H1245 H1245
To seek, search for, require, or entreat; the intensive Piel of active pursuit whether for persons, things, justice, or divine favor.
One of the most common verbs in the Hebrew Bible, baqash in the Piel conveys an intensive, purposeful seeking. It ranges from the concrete act of searching for lost donkeys (1 Sam 9:3) to the weighty demand of God requiring blood at a person's hand (Gen 9:5). The Arabic cognates talab and bahath capture this same spectrum from casual inquiry to urgent demand. In its petitionary sense, the word colors some of the most poignant prayers in Scripture, as when Ezra's company sought God through fasting (Ezra 8:21). The Pual passive completes the picture, describing what happens when the sought thing is investigated or searched out.
Senses
1. seek, search for — The core Piel meaning: to actively search for or seek someone or something. This covers the vast majority of occurrences, from Saul seeking his father's donkeys (1 Sam 10:2) to enemies seeking David's life (1 Sam 23:10). The Arabic talab and bahath, Korean chajda/guhada, and Swahili kutafuta all converge on this active-pursuit sense. The breadth is remarkable: physical search, intellectual inquiry, and even the seeking of God's face (2 Chr 7:14) all fall under this umbrella. 200×
AR["لِ-طَلَبِ","لِ-يَطْلُبَ","لِ-يَطْلُبُوا","لِـ-أَطْلُبَ","لِـ-طَلَبِ","لِـ-يَطْلُبَ","لِلطَّلَبِ","لِيَطلُبوا","لِيَطْلُبَ","لِيَطْلُبُوا","يَطْلُبُ","يَطْلُبُ-"]·ben["-খোঁজতে","-সন্ধান-করতে","অনুসন্ধান-করে-","অন্বেষণ-করতে","খুঁজতে","খুঁজতে-","খোঁজ-করতে","খোঁজতে","খোঁজা-করতে","খোঁজার-জন্য","খোঁজে","চান"]·DE["er-sucht","suchen","von-suchte","zu-suchte"]·EN["seeks","to-seek"]·FR["[לבקש]","chercher","à-chercher"]·heb["בקש","יבקש","יבקש־","ל-בקש","מבקש","מבקש־"]·HI["के-लिए-खोजने","खोजता-है","खोजने","खोजने-का","खोजने-के-लिए","खोजने-को","ढूँढता-है","ढूँढने-को","ढूँढ़ने-के-लिए","ढूँढ़ने-को","भलाई-ढूंढने","माँगनेको"]·ID["TUHAN","dicari","mencari","mencari-","menginginkan","untuk-memohon","untuk-mencari"]·IT["cercare","per-cercare"]·jav["kangge-madosi","kanggé-madosi","madosi","supados-madosi"]·KO["구하느니라","구하느니라-","구하는가","구하러","구하려","구한다","로-구하다","에-구함","에-찾다","에-찾으려고","위해-얻다","찾기-위한","찾기-위해","찾으려고"]·PT["busca","busca-","para-buscar"]·RU["искать","искать,","ищет","ищет-","ищущий","ищущий-","требует","чтобы-искать"]·ES["a-buscar","busca","buscará","para-buscar"]·SW["anatafuta","anataka","kumtafuta","kutafuta","unatafuta","wa-kutafuta"]·TR["aramak-icin","aramak-için","aramaya","arar","arar-","ister"]·urd["تلاش-کرنے","تلاش-کرنے-کو","تلاش-کرنے-کے-لیے","ڈھونڈتا-ہے","ڈھونڈتا-ہے-","ڈھونڈنے-کا","ڈھونڈنے-کو","ڈھونڈنے-کے-لیے","کے-لیے-تلاش-کرنے","کے-لیے-چاہنے"]
1 Sam 10:2, 1 Sam 10:14, 1 Sam 19:2, 1 Sam 20:1, 1 Sam 23:10, 1 Sam 23:15, 1 Sam 23:25, 1 Sam 24:2, 1 Sam 24:9, 1 Sam 26:2, 1 Sam 26:20, 2 Sam 5:17 (+38 more)
2. require, demand — To require, demand, or hold accountable, carrying the force of authority. When God says 'I will require it' (Gen 9:5; 31:39; 2 Sam 4:11), the Arabic yutalibu ('to demand legally') and Swahili kudai ('to claim/require') capture the judicial weight. This is not mere searching but an authoritative exaction, a calling to account. The Spanish demandar and German fordern in the translations confirm the shift from seeking to demanding. 12×
