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Greek Word Pronunciation: eh-roo-NA-o
Strong's Number: 2045
Goodrich/Kohlenberger Number: 2236
Key Verse: “He who searches the heart knows what the mind of the Spirit is.” -- Romans 8:27

Ereunao generally means to “search after.” It was first used of animals in the sense of “to sniff out” with the nose, then of men in the sense of “to search,” especially of houses or possessions. Then it meant “to investigate a matter,” especially in the legal sense. In the New Testament, this verb appears 7 times. In John 5:39, Jesus tells the Jewish religious leaders who “search the Scriptures” that they have failed to see Him as the promised One. In John 7:52, the Sanhedrin tells Nicodemus to “search and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.” They showed their arrogance and ignorance by not searching out the facts themselves. In 1 Peter 1:10-11, the prophets “made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know” about the exact time when Christ would come to work out the salvation of His people. They searched their own Spirit-guided writings intently.

[Note: The final 3 verses each refer to a member of the Godhead as “searching.” In all 3 verses, the verb “searches” is in present tense, indicating the continual, ongoing attribute of omniscience of the Trinity.] In 1 Corinthians 2:10, “the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.” The Holy Spirit has an accurate and profound knowledge of the depth of God’s nature, and so is fully competent to make this revelation. Only the Spirit can reveal to believers God’s profound nature and plan of salvation. The Spirit knows all that God knows, Himself being God. In Revelation 2:23, Christ says to the corrupt Thyratira church, “I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.” The design of the judgment will be so apparent it will convince all of His Omniscience. It is a full proof that He claims this attribute, Himself being God.

ROMANS 8:27 says that God who “searches the heart knows what the mind of the Spirit is.” Even though the Spirit’s words are not expressed, the Father knows what the Spirit is thinking. This is a clear statement on the Father’s omniscience and intimacy within the Trinity. There is nothing which more clearly pertains to God than the power of searching the heart, and nothing that is more constantly claimed by Him as His special prerogative. Matthew Henry says, “To the sincere Christian, nothing is more comfortable than that God searches the heart, for then He will hear and answer those desires which we want words to express.”