H1875 H1875
To seek, inquire of, consult, investigate, require; be sought or consulted (Niphal); care for
A verb of deliberate, purposeful pursuit — whether seeking God in prayer, consulting a prophet for guidance, or investigating a legal matter with judicial rigor. Its Arabic cognate darasa ('study, tread repeatedly') preserves the sense of persistent engagement. The semantic range moves from general searching (1 Chr 16:11) to formal consultation of divine oracles (Gen 25:22), forensic investigation (Deut 13:14), and even covenantal accountability where God 'requires' blood (Gen 9:5). In the Niphal, God Himself becomes the one sought or consulted, often with the poignant note that He allowed — or refused — to be found.
Senses
1. seek, search for — The broadest and most frequent sense: to seek or search for someone or something, whether physically, spiritually, or metaphorically. 'Seek the LORD and His strength' (1 Chr 16:11) exemplifies the devotional register. Spanish buscar and French chercher render this straightforwardly, while Arabic talaba preserves the sense of active pursuit. 96×
AR["طَلَبَ", "لِ-تَطْلُبَ", "لِ-طَلَبِ", "لِ-يَطْلُبَ", "لِ-يَطْلُبُوا", "لِطَلَبِ", "لِـ-طَلَبِ", "لِـ-يَطْلُبَ", "لِيَطلُبوا", "لِيَطلُبَ", "لِيَطْلُبَ", "وَلِأَبْحَثَ", "يَطْلُبُ", "يَطْلُبْ"]·ben["-অনুসন্ধান-করতে", "অনুসন্ধান-করতে", "অনুসন্ধান-করেছিলেন", "অন্বেষণ-করতে", "অন্বেষণ-করল", "খুঁজতে", "খোঁজ-করতে", "খোঁজ-করেছিল", "খোঁজতে", "খোঁজার-জন্য", "জানতে"]·DE["suchen", "suchte", "zu-suchte"]·EN["he-sought", "sought", "to-inquire-of", "to-seek"]·FR["chercher", "à-chercher"]·heb["דרש", "ל-דרוש", "ל-דרש"]·HI["खोजने", "खोजने-के-लिए", "खोजने-को", "खोजने-में", "खोजनेको", "खोजा", "ढूँढने", "हृदय-अपने"]·ID["ia-bertanya", "ia-cari", "mencari", "untuk-mencari", "untuk-menyelidiki"]·IT["cercare", "per-a-seek"]·jav["kangge-madosi", "kanggé-madosi", "kanggé-nyuwun-pitedah", "kanggé-taken", "madosi", "nyuwun-pitedah"]·KO["구하기-를", "구하기-위해", "구하다", "구하도록", "구하였다", "구했다", "그가-찾았다", "에-구하기로", "에-구함", "에게-구하다", "위해-구하다", "을-찾으려고", "찾기-위하여", "탐구하고"]·PT["buscou", "para-buscar"]·RU["вопросил", "искал", "искать", "исследовать", "чтобы-вопросить", "чтобы-искать"]·ES["a-buscar", "buscó", "consultó", "para-buscar", "para-consultar", "para-inquirir"]·SW["akimtafuta", "alimtafuta", "alitafuta", "hakutafuta", "kumtafuta", "kutafuta", "lidrosh", "lidrwosh"]·TR["aradı", "aramak", "aramak-icin", "aramak-için", "aramaya", "arastirmak-icin", "danışmak-için", "danıştı", "sormak-için"]·urd["تلاش-کرنے", "تلاش-کرنے-کو", "تلاش-کی", "دریافت-کرنے-کو", "دریافت-کیا-اس-نے", "طلب-کرنا", "طلب-کرنے", "طلب-کرنے-کے-لیے", "لے-ڈھونڈنے-کو", "ڈھونڈا", "ڈھونڈنے", "ڈھونڈنے-کو"]
1 Chr 10:13, 1 Chr 10:14, 1 Chr 13:3, 1 Chr 15:13, 1 Chr 16:11, 1 Chr 21:30, 1 Chr 22:19, 1 Chr 28:8, 2 Chr 12:14, 2 Chr 14:4, 2 Chr 14:7, 2 Chr 14:7 (+38 more)
2. inquire of, consult — A specialized sense of seeking divine direction: consulting God, a prophet, or an oracle for guidance. Rebekah 'inquired of the LORD' about her twins (Gen 25:22), and kings routinely sought prophetic counsel before battle (1 Kgs 22:5). Spanish consultar and the Arabic sa'ala ('to ask') capture the formal, deliberative quality of this oracular inquiry. 39×
