately and then look at some places where both words are used in close proximity by the same writer.

Once, at a Bible study, I made the comment that in Old English, "replenish" meant just to fill up, not to do it again - as in God's command to Noah after the flood.

The English word "replenish" comes from the Middle English meaning of "fill up" or "finish" as in "complete" or "perfect".

A lawyer at the study insisted that the "re" meant "again". Afterwards, I realized that I should have said that I was going to "research" that claim for the first time.

In English, to "research" something is to "search" for something to solve a problem at some level of reality or abstraction.

Let us "research" how the following verses use the Greek word for "search".

The Latin word "scrutor" ≈ "search, examine thoroughly" and is the source of the English words "scrutiny", "scrutinize", etc.

The PIE (Proto Indo-European) roots appear to be related to words for "cut".

Details are left as a future topic.

The following verses show the difference between the two words using Matthew's account of Herod at the time of the birth of Jesus.

A different Greek word is used in the previous verse.

The ancient Greek word "εξετάζω" ≈ "examine, investigate".

For comparison, the Latin word "examino" ≈ "weigh, consider, examine" and is the source of the English word "examine".

Here is a verse from the GNT (Greek New Testament) that does not appear to fit the distinction between a "seek" and a "search". Let us look at the verses in Luke 5:8-9.

Is the woman "seeking" or "searching"? Explain.

It would appear that if the coin is lost within the bounds of the house, that one can "seek" it as it is known to exist. It is lost but somewhere in the house.

It is then "found".

The Wictionary entry for the above Greek word appears to have a different meaning.

The ancient Greek word "ἀπόλλυμι" ≈ "destroy, perish" and comes from two Greek words.

• The ancient Greek prefix "ᾰ̓πο" ≈ "away" and implies some distance of separation.
• The ancient Greek word "‎ὄλλῡμῐ" ≈ "destroy" which appears to be related to the Latin word "aboleo" ≈ "retard, destroy" which is the source of the English word "abolish".

There is an implication of "loss" by the "destruction". The ancient Greek word "απώλεια" ≈ "loss"had to do with destruction. The modern Greek word "απώλεια" (a-PO-lee-a) ≈ "loss" as in the loss of an object - such as a coin.

However, the ancient Greek word "απώλεια" ≈ "loss"had to do with destruction.

Discussion question: How might the modern Greek word (and translations) have been influenced by the context of the literal interpretation of the above verse? Consider the following verse in your answer.