AR["أَطْلُبُ","أَطْلُبْ","بَاحِثٌ","تَطْلُبُ-ها","تَطْلُبُهُ","طَلَبَ","نَطْلُبُ","وَ-يَطْلُبُ","يُطَالِبُ"]·ben["আমি-চাইব","আমি-চেয়েছিলাম","আমি-দাবি-করব।","এবং-দাবি-করবেন","খোঁজকারী।","খোঁজবেন","চাইতে-সেটা","চাইব","চেয়েছে","দাবি-করবে-তাকে"]·DE["hast-du-es-gefordert","magst-du-ihn-fordern","soll-ich-require","suchen","suchte","und-moege-require","wird-require"]·EN["I-required","I-shall-require","I-will-require","and-may-require","required","searcher","shall-I-require","we-will-require","will-require","you-may-require-him","you-required-it"]·FR["[אבקש]","[מבקש]","chercher","dans-chaume","devra-je-require","et-peut-require","sera-require","tu-exigea-cela","tu-puisse-exiger-lui"]·heb["אבקש","ביקש","בקש","ו-ביקש","יבקש","מבקש"]·HI["और-मअनगे","खोजे","माँगता-था-तू-उसे","माँगना-उसे","माँगने-वाला","माँगूँगा-मैं","मांगा","मांगेंगे","मैं-मांगूंगा","मैंने-मांगा"]·ID["Aku-akan-menuntut","Aku-akan-menuntut.","aku-akan-menuntut","aku-minta","dan-menuntut","engkau-boleh-menuntutnya","engkau-menuntut-nya","kami-akan-menuntut","menuntut","yang-meminta","yang-mencarikan."]·IT["cercare","dovrà-io-require","e-possa-require","tu-may-require-lui","tu-required-esso","volere-require"]·jav["Kawula-badhé-nagih","Kula-badhé-néda","ingkang-nggolèki","kula-badhé-nuntut","kula-nyuwun","lan-nuntut","mundhut","nyuwun","panjenengan-nuntut-piyambakipun","sampéyan-saged-nuntut"]·KO["구하는-자가","구하리오","구하시리라","그리고-구하시기를","내가-요구했다","내가-찾으리라","내가-찾을-것이다","요구하였느냐","우리가-요구할-것이다","찾았다-당신이-그것을","찾으라-그를"]·PT["buscarei","e-requereu","exigi","exigiremos","procurador","requererei","requererá","requererás-o","requereu","requerias-o"]·RU["будем-требовать","взыщет","взыщу","и-взыщет","разыскивающего","требовал","требовал-ты-его","требовал-я","требуй-его"]·ES["buscaré.","demandaré","demande","demandó","lo-demandarás","pediremos","pedí","quien-requiera.","requeriré","requerías-la","y-requerirá"]·SW["aliyedai","anayeuliza","atadai","kudai","mtoka-mkono","na-atadai","nitaidai","nitaitaka","sikutaka","taka","ulitaka"]·TR["arasın","arayacağım","arayıcı","elinden","istedi","istedim","isterdin-onu","isteyeceksin-onu","isteyeceğiz","ve-arasın"]·urd["اور-بازپرس-کرے","تلاش-کرنے-والا","مانگا","مانگتا-تھا-تُو","مانگنا-اسے","مانگوں-گا","مانگیں-گے","میں-طلب-کروں-گا","میں-مانگوں-گا","میں-نے-مانگی","پوچھے"]
3. request, entreat, plead — To request, entreat, or plead, typically directed toward a superior. In Esther 4:8, Mordecai urges Esther to plead before the king; in Ezra 8:21 the community seeks God through fasting. The Arabic iltamasa (to petition) and Swahili kuomba (to request/pray) highlight the supplicatory tone. This sense foregrounds the relational asymmetry between petitioner and the one petitioned, whether human authority or God. 8×
AR["تَطْلُبْ","سَعَى","لِ-نَطْلُبَ","لِ-يَطْلُبَ","وَ-طَلَبَ","وَ-طَلَبْنا","وَ-لِ-تَطْلُبَ","يَطْلُبُ"]·ben["আর-চাইলাম","এবং-অনুরোধ-করলেন","ও-অনুরোধ-করতে","খোঁজে","চাইতে","চাইলেন-তিনি","চেয়েছিল","ভিক্ষা-করতে"]·DE["er-suchte","suchte","und-suchen","und-suchte","und-zu-suchte","zu-suchte"]·EN["and-he-requested","and-to-plead","and-we-sought","begging","he-sought","she-requested","to-plead","to-seek"]·FR["[ויבקש]","chercher","de-chercher","et-chercher","il-chercha"]·heb["ביקש","בקש","ו-בקש-ה","ו-יבקש","ו-ל-בקש","ל-בקש","מבקש-"]·HI["और-प्रार्थना-करने","और-प्रार्थना-की","और-बिनती-की","चाहा","माँगता-रहा","माँगते-हुए","माँगने-को"]·ID["dan-ia-meminta","dan-meminta","dan-untuk-meminta","dia-berusaha","dia-meminta","untuk-meminta","untuk-memohon"]·IT["cercare","cerco'","e-cercare","egli-cerco"]·jav["kanggé-nyuwun","lan-kanggé-nyuwun","lan-kawula-sedaya-nyuwun","