AR["أَطْلُبُ", "أَطْلُبُهُ", "اسْأَلُوا", "اُطلُب", "اُطْلُبْ-", "اِسْأَلُوا", "لِ-نَطْلُبَ", "لِ-يَسْأَلَ", "لِتَسْأَلَ", "لِتَسْأَلُوا", "لِيَسأَلَ", "لِيَسْأَلَ-", "لِيَسْأَلُوا", "وَ-نَسأَلُ", "وَنَسْأَلَ"]·ben["অনুসন্ধান-কর-", "অনুসন্ধান-করতে", "অন্বেষণ-করতে", "এবং-আমরা-জিজ্ঞাসা-করি", "এবং-জিজ্ঞাসা-করব", "চাইব", "জিজ্ঞাসা-কর", "জিজ্ঞাসা-কর-", "জিজ্ঞাসা-করতে", "জিজ্ঞেস-করতে", "জিজ্ঞেস-করো"]·DE["inquire", "inquire-von", "suchen", "suchte", "und-wir-wird-inquire", "werde-ich-fordern", "zu-inquire", "zu-inquire-von"]·EN["I-will-require", "Inquire-", "and-we-will-inquire", "inquire", "inquire-of", "to-inquire", "to-inquire-", "to-inquire-of"]·FR["Je---exiger", "[לדרש]", "chercher", "consulte", "consulte-de", "et-nous-fera-consulte", "à-consulte", "à-consulte-de"]·heb["אדרש", "דרוש", "דרשו", "ו-נדרוש", "ל-דרוש", "ל-דרוש-", "ל-דרש"]·HI["और-पूछें", "के-लिए-पूछने", "खोजने-के-लिए", "पूछ-", "पूछने", "पूछने-", "पूछने-के-लिए", "पूछो", "मानगूनगा", "ल-पूछना"]·ID["akan-Kutuntut", "dan-kita-akan-bertanya", "supaya-kita-bertanya", "tanyakanlah", "tanyakanlah-", "untuk-bertanya", "untuk-bertanya-", "untuk-menanyai", "untuk-menanyakan"]·IT["a-domanda", "a-domanda-di", "cercare", "domanda", "domanda-di", "e-noi-vorrà-domanda", "io-will-require"]·jav["Kula-badhe-tuntut", "Nyuwun-pitulungan", "kangge-madosi", "kangge-pados", "kanggé-madosi", "kanggé-ndangu", "kanggé-nyuwun-pirsa", "lan-kita-badhé-nyuwun-pirsa", "nyuwun-pitedah", "pados-", "panjenengan-sami-madosi", "supados-kita-nyuwun-pitedah", "supados-pitakèn", "supados-pitakèn-"]·KO["구하기-위하여-", "구하도록", "구하라-", "그리고-구하자", "묻기-위하여", "묻기-위해", "묻라", "물어라", "에-구함", "에게-구하다", "요구할-것이다", "을-묻기-위하여"]·PT["Consulta-", "a-consultar", "consulta", "consultai", "e-consultaremos", "para-buscar", "para-consultar", "para-consultar-", "requererei"]·RU["Израиля", "взыщу", "вопроси-", "вопросите", "вопросить", "вопрошать", "и-вопросим", "и-спросим", "расспросить", "чтобы-вопросить", "чтобы-вопросить-", "чтобы-спросить"]·ES["Consulta", "a-consultar", "consultad", "demandaré", "para-consultar", "para-preguntar", "y-consultemos"]·SW["Muulizie-", "kumuuliza", "kuniuliza", "kuuliza", "lidrosh", "lidrwosh", "na-tumuulize", "nitaidai", "uliza-", "ulizeni"]·TR["-danışmak-için", "danışmak-için", "danışın", "isteyeceğim", "peygambere", "sor-", "sormak-için", "sormaya", "sorun", "ve-soralim", "ve-soralım"]·urd["اور-ہم-پوچھیں", "تاکہ-دریافت-کریں", "دریافت-کر-", "دریافت-کرنے", "دریافت-کرنے-", "دریافت-کرنے-کو", "دریافت-کرنے-کے-لیے", "دریافت-کرو", "مانگوں-گا", "پوچھ-", "پوچھنے", "پوچھو", "ڈھونڈنے", "کے-لیے-دریافت-کرنے"]
Gen 9:5, Gen 9:5, Gen 25:22, Deut 12:30, Deut 18:11, Judg 6:29, 1 Sam 9:9, 1 Sam 28:7, 2 Sam 11:3, 1 Kgs 14:5, 1 Kgs 22:5, 1 Kgs 22:7 (+27 more)
