The Greek verb akriboo means to ascertain exactly, determine precisely, or inquire diligently. It is the verb form of akribeia (precision, exactness). In Matthew 2:7 and 2:16, Herod uses it in his sinister inquiry about the exact time of the star's appearance — a diligence that was directed toward murderous ends.
The irony of akriboo in Matthew 2 is sharp: Herod inquires with painstaking precision (akribōs) about when the star appeared (2:7), and then acts on that precise information by ordering the massacre of children two years old and under (2:16) — he applied his akribeia to murder. The same precision that can serve truth-seeking (as in Paul's meticulous scholarship) can serve evil ends when directed by a corrupt heart. This contrast underscores that diligence and precision are morally neutral — what matters is what they are in service of. The wise men, by contrast, followed the star with equal diligence but in worship. Akriboo calls every diligent seeker to examine what they are ultimately seeking and to whom they will bow.