Definition: (I) Particularly, to seek after, look for, strive to find.

Word: heauTOU (1438)

Definition: Contention, strife, rivalry.

1. It represents a motive of self-interest, mercenary interest.
2. It also meant canvassing for public office, scheming.

References:

1. Phil. 1:16; 2:3;
2. Rom. 2:8; 2 Cor. 12:20; Gal. 5:20; James 3:14,16.

Prov. 25:27-- It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor. (NIV)
Alt.:--Just as it is harmful to eat too much honey, so also it is bad for men to think about all the honors they deserve. (LB)
Alt.:--for people to search out their own glory, is it glory? (NWT)
Alt.:--... nor to seek honor after honor. (NAB)
Alt.:--Too much honey is bad for you, and so is trying to win too much praise. (TEV)
Alt.:--... so for men to search their own glory is not glory. (KJV)
Alt.:--... so be sparing of complimentary words. (RSV)

Mat. 6:32f-- For the pagans (ta ETHne-) run after (epize-TEI) all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek (ze-TEIte) first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (NIV)
Alt.:--(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) ... 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God (KJV)
Alt.:--That is what pagans are always looking for ... 33 Set your heart on his kingdom (Phillips)
Alt.:--(These are the things the pagans are always concerned about.) ... 33 Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God (TEV)
Alt.:--... Seek first his kingship over you, his way of holiness (NAB)
Alt.:--Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, 33 and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to. (LB)

1 Cor 10:24-- Nobody should seek his own good (to heauTOU ze-TEIto-), but the good of others. (NIV)
Alt.:--Don't think only of yourself. Try to think of the other fellow, too, and what is best for him. (LB)
Alt.:--Let each one keep seeking, not his own [advantage], but that of the other person. (NWT)
Alt.:--No one should be looking out for his own interests (TEV)
Alt.:--Let no man, then, set his own advantage as his objective, but rather the good of his neighbor. (Phillips)
Alt.:--Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. (KJV)

1 Cor 10:32f-- Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God -- 33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good (me- ze-TO-n to emauTOU symPHEron) but the good of many, so that they may be saved. (NIV)
Alt.:--... not doing what I like or what is best for me, but what is best for them (LB)
Alt.:--... not seeking my own advantage but that of the many (NWT)
Alt.:--... not thinking of my own good, but of the good of all (TEV)
Alt.:--not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many (KJV)

St. John Chrysostom, Homily 33:  Thus having said, "doth not behave itself unseemly," he showeth also the temper of mind, on account of which she doth not behave herself unseemly. And what is that temper? That she "seeketh not her own." For the beloved she esteems to be all, and then only "behaveth herself unseemly," when she cannot free him from such unseemliness; so that if it be possible by her own unseemliness to benefit her beloved, she doth not so much as count the thing unseemliness; for the other party thereafter is yourself, when you love: since this is friendship, that the lover and the beloved should no longer be two persons divided, but in a manner one single person; a thing which no how takes place except from love. Seek not therefore thine own, that thou mayest find thine own. For he that seeks his own, finds not his own. Wherefore also Paul said, "Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor's good." (1 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 24) For your own profit lies in the profit of your neighbor, and his in yours. As therefore one that had his own gold buried in the house of his neighbor, should he refuse to go and there seek and dig it up, will never seek it; so likewise here, he that will not seek his own profit in the advantage of his neighbor, will not attain unto the crowns due to this: God Himself having therefore so disposed of it, in order that we should be mutually bound together: and even as one awakening a slumbering child to follow his brother, when he is of himself unwilling, places in the brother's hand that which he desires and longs for, that through desire of obtaining it he may pursue after him that holds it, and accordingly so it takes place: thus also here, each man's own profit hath he given to his neighbor, that hence we may run after one another, and not be torn asunder.

And if thou wilt, see this also in our case who address you. For my profit depends on thee, and thy advantage on me. Thus, on the one hand it profits thee to be taught the things that please God, but with this have I been entrusted, that thou mightest receive it from me, and therefore mightest be compelled to run unto me; and on the other hand it profits me that thou shouldest be made better: for the reward which I shall receive for this will be great; but this again lieth in thee; and therefore am I compelled to follow after thee that thou mayest be better, and that I may receive my profit from thee. Wherefore also Paul saith, "For what is my hope? are not even ye?" And again, "My hope, and my joy, and the crown of my rejoicing." (1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 19) So that the joy of Paul was the disciples, and his joy they had. Therefore he even wept when he saw them perishing.

Again their profit depended on Paul: wherefore he said, "For the hope of, Israel I am bound with this chain. (Acts chapter 28, verse 20) And again, "These things I endure for the elect's sakes that they may obtain eternal life. (2 Timothy chapter 2, verse 10) And this one may see in worldly things. "For the wife," saith he, "hath not power over her own body, nor yet the husband; but the wife over the husband's, and the husband over the wife's." (1 Corinthians chapter 7, verse 4) So likewise we, when we wish to bind any together, do this. We leave neither of them in his own power, but extending a chain between them, we cause the one to be holden of the other, and the other of the one. Wilt thou also see this in the case of governors? He that judges sits not in judgment for himself, but seeking the profit of his neighbor. The governed on the other hand, seek the profit of the governor by their attendance, by their ministry, by all the other things. Soldiers take up their arms for us, for on our account they peril themselves. We for them are in straits; for from us are their supplies.