3. investigate, examine — Careful, thorough investigation of a matter, especially in judicial contexts. Deuteronomy requires that allegations be investigated diligently (Deut 13:14, 17:4, 19:18). The Arabic bahatha ('examine') and German untersuchen both convey the forensic precision this sense demands — a methodical searching out of truth. 9×
AR["ابْحَثُوا", "تَفْتِشُ", "لِـ-دَارِيُوسَ", "وَ-تَبْحَثُ", "وَ-تَسْأَلُ", "وَ-تَفْحَصُ", "وَيَفْحَصُ", "يَبْحَثُ.", "يَفْحَصُ"]·ben["অনুসন্ধান-করতে", "অন্বেষণ-করেন", "আপনি-অনুসন্ধান-করেন", "এবং-অনুসন্ধান-করবে", "এবং-অন্বেষণ-করবে", "এবং-তুমি-অনুসন্ধান-করবে", "এবং-তুমি-অনুসন্ধান-করেছ", "খোঁজ", "সে-খোঁজে"]·DE["suchen", "sucht", "suchte", "und-du-inquire", "und-du-soll-inquire", "und-soll-investigate", "zu-Darius"]·EN["Seek", "You-search", "and-shall-investigate", "and-you-inquire", "and-you-shall-inquire", "it-searches", "searches", "to-investigate"]·FR["chercher", "et-devra-investigate", "et-tu-devra-inquire", "et-tu-inquire", "zu-Darius"]·heb["דורש", "דרשו", "ו-דרשו", "ו-דרשת", "ידרוש", "ל-דריוש", "תדרוש"]·HI["और-खोजोगे-तू", "और-जांचेंगे", "और-जांचेगा", "खोजो", "जाँचने-को", "ढूँढता", "तू-ढूँढता-है", "वह-ढूँढता-है"]·ID["Carilah", "Dan-selidiki", "Engkau-selidiki", "dan-bertanya", "dan-kamu-menyelidiki", "ia mencari", "menyelidiki", "untuk-menyelidiki"]·IT["You-search", "a-Dario", "cercare", "cercate", "e-dovra-investigate", "e-tu-dovra-inquire", "e-tu-inquire", "esso-searches"]·jav["Lan-panjenengan-kedah-madosi", "Panjenengan-madosi", "kangge-Darius", "lan-naliti", "lan-panjenengan-nakèni", "lan-panjenengan-naliti", "madosi", "pados-priksa", "piyambak-ipun-madosi"]·KO["그리고-조사하라", "그리고-조사하리라", "그리고-조사하리라-네가", "당신이-캐시나이까", "살펴라", "살피신다", "에-조사하기를", "켾다"]·PT["busca", "buscai", "e-inquirirás", "e-investigarás", "investigas", "para-investigar", "procura.", "¶ E-investigarão"]·RU["Дарьявеша", "И-расследуют", "Ищите", "То-исследуй", "допытываешься", "и-расследуешь", "исследует", "ищет"]·ES["Buscad", "E-investigarán", "E-investigarás", "busca", "e-investigarás", "e-investigues", "escudriña", "escudriñas.", "para-investigar"]·SW["Tafuta", "Tafuteni", "anaitafuta", "anatafuta", "kuchunguza", "na-ukatafuta", "na-utauliza", "na-watachunguza", "unachunguza"]·TR["Arastirin", "arar", "arastirmak-icin", "araştırıyor", "soruşturursum", "ve-araştıracaklar", "ve-araştıracaksın", "ve-araştırırsan", "ve-soracaksın"]·urd["اور-تحقیق-کریں", "اور-تحقیق-کرے-گا", "اور-تُو-تحقیق-کرے", "اور-تُو-پوچھے", "تلاش-کرتا-ہے", "جانچ-کرنے-کو", "وہ-تلاش-کرتا-ہے", "ڈھونڈتا-ہے", "ڈھونڈھو"]
4. require, demand, call to account — A juridical and covenantal sense: to require, demand, or call to account, especially for bloodshed. God declares 'your blood I will require' (Gen 9:5), establishing accountability. Spanish demandar and the construction in 2 Chr 24:22 ('may the LORD see and require it') show the sense of divine or legal reckoning. 8×
