Seek and you shall find


What's the meaning of the phrase 'Seek and you shall find'?

The proverbial saying ‘Seek and you shall find’ means, in the Biblical sense, ‘come to God and your prayers will be answered. In a wider literal sense it just means ‘effort will be rewarded’.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Seek and you shall find'?

‘Seek and you shall find’ or, as it is usually written in old texts, ‘seek and ye shall find’ is from the Bible, Matthew 7:7-8.The King James Version of the text is:

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

See also: the List of Proverbs.

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.