Lexical Summary baqash: To seek, to search, to request, to desire Original Word: בָּקַשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, A primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after -- ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to seek NASB Translation aim (1), beg (1), begging (1), concerned (1), consulted (1), demand (1), desire (1), eager (1), hold* (1), inquired (2), investigated (1), look (3), looked (1), looking (3), plead (1), pursuit (1), request (2), require (7), required (1), requires (1), search (8), search will be made (1), searched (8), searching (1), seek (94), seeking (24), seeks (16), set about (1), sought (38), tried (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [בָּקַשׁ]224 verb seek (Phoenician בקש) — Pi`el Perfect בִּקֵּשׁ Deuteronomy 13:11 15t.; בִּקְשָׁה Ecclesiastes 7:28; Esther 2:15; suffix בִּקְשָׁתַם Hosea 2:9; בִּקַּשְׁתִּיו Songs 3:1,2; compare Songs 5:6; בִּקְשׁוּ Ezra 2:62 12t.; suffix בִּקְשֻׁנִי Isaiah 65:1 2t.; Imperfect יְבַקֵשׁ Joshua 22:23 37t.; יְבַקֶּשֿׁ Proverbs 15:14 2t.; אֲבַקְשָׁה Psalm 122:9 3t.; suffix יְבַקְשֵׁהוּ 1 Samuel 23:14 7t.; יְבַקְשׁוּ 1 Samuel 16:16 23t.; Imperative בַקֵּשׁ 1 Samuel 9:3 3t.; בַּקְּשׁוּ 1 Samuel 28:7 8t.; Infinitive לְבַקֵּשׁ 1 Samuel 10:2 29t.; Participle מְבַקֵּשׁ Genesis 37:16 23t.; plural מְבַקְשִׁים Exodus 10:11 38t.; — 1 seek to find: a. absolute Judges 6:29; 2 Kings 2:17; Jeremiah 5:1; Ezekiel 34:6; Ecclesiastes 3:6; Ecclesiastes 8:17 (yet see Ew). b. accusative Genesis 37:15,16; Joshua 2:22 (J) Judges 4:22; Judges 14:4; 1 Samuel 9:3; 1 Samuel 10:2,14,21; 1 Samuel 16:16; 1 Samuel 23:14,25; 1 Samuel 24:3; 1 Samuel 26:2; 1 Samuel 27:1,4 + 1 Samuel 26:20 object a flea, but read נַפְשִׁי ᵐ5 Th We Kirkp Klo Dr; 2 Samuel 17:3,20; 1 Kings 1:3; 1 Kings 2:40; 1 Kings 18:10; 2 Kings 2:16; 2 Kings 6:19; 1 Chronicles 4:39; 2Chronicles 22:9; Ezra 2:62 (= Nehemiah 7:64) Nehemiah 12:27; Psalm 37:25; Psalm 37:36; Psalm 119:176; Proverbs 2:4; Proverbs 21:6; Proverbs 23:35; Proverbs 7:28; Songs 3:1 (twice in verse); Songs 3:2 (twice in verse); Songs 5:6; Songs 6:1; Isaiah 41:12,17; Jeremiah 2:24,33; Lamentations 1:11; Ezekiel 7:25; Ezekiel 22:30; Ezekiel 34:4,16; Hosea 2:9; Nahum 3:11; Zechariah 11:16; Malachi 2:15. c. with לְ Job 10:6. d. accusative of thing לְ person Judges 18:1; 1 Samuel 13:14; 1 Samuel 28:7; 1 Kings 1:2; Ruth 3:1; Esther 2:2; Psalm 122:9; Isaiah 40:20; Lamentations 1:19; Nahum 3:7. 2 seek to secure: a. accusative the priesthood Numbers 16:10 (P); David for king 2 Samuel 3:17; in battle 2 Samuel 5:17 (= 1 Chronicles 14:8); Psalm 27:4; Jeremiah 45:5 (compare Jeremiah 45:5); בקשׁ נפשׁ seek to take one's life Exodus 4:19 (J) 1 Samuel 20:1; 1 Samuel 22:23 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 23:15; 1 Samuel 25:29; 2 Samuel 4:8; 2 Samuel 16:11; 1 Kings 19:10,14; Psalm 35:4; Psalm 38:13; Psalm 40:15; Psalm 54:5; Psalm 63:10; Psalm 70:3; Psalm 86:14; Proverbs 29:10; Jeremiah 4:30; Jeremiah 11:21; Jeremiah 19:7,9; Jeremiah 21:7; Jeremiah 22:25; Jeremiah 34:20,21; Jeremiah 38:16; Jeremiah 44:30 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 46:26; Jeremiah 49:37. b. aim at, practise: בקשׁ רעה seek hurt of Numbers 35:23 (P) 1 Samuel 24:10; 1 Samuel 25:26 (אֶל) 1 Kings 20:7; Psalm 71:13; Psalm 71:24; Esther 9:2; כזב ׳ב Psalm 4:3 compare Proverbs 17:11, שׁבר