AR["أَطْلُبُ", "أَطْلُبُهُ", "أُطَالِبُ", "تَطْلُبُ", "تَطْلُبْ", "وَلِيَطْلُبْ", "يَطْلُبُ"]·ben["আমি-দাবি-করব।", "আর-বিচার-করুক", "উৎসর্গগুলি-তোমাদের", "চাইব-তা", "চান", "তুমি-অন্বেষণ-করবে", "তুমি-তলব-করেছ", "দাবি-করব"]·DE["soll-require-es", "suchen", "suchte", "und-suchen", "werde-ich-es-fordern"]·EN["I-will-require", "I-will-require-it", "I-will-seek", "and-require", "required", "requires", "shall-require-it", "you-will-call-to-account"]·FR["Je---exiger-cela", "[אדרוש]", "[אדרש]", "cherchant", "chercher", "devra-require-cela", "et-chercher", "rechercher"]·heb["אדרוש", "אדרשנו", "דורש", "דרשת", "ו-ידרש", "תדרוש"]·HI["और-न्याय-करे", "चाहता-है", "तू-लेखा-लेगा", "तूने-पूछा", "माँगूँगा-मैं", "मानगूनगा-उसे", "लेखा-मांगूंगा"]·ID["Aku-akan-menuntut.", "Aku-akan-menuntutnya", "Aku-akan-minta", "Engkau-menuntut", "akan-menuntut", "dan-menuntut", "engkau-menuntut", "menuntut"]·IT["cercare", "cerco'", "dovra-require-esso", "e-cercare", "io-will-require-esso"]·jav["Aku-badhé-nuntut", "Kula-badhe-tuntut", "Kula-badhé-néda", "Panjenengan-madosi", "kawula-badhé-nakèni", "lan-mundhut-tanggel-jawab", "madosi", "mundhut"]·KO["그리고-갖는다", "내가-찾으리라", "요구하리라", "요구하시느냐", "요구하였다", "요구할-것이다", "찾지"]·PT["buscarei", "e-requeira", "investigarás", "requer", "requererei", "requererei-o", "requereste"]·RU["взыщешь", "взыщу", "взыщу-её", "и-да-взыщет", "потребовал-ты", "потребую", "требует"]·ES["demanda", "demandarás", "demandaré", "demandaré.", "has-requerido", "la-demandaré", "y-demande"]·SW["anataka", "kuwahoji", "na-alipize", "nitadai", "nitaidai", "nitaitaka", "utataka"]·TR["arayacağım", "arayan", "araştıracaksın", "hesap-soracağım", "isteyeceğim", "isteyeceğim-onu", "talep-etmedin", "ve-hesap-sorsun"]·urd["اور-باز-پرس-کرے", "تُو-ڈھونڈے-گا", "حساب-لوں-گا", "طلب-کروں-گا", "مانگوں-گا", "مانگوں-گا-اُسے", "مطالبہ-کیا", "چاہتا-ہے"]
5. be inquired of, be sought (Niphal) — The Niphal passive-reflexive describes God permitting or refusing to be consulted. Ezekiel's 'I will not be inquired of by you' (Ezek 20:3, 31) stands in stark contrast to Isaiah's 'I was found by those who did not seek me' (Isa 65:1). This sense reveals a theology of divine availability — God's willingness to be sought is itself an act of grace. 7×
AR["أُسْأَلُ", "أُسْتَشَارُ", "أُسْتَفْتَى", "سُئِلْتُ", "هَلْ-أُسْتَشَارُ"]·ben["-দ্বারা-তোমাদের", "অনুসন্ধান-করব", "আমি-অন্বেষিত-হলাম", "আমি-কি-জিজ্ঞাসিত-হব", "উত্তর-দেব", "এবং-আমাকে", "কি-আমি-জিজ্ঞাসিত-হব"]·DE["suchen"]·EN["I-am-inquired-of", "I-let-Myself-be-sought", "I-will-be-sought", "be-inquired-of", "shall-I-be-inquired-of"]·FR["[אדרש]", "[האדרש]", "chercher"]·heb["אידרש", "ה-אידרש", "נדרשתי"]·HI["क्या-पूछा-जाऊँ", "पाया-गया-मैं", "पूछा-जाऊँ", "पूछा-जाऊँगा", "मैं-ढूँढा-जाऊँगा", "मैं-पूछा-जाऊँगा"]·ID["Aku-diminta", "Aku-membiarkan-diriku-dicari", "Aku-tidak-membiarkan-ditanyakan", "apakah-Aku-akan-membiarkan", "dan-Aku", "diri-Ku-ditanya", "sesungguhnya"]·IT["cercare"]·jav["Ingsun-badé-kapriksa", "Kawula-dipunpadosi", "Kula-dipun-pitakèni", "dipun-pitakèni", "kula-badhé-dipun-pitakèni", "punapa-kula-badhé-dipun-pitakèni"]·KO["내가-구하여지겠느냐", "내가-구함을-받으리라", "내가-답하리라", "내가-진정으로", "내가-찾아지게-되었다"]·PT["Fui-buscado", "serei-buscado", "serei-consultado"]·RU["Господа", "буду-вопрошаем", "был-Я-взыскан", "дам-вам-ответ", "дам-ответ", "позволю-просить", "разве-вопрошая"]·ES["Fui-buscado", "me-dejaré-consultar", "seré-buscado", "seré-consultado", "¿Acaso-seré-consultado"]·SW["je-niulizwe", "nilipatikana", "nitadaiwa", "nitaulizwa", "niulizwe"]·TR["Arandim", "aranacak", "danışılır-mıyım", "danışılırım", "sorularak", "sorulmalı-mıyım"]·urd["دریافت-ہوں-گا", "مانگا-جاؤں-گا-میں", "میں-پوچھا-گیا", "پوچھا-جائے", "کیا-مجھ-سے-پوچھا-جائے"]