But if thou sayest, "each one doth this seeking his own," this also say I, but I add, that by the good of another one's own is won. Thus both the soldier, unless he fight for them that support him, hath none that ministers to him for this end: and this same on the other hand, unless he nourish the soldier, hath none to arm himself in his behalf. [4.] Seest thou love, how it is everywhere extended and manages all things? But be not weary, until thou have thoroughly acquainted thyself with this golden chain.

Adam Clarke:  Seeketh not her own] ou zhtei ta eauthv? Is not desirous of her own spiritual welfare only, but of her neighbour's also: for the writers of the Old and New Testament do, almost every where, agreeably to their Hebrew idiom, express a preference given to one thing before another by an affirmation of that which is preferred, and a negative of that which is contrary to it. See Bishop Pearce, and see the notes on chap. i. 17; x. 24, 33. Love is never satisfied but in the welfare, comfort, and salvation of all. That man is no Christian who is solicitous for his own happiness alone; and cares not how the world goes, so that himself be comfortable.

The New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible:  seeketh not her own things: even those which are "lawful", as the Arabic version renders it; but seeks the things of God, and what will make most for his honour and glory; and the things of Christ, and what relate to the spread of his Gospel, and the enlargement of his kingdom; and also the things of other men, the temporal and spiritual welfare of the saints: such look not only on their own things, and are concerned for them, but also upon the things of others, which they likewise care for:

John W. Gregson:  It does not seek its own interests.

Matthew Henry:  Charity is an utter enemy to selfishness: Seeketh not its own, does not inordinately desire nor seek its own praise, or honour, or profit, or pleasure. Indeed self-love, in some degree, is natural to all men, enters into their very constitution. And a reasonable love of self is by our Saviour made the measure of our love to others, that charity which is here described, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The apostle does not mean that charity destroys all regard to self; he does not mean that the charitable man should never challenge what is his own, but utterly neglect himself and all his interests. Charity must then root up that principle which is wrought into our nature. But charity never seeks its own to the hurt of others, or with the neglect of others. It often neglects its own for the sake of others; prefers their welfare, and satisfaction, and advantage, to its own; and it ever prefers the weal of the public, of the community, whether civil or ecclesiastical, to its private advantage. It would not advance, nor aggrandize, nor enrich, nor gratify itself, at the cost and damage of the public.

B.W. Johnson:  Seeketh not her own. Is unselfish and disinterested. See Rom. 12:10.

Mark Heber Miller:  (Love) does not look for its own interests.

The Greek is literally "not seeking things of itself." (OU ZETEI TA HEAUTES) It is variously rendered: KJV: seeketh not her own; MOF: never selfish; RSV: does not insist on its own way; TCNT: never self-seeking; NOR: not pursue selfish aims. Perhaps no phrase describes the general understanding of agape-love. The idea is expressed elsewhere by Paul. Indeed, a similar phrasing in Greek has already occurred in 1 Corinthians 10:24, "Let none seek selfish interests, but rather the interest of others." Philippians 2:4 is very similar: "Do not be looking after selfish interests, but rather those interests of others."

Here is the root of agape-love: interest, not in self, but in that of others. Truly, this is neighbor-love characterized by the Golden Rule: "Do to others just as you would have it done to yourself." (Luke 6:31) This means putting others before self, just as the example of our Lord, "Though he had a divine existence he did not insist on retaining his own rights, but rather he emptied himself and took on a slave’s existence in the likeness of humankind." (Philippians 2:6, 7) This is Paul’s example of not looking after just one’s own interests as he mentions in Philippians 2:4.

Love does not sit at home wondering why people don’t call. Love makes the call, posts the email, or sends the card to encourage another. Such love will attract other warm-hearted persons.

Robertson's Word Studies:  {Seeketh not its own} (ou zetei ta heautes). Its own interests (10:24,33).

BT Internet:  zhtew, seek, search for, look for

eJauto, eJauth, eJauton, him/her/itself

'not preoccupied with the issues of self' cf. Rom 15:3; 1 Cor 10:24; Phil 2:4,21.

The Theologian: The Internet Journal for Integrated Theology:  Ouj zhtei' taV eJauth' - Paul has already indicated that they should imitate him in this and seek not their own advantage but the advantage of others. Self-centredness is immensely divisive, and could cause them to be "touchy" when they felt their interests were not being adequately addressed.

Bill Turner:  Love seeketh not her own, and does not insist upon her rights. "Ou zetei ta heautes."

Love does not seek its own interests. This follows on from the last quality of love, it is the cure for disorderly conduct and other misuses of the gifts. Love does not think of its own profit or interests. It considers how it may best profit others. The present tense shows us that the permanent guiding principle of a heart of love, is service, not self-seeking. Jn.13 all. Mt.20v20-28. Rom.15v1-6. N.B. v3. 1Cor.10v23,24.