Acts 17:27

NETBible	so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around¹ for him and find him,² though he is³ not far from each one of us.
NIV © biblegateway Act 17:27	God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
NASB © biblegateway Act 17:27	that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
NLT © biblegateway Act 17:27	"His purpose in all of this was that the nations should seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him––though he is not far from any one of us.
MSG © biblegateway Act 17:27	so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near.
BBE © SABDAweb Act 17:27	So that they might make search for God, in order, if possible, to get knowledge of him and make discovery of him, though he is not far from every one of us:
NRSV © bibleoremus Act 17:27	so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us.
NKJV © biblegateway Act 17:27	"so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
[+] More English


KJV	That they should seek <2212> (5721) the Lord <2962>_, if <1487> haply <686> they might feel <5584> (5659) after him <846>_, and <2532> find him <2147> (5630)_, though <2544> he be <5225> (5723) not <3756> far <3112> from <575> every <1538> one <1520> of us <2257>_:
NASB © biblegateway Act 17:27	that they would seek <2212> God <2316> , if <1487> perhaps <686> they might grope <5584> for Him and find <2147> Him, though <2532> <1065> He is not far <3112> from each <1538> one <1520> of us;
NET [draft] ITL	so that they would search <2212> for God <2316> and perhaps <1487> <686> <1065> grope around <5584> for him <846> and <2532> find <2147> him, though <1065> he is <5225> not <3756> far <3112> from <575> each <1538> one <1520> of us <2257> .
GREEK	zhtein <2212> (5721) V-PAN ton <3588> T-ASM yeon <2316> N-ASM ei <1487> COND ara <686> PRT ge <1065> PRT qhlafhseian <5584> (5659) V-AAO-3P auton <846> P-ASM kai <2532> CONJ euroien <2147> (5630) V-2AAO-3P kai <2532> CONJ ge <1065> PRT ou <3756> PRT-N makran <3112> ADV apo <575> PREP enov <1520> A-GSM ekastou <1538> A-GSM hmwn <2257> P-1GP uparconta <5225> (5723) V-PAP-ASM

NETBible

so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around¹ for him and find him,² though he is³ not far from each one of us.

NET Notes

¹tn See BDAG 1097-98 s.v. ψηλαφάω, which lists “touch, handle” and “to feel around for, grope for” as possible meanings.

²sn Perhaps grope around for him and find him. The pagans’ struggle to know God is the point here. Conscience alone is not good enough.

³tn The participle ὑπάρχοντα (Juparconta) has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.