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.
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"]
Dan 2:13, Dan 2:16, Dan 2:18, Dan 2:23, Dan 2:49, Dan 6:4, Dan 6:7, Dan 6:11, Dan 6:12, Dan 6:13, Dan 7:16
▼ 1 more sense below
Senses
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"]
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…