6. be required, be sought out (Niphal passive) — The Niphal passive participle describes a state of being required or sought out. Isaiah's 'Sought Out, a city not forsaken' (Isa 62:12) transforms the verb into a title of restored dignity. The passive in Gen 42:22 ('his blood is required') echoes the juridical demand sense in passive voice. Arabic matloob ('required, demanded') precisely parallels this usage. 4×
AR["فُتِّشُوا", "مَطلوبَة", "مَطْلُوبٌ", "مَطْلُوبَةٌ"]·ben["অনুসন্ধান-করা-হল", "অনুসন্ধানকৃত", "অন্বেষিত", "দাবি-করা-হচ্ছে"]·DE["suchen", "suchte", "wird-gefordert"]·EN["Sought-out", "is-required", "sought-out", "they-were-sought"]·FR["chercher", "est-exigea", "rechercher"]·heb["דרושה", "דרושים", "נדרש", "נדרשו"]·HI["खोजी-हुई", "खोजे-गए", "माँगा-जा-रहा-है"]·ID["Yang-Dicari", "dicari", "dituntut"]·IT["cercare", "cerco'", "è-required"]·jav["Dipunpadosi", "dipun-tuntut", "dipunpadosi", "kapadosi"]·KO["구하는-바-이라", "찾아진-자라", "찾아짐을-받는다", "탐구되었다"]·PT["buscada", "buscadas", "foram-buscados", "é-requerido"]·RU["взысканная", "взыскивается", "изысканы", "исследованы-были"]·ES["Buscada", "buscadas", "es-demandada", "fueron-buscados"]·SW["Anayetafutwa", "kumtaka", "walitafutwa", "yanachunguzwa"]·TR["aranan", "araştırılan", "araştırıldılar", "hesabı-sorulacak"]·urd["تلاش-کِیے-جانے-والے", "تلاش-کیے-گئے", "مانگا-جا-رہا-ہے", "ڈھونڈی-گئی"]
7. care for, attend to — A tender figurative extension where seeking becomes caring: God 'cares for' the land (Deut 11:12), and the psalmist laments that no one 'cares for my soul' (Ps 142:4). This sense bridges intellectual pursuit and compassionate attention, showing how persistent seeking can become solicitous tending. 2×
AR["طَالِبٌ", "يَعْتَنِي"]·ben["খোঁজকারী", "তত্ত্বাবধান-করেন"]·DE["seeks", "suchte"]·EN["one-caring", "seeks"]·FR["rechercher", "seeks"]·heb["דורש"]·HI["खोजनेवाला", "देखभाल-करता-है"]·ID["memperhatikan", "yang-memedulikan"]·IT["cerco'", "seeks"]·jav["nggatosaken", "tiyang-ingkang-nggatosaken"]·KO["돌보는-자-가", "돌보시는-것이라"]·PT["busca", "quem-se-importe"]·RU["заботится", "заботящегося"]·ES["cuida", "quien-busque"]·SW["anaitunza", "anayejali"]·TR["arayan", "soran"]·urd["تلاش-کرنے-والا", "نگہبانی-کرتا-ہے"]
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×)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
† דָּרַשׁ162 vb. resort to, seek (cf. Arabic دَرَسَ rub over, efface (a site), tread (wheat), fig. read repeatedly, study; ܕܪܰܫ beat (a path), discuss, Pa. practise in; NH search out (a meaning), expound)— Qal Pf. 1 Ch 10:14; Impf. יִדְרֹשׁ ψ 10:4 +, אֶדְרְשָׁה 1 S 28:7, נִדְרְשָׁה 1 K 22:7 +, יִדְרְשׁוּן Is 55:2; Imv. דְּרָשׁ־ 1 K 22:5 +; Inf. abs. דָּרֹשׁ Lv 10:16 Dt 23:22; cstr. דְּרֹשׁ Dt…