The Meaning of Matthew 7:7 Explained

Matthew 7:7

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

YLT: 'Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you;

Darby: Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Matthew 7:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 7:1-12 - Judging Self Asking God Serving Others
There is abundant need for a right and sound judgment, illumined by the Spirit of truth; but there is a world of difference between it and the censorious and critical opinions which we are apt to form and utter about others. Human nature is fond of climbing up into the judgment seat and proclaiming its decisions, without hearing both sides or calling witnesses. Beware of basing your judgment on idle stories and gossip. In any case, do not utter it, if it be adverse, unless you have first prayed about it and sought to turn the sinner from the error of his ways. Let God search you, before you search another. See Psalms 139:23-24; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Hebrews 4:12.
We ask for a gift; we seek for what we have lost; we knock for entrance. Only a door stands between us and Christ! He will not give us stones or serpents, even if we clamor for them; but He will never fail to give good things-and above all His Holy Spirit-only we must ask for them.
The Roman Emperor Severus was so charmed with the Golden Rule that he had it inscribed on the walls of his palace. Let us inscribe it on our hearts and act on it in the power of the Holy Spirit, who sheds God's love abroad in the hearts of those who believe. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 7

1  Do Not Judge
7  Ask, Seek, Knock
13  Enter through the Narrow Gate
15  A Tree and Its Fruit
24  The Wise and the Foolish Builders
28  Jesus ends his sermon, and the people are astonished

What do the individual words in Matthew 7:7 mean?

Ask and it will be given to you seek you will find knock it will be opened
Αἰτεῖτε καὶ δοθήσεται ὑμῖν ζητεῖτε εὑρήσετε κρούετε ἀνοιγήσεται

Αἰτεῖτε  Ask 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: αἰτέω  
Sense: to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require.
δοθήσεται  it  will  be  given 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ζητεῖτε  seek 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ζητέω  
Sense: to seek in order to find.
εὑρήσετε  you  will  find 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: εὑρίσκω  
Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with.
κρούετε  knock 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: κρούω  
Sense: to knock: at the door.
ἀνοιγήσεται  it  will  be  opened 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀνοίγω 
Sense: to open.