H1239 H1239
To inquire, search out, examine, or reflect; Piel intensive of careful investigation, inspection, or contemplation.
A verb used exclusively in the Piel stem, conveying deliberate, focused searching or investigation. When God promises to 'search for' his scattered sheep (Ezek 34:11-12), the word carries the weight of a shepherd's determined pursuit — Spanish 'inspeccionaré' and French 'chercher' both capture this active seeking. In priestly contexts it denotes formal examination, as when a priest inspects skin for disease (Lev 13:36). At its most reflective, the word shifts toward inner contemplation: the psalmist longs 'to inquire' in God's temple (Ps 27:4), and the sage warns against rash vows by urging one 'to consider' afterward (Prov 20:25).
Senses
1. Piel: search, examine, inspect — Active searching, examining, or inspecting — the core Piel sense of purposeful investigation. In Ezek 34:11-12, God himself will 'search for' (אֲבַקֵּר) his flock as a shepherd seeks scattered sheep, paralleling דָּרַשׁ. Lev 13:36 and 27:33 use it for priestly inspection. Spanish 'inspeccionaré/examinará' and French 'chercher' consistently render this as thorough, official inquiry. 4×
AR["أُفَتِّشُ","وَأُفَتِّشُهَا","يَفْحَصُ"]·ben["আমি-তদন্ত-করব","আর-আমি-তদন্ত-করব।","খুঁজবে","পরীক্ষা-করবে"]·DE["[אבקר]","[ובקרתים]","er-soll-examine","soll-durchsuchen"]·EN["I-will-search-for","and-I-will-search-for-them","he-shall-examine","shall-search"]·FR["chercher","devra-search","et-chercher","il-devra-examine"]·heb["אבקר","ו-ביקרתים","יבקר"]·HI["खोजेगा","जांचेगा","बिखरी-हुईं"]·ID["Aku-akan-memeriksa","boleh-ia-membedakan","dan-Aku-akan-memeriksa-mereka.","harus-mencari"]·IT["[אבקר]","[ובקרתים]","dovra-cercare","egli-dovra-examine"]·jav["Ingsun-badé-mriksa","bok-mirsani","lan-Ingsun-mriksa","ngupados"]·KO["가려낼것이다","그리고-내가-돌보리라","내가-돌보리라","찾을-것이다"]·PT["buscará","cuidarei","e-cuidarei-delas","examinará"]·RU["и-посещу-их","посещу","пусть-исследует","различать-будет"]·ES["buscará","examinará","inspeccionaré","y-los-inspeccionaré."]·SW["ataangalia","atachunguza","na-nitawachunguza","nitachunguza"]·TR["aramayacak","araştıracak","sörüştüreceğim","ve-sörüştüreceğim-onları"]·urd["اور-تلاش-کروں-گا-اُنہیں","تلاش-کرےگا","پرکھے-گا","ڑھونڈوں-گا"]
2. Piel: inquire, seek counsel — Inquiring or seeking counsel, especially before God — the investigative impulse directed toward divine wisdom. In 2 Kgs 16:15 Ahaz reserves the bronze altar 'to inquire by' (לְבַקֵּר), and Ps 27:4 pairs it with חָזָה ('to gaze') in the yearning to behold God's beauty. Spanish 'para-consultar' and French 'à-consulte' highlight the consultative register. 2×
AR["لِلتَّفْتِيشِ","وَأَتَأَمَّلَ"]·ben["এবং-তাঁর-অনুসন্ধান-করতে","খোঁজ-খবরের-জন্য"]·DE["und-zu-inquire","zu-inquire"]·EN["and-to-inquire","to-inquire"]·FR["et-à-chercher","à-consulte"]·heb["ו-ל-בקר","ל-בקר"]·HI["और-खोजने","पूछताछ-के-लिए"]·ID["untuk-menanyai"]·IT["[ולבקר]","a-domanda"]·jav["kagem-niti","saha-kanggé-migatosaken"]·KO["~을-위하여-물음","그리고-묻려고"]·PT["e-para-meditar","para-consultar"]·RU["для-вопрошания","и-исследовать"]·ES["para-consultar","y-para-meditar"]·SW["kwa-kuuliza","na-kuchunguza"]·TR["danışmak-için","ve-bakmak-için-"]·urd["اور-دریافت-کرنے-کے-لیے","پوچھنے-کو"]
3. Piel: consider, reflect upon — Reflecting or considering carefully — the most inward extension of the root. Prov 20:25 warns against snaring oneself with rash words, then afterward 'considering' (לְבַקֵּר) what one has vowed. Spanish 'reconsiderar' aptly captures this cognitive after-the-fact pondering, distinct from physical searching. 1×
AR["يَفْحَصُ"]·ben["অনুসন্ধান-করতে"]·DE["[לבקר]"]·EN["to-consider"]·FR["à-לבקר"]·heb["ל-בקר"]·HI["जांचना"]·ID["mempertimbangkan"]·IT["per-a-consider"]·jav["kanggé-nliti"]·KO["살피는-것이니라"]·PT["inquirir"]·RU["исследовать"]·ES["reconsiderar"]·SW["kutafakari"]·TR["sorgulamak"]·urd["جانچنا"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)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×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [בָּקַר] vb. inquire, seek (NH id., Aramaic בְּקַר, ܒܩܰܪ; also Ethiopic በቀለ in deriv.; orig. divide, discern, cf. Arabic بَقَرَ slit, rip, split)—only Pi. Pf. 1 s. sf. וּבִקַּרְתִּים consec. Ez 34:11; Impf. יְבַקֵּר Lv 13:36; 27:33, אֲבַקֵּר Ez 34:12; Inf. cstr. לְבַקֵּר 2 K 16:15 + 2 times;—seek, look for, sq. לְ Lv 13:36; seek (to distinguish) sq. בֵּין־טוֹב לָרַע Lv. 27:33; seek (in order to…