ἀκριβόω (akriboō)
akriboō
be exactly
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb akriboō describes the act of learning or inquiring with precise accuracy. Rooted in the idea of being exact or sharp, it moves beyond casual curiosity to denote a careful, diligent investigation. In the New Testament, this word appears only twice, both within the Gospel of Matthew, highlighting moments where specific details matter.
Matthew uses akriboō to describe King Herod’s actions. In chapter 2, he summons the chief priests and scribes to ask them with exactness where the Messiah was to be born (Matthew 2:4). Later, in verse 16, after realizing the wise men had not returned, he sends troops to kill all boys in Bethlehem "according to the time which he had accurately ascertained" from the stars. The word underscores Herod’s calculated effort to pin down precise information for his own purposes.
While the term implies a neutral search for truth, its biblical usage here reveals a darker side: exact knowledge without moral integrity. Herod sought the precise location not to worship, but to eliminate a rival. This contrast shows that akriboō values factual precision, regardless of the heart behind the inquiry.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word akriboō describes a search for truth that leaves no detail unchecked. It captures the effort to pin down facts with absolute precision, ensuring that every variable is accounted for. In the biblical narrative, this level of accuracy is shown through King Herod’s actions as he seeks to identify the newborn Messiah.
Herod used this careful inquiry not to find truth for its own sake, but to eliminate a perceived threat. He wanted exact data to serve his own safety and power. This contrast reminds us that knowledge alone does not guarantee wisdom or righteousness. We can gather all the right facts and still miss the heart of the matter.
True understanding requires more than just accurate information; it demands a heart open to God’s purpose. When we seek truth, let us do so with humility and a desire to follow where God leads, rather than using knowledge to control our circumstances or protect our own interests.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- inquired exactly1×
- he had ascertained1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἠκρίβωσεν2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 2:7
Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.
Herod uses akriboō to demand the precise timing of the star, showing his calculated effort to gather specific data for his own plans.
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Matthew 2:16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.
The word highlights how Herod relied on the exact time he had ascertained to carry out a violent decree, demonstrating that precision can serve destructive ends.