H1156 H1156
To ask, request, petition, or seek (Aramaic); in the Piel, to seek diligently or urgently.
An Aramaic verb found exclusively in Daniel, covering the full range of human petition -- from political requests to fervent prayer. Daniel 'requested' time from King Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:16), then turned to seek mercies from God (Dan 2:18, 23). The word appears in both courtly and devotional registers: Daniel 6:12-14 uses it for his habit of praying three times daily. Spanish 'pedir' (to request) and German 'bitten' (to entreat) capture the petitionary force. The rare Piel in Daniel 4:36 intensifies the seeking, suggesting the urgency of counselors who 'sought out' the restored Nebuchadnezzar.
Senses
1. seek / request — To ask, request, or petition someone -- whether a human authority or God. This Qal sense encompasses Daniel requesting an audience with the king (Dan 2:16), praying to God for revelation (Dan 2:18, 23), and the decree forbidding petitions to any god or man except the king (Dan 6:8, 13). Daniel 6:12 and 6:14 describe Daniel 'making petition' before God in defiance of the edict. Spanish 'pedir/buscar,' French forms, and German 'bitten' all center on the act of making a humble or formal request. The word bridges courtly protocol and prayerful dependence on God. 11×
AR["طَالِبًا", "طَلَبَ", "طَلَبْتُ-", "طَلَبْنَا", "لِ-يَطْلُبُوا", "وَ-طَلَبَ", "وَ-طَلَبُوا", "يَبْحَثُونَ", "يَطْلُبُ"]·ben["অনুরোধ-করলেন", "এবং-অনুরোধ-করলেন", "এবং-খুঁজলেন", "খুঁজছিল", "চাইছিলেন", "চাইছেন", "চাইতে", "চাইবে", "চেয়েছিলাম", "জিজ্ঞাসা-করতে-চাইলাম-"]·DE["bitten", "in-Auge", "und-bitten"]·EN["I-would-seek-", "and-requested", "and-they-sought", "asking", "makes-petition", "requested", "seeking", "to-seek", "we-requested"]·FR["[אבעא]", "[בעא]", "[בעין]", "[בעינא]", "[ובעה]", "[ובעו]", "[יבעה]", "[למבעא]"]·heb["אבקש", "בקש", "בקשנו", "ו-בקש", "ו-בקשו", "יבקש", "לבקש", "מבקש", "מבקשים"]·HI["और-खोजा", "और-बिनती-की", "ढूंढ़-रहे-थे", "बिनती-की", "माँगूँ-", "मांगता-हुआ", "मांगता-है", "मांगने-के-लिए", "मांगा-हमने", "मांगे"]·ID["aku-minta", "dan-meminta", "dan-mereka-mencari", "kami-minta", "meminta", "memohon", "mencari", "untuk-diminta"]·IT["domandare", "e-domandare", "in-occhio"]·jav["kangge-nyuwun", "kawula-nyuwun", "kula-badhé-nyuwun-pirsa-", "lan-nyuwun", "lan-sami-madosi", "nyuwun", "pados"]·KO["구하나이다", "구하도록", "구하며", "구하면", "구하였다", "구할", "구했다", "그리고-구하였다", "그리고-찾았다", "우리가-구한-것을", "찾으며"]·PT["buscando", "e-buscaram", "e-pediu", "faz", "fizer", "fizesse-petição", "para-buscar", "pedi-", "pedimos", "pedindo", "pediu"]·RU["и-искали", "и-просил", "ищущие", "попросит", "просил", "просили-мы", "просит", "просить", "просящим", "спрашивать-"]·ES["buscando", "busqué-", "para-pedir", "pedimos", "pida", "pide", "pidiendo", "pidió", "y-buscaron", "y-pidió"]·SW["akaomba", "akiomba", "anaomba", "ataomba", "kuomba", "na-akaomba", "na-wakamtafuta", "nikaomba-", "tuliomba", "wakitafuta"]·TR["aradım-", "arayan", "dilerse", "dileyen", "diliyor", "istedi", "istedik", "istemek-için", "ve-aradılar", "ve-istedi"]·urd["اور-درخواست-کی", "اور-ڑھونڈے", "درخواست-کرتا-ہے", "درخواست-کرتے", "درخواست-کی", "مانگا-تھا-ہم-نے", "مانگنے-کو", "مانگے", "پوچھنا-چاہا", "ڈھونڈ-رہے"]
2. seek diligently (Piel intensive) — To seek with heightened intensity or determination, expressed through the Piel stem. The sole occurrence in Daniel 4:36 describes Nebuchadnezzar's counselors and nobles who 'sought him out' diligently after his restoration from madness. The Piel intensification suggests active, perhaps eager pursuit -- not merely asking but tracking down. Spanish 'me buscaron' (they sought me) and German 'bitten' are used, though the Piel nuance of thoroughness goes beyond a simple request to imply deliberate, concentrated effort. 1×
AR["طَلَبُونِي"]·ben["খুঁজছিল"]·DE["bitten"]·EN["sought"]·FR["[יבעון]"]·heb["ביקשו"]·HI["ढूंढ़ते-थे"]·ID["mencari"]·IT["domandare"]·jav["madosi"]·KO["찾았으며"]·PT["buscaram"]·RU["искали"]·ES["me-buscaron"]·SW["walinitafuta"]·TR["aradılar"]·urd["طلب-کرتے-تھے"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† בְּעָא vb. ask, seek, only Dn (BH בעה (rare));— Pe. Pf. 3 ms. ב׳ 2:16, 49; 3 mpl. בְּעוֹ v 13; 1 pl. בְּעֵ֫ינָא v 23; Impf. 3 ms. יִבְעֵא 6:8, 13; 1 s. אֶבְעֵא־ 7:16; Inf. לְמִבְעֵא 2:18; Pt. בָּעֵא 6:12, 14, pl. בָּעַ֫יִן v 5;— 1. ask, request, c. מִן pers. 2:16 (obj. cl. c. דִּי), v 49 7:16 (+ acc. rei); ask of God 2:23 (+ id.), of God or man 6:8 (+ acc. cogn.), v 13; c. מִן־קֳדָם of God 2:18…