Proverbs 17:19, רצון Proverbs 11:27, טובה Nehemiah 2:10, אמונה Jeremiah 5:1, צדק, ענוה Zephaniah 2:3 (twice in verse) שׁלום Psalm 34:15, חכמה Proverbs 14:6; Ecclesiastes 7:25, בינה Daniel 8:15, דעת Proverbs 15:14; Proverbs 18:15, תורה Malachi 2:7, אהבה Proverbs 17:9, תאוה Proverbs 18:1 (ל of direct object), חשׁבנות Ecclesiastes 7:29. c. Infinitive Exodus 4:24 (J) Jeremiah 26:21. d. לְ & Infinitive Genesis 43:30; Exodus 2:15; Exodus 10:11 (JE) Deuteronomy 13:11; 1 Samuel 14:4; 1 Samuel 19:2,10; 1 Samuel 23:10; 2 Samuel 20:19; 2 Samuel 21:2; 1 Kings 11:22,40; Esther 2:21; Esther 3:6; Esther 6:2; Psalm 37:22; Ecclesiastes 12:10; Zechariah 6:7; Zechariah 12:9. 3 seek the face a. of rulers 1 Kings 10:24 (= 2 Chronicles 9:23) Proverbs 29:26. b. of God (from resorting to sacred places) Hosea 5:15; 1 Chronicles 16:11 (= Psalm 105:4) 2Chronicles 7:14; 2 Samuel 21:1; Psalm 24:6; Psalm 27:8 (twice in verse); without מְּנֵי c. יהוה Deuteronomy 4:29; Zephaniah 1:6; Zephaniah 2:3; Hosea 3:5,5; Hosea 5:6; Exodus 33:7 (J) 1 Chronicles 16:10 (= Psalm 105:3) 2Chronicles 11:16; 20:4; Isaiah 51:1; Proverbs 28:5; Zechariah 8:21,22; Jeremiah 50:4; אלהים 2 Samuel 12:16, compare Ezekiel 8:22; Isaiah 45:19; Isaiah 65:1; 2Chronicles 15:4,15; Hosea 7:10; Jeremiah 29:13; Malachi 3:1; Psalm 40:17; Psalm 70:5; Psalm 69:7; Daniel 9:3; ׳דבר י Amos 8:12; שׁמך Psalm 83:17. d. followed by Infinitive with לְ, of resort to wizards, but object not expressed Leviticus 19:34 (H). 4 desire, demand: a. accusative 1 Chronicles 21:3. b. accusative of thing מִן person Ezekiel 7:26; Daniel 1:20. 5. a. require, exact, accusative of thing מִיַּד person Isaiah 1:12; מִן person Nehemiah 5:12, accusative of thing Nehemiah 5:18. b. exact equivalent or penalty for, accusative of thing, מִיַּד person Genesis 31:39; Genesis 43:9 (JE) 1 Samuel 20:16; 2 Samuel 4:11; Ezekiel 3:18,20; Ezekiel 33:8, compare דרשׁ; no object expressed Joshua 22:23 (P). 6 (late) ask, request, accusative of thing Esther 2:15; עַל of thing Nehemiah 2:4; עַל of thing מִן person Esther 7:7; Ezra 8:23; עַל of thing מִלִּפְנֵי person Esther 4:8; accusative of thing מִן person Daniel 1:8 (object clause with אשׁר), Psalm 104:21; מִן person 2 Chronicles 20:4. Pu`al Imperfect יְבֻקַּשׁ Jeremiah 50:20, ׳וַיְב Esther 2:23; תֲּבֻקְשִׁי Ezekiel 26:21 be sought. Topical Lexicon Scope and Breadth of Old Testament Usage The verb appears about 225 times, stretching from Genesis to Malachi. Its semantic field ranges from intentionally searching for misplaced animals to the highest act of covenant devotion—seeking the LORD with heart, soul, and strength. Narrative, legal, poetic, and prophetic texts alike employ the word, demonstrating its importance for personal piety, national policy, and eschatological hope. Seeking the LORD in Covenant Relationship • Deuteronomy 4:29 gives the foundational promise: “But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” The verse frames the entire Deuteronomic history: exile follows apostasy; restoration follows seeking. Prayer, Worship, and Personal Devotion • Psalm 63:1: “O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You.” Seeking Wisdom and Instruction • Proverbs 8:17: “I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.” Wisdom personified invites diligent pursuit, portraying learning as worship. Ethics: Seeking Justice, Good, and Peace