lan-nyuwun","madosi","nyuwun","sampun-ngudi","supados-nyuwun"]·KO["구하는-것-을","구하도록","구하였도다","구했다","그리고-구하기-위해","그리고-요청했다","그리고-우리가-구했다","로-구하다"]·PT["e-para-pedir","e-pedimos","e-pediu","ele-procurou","mendigando","para-pedir","pediu"]·RU["и-просил","и-просили","и-просить","искал","просила","просить","просящим"]·ES["buscó","mendigando","para-buscar","para-pedir","pidió","y-para-pedir","y-pedimos","y-pidió"]·SW["alitaka","isipokuwa","kuomba","na-akaomba","na-kuomba","na-tukaomba","ukiomba"]·TR["aradı","arayan-","istedi","istemek-icin","ve-istedi","ve-istedik","ve-istemek-için-","yalvarmak-için-"]·urd["اور-درخواست-کرنا","اور-درخواست-کی","اور-مانگا-ہم-نے","مانگا","مانگنا","مانگنے-کو","چاہا-ہے","ڈھونڈتی"]
4. be sought, be investigated (Pual) — The Pual passive: to be sought out or investigated. In Jeremiah 50:20 Israel's iniquity 'shall be sought and there shall be none,' and in Esther 2:23 the matter 'was investigated.' The Arabic passive futisha and Korean guhaejida reflect the grammatical passivization. Only four occurrences attest this form, but they consistently describe a thorough examination or search carried out upon the subject. 4×
AR["فَ-فُتِّشَ","وَتُطْلَبِينَ","يُبْحَثُ","يُطْلَبُ"]·ben["অন্বেষণ-হোক","আর-খোঁজা-হবে-তুমি","ও-অনুসন্ধান-হল","খোঁজা-হবে"]·DE["er-sucht","suchte","und-er-sucht","und-suchen"]·EN["and-was-investigated","and-you-shall-be-sought","let-them-seek","will-be-sought"]·FR["chercher","et-chercher","et-tu-chercheras"]·heb["בקש","ו-בקש","ו-תבוקשי","יבוקש"]·HI["और-जब-जाँच-की-गई","खोजा-जाएगा","ढूंढी-जाएं"]·ID["akan-dicari","biarlah-dicari","dan-diselidiki","dan-engkau-akan-dicari,"]·IT["cercare","cerchera","e-cercare"]·jav["Lan-dipun-pados","badhe-dipunupados","lan-panjenengan-dipun-padosi","mugi-pados"]·KO["구해지리라","그리고-조사되었다","그리고-찾겠으나-너를","찾게-하소서"]·PT["Busquem","E-foi-investigado","e-serás-buscada","será-buscada"]·RU["будут-искать","и-было-расследовано","и-искать-будут-тебя","пусть-ищут"]·ES["Y-fue-investigado","busquen","será-buscada","y-serás-buscada"]·SW["itatafutwa","na-ikachunguzwa","na-utafutwa","na-watafutwe"]·TR["aranacak","aransın","ve-aranacaksın","ve-araştırıldı"]·urd["اور-تحقیق-ہوئی","اور-تلاش-کی-جائے-گی-تُو","تلاش-کریں","ڈھونڈی-جائے-گی"]
5. sense 5 — A single occurrence in Daniel 1:20 where the king 'sought' (tested/examined) the young men and found them superior. This may represent a specialized evaluative nuance of seeking, where the search is for quality or competence rather than location, bridging senses 1 and 2. The Spanish les pidio ('he asked of them') and German suchen preserve the ambiguity. 1×
AR["سَأَلَهُمْ"]·ben["জিজ্ঞাসা-করলেন"]·DE["suchen"]·EN["sought"]·FR["[בקש]"]·heb["ביקש"]·HI["पूछी"]·ID["ditanyakan"]·IT["cercare"]·jav["dipun-tangletaken"]·KO["물었던"]·PT["buscou"]·RU["спрашивал"]·ES["les-pidió"]·SW["aliuliza"]·TR["sordu"]·urd["پوچھا"]
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×)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×)G2212 1. seek, search for, look for (64×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [בָּקַשׁ224] vb. seek (Ph. בקש)— Pi. Pf. בִּקֵּשׁ Dt 13:11 + 15 times; בִּקְשָׁה Ex 7:28 Est 2:15; sf. בִּקְשָׁתַם Ho 2:9; בִּקַּשְׁתִּיו Ct 3:1, 2 cf. 5:6; בִּקְשׁוּ Ezr 2:62 + 12 times; sf. בִּקְשֻׁנִי Is 65:1 + 2 times; Impf. יְבַקֵּשׁ Jos 22:23 + 37 times; יְבַקֶּשׁ־ Pr 15:14 + 2 times; אֲבַקְשָׁה ψ 122:9 + 3 times, sf. יְבַקְשֵׁהוּ 1 S 23:14 + 7 times; יְבַקְשׁוּ 1 S 16:16 + 23 times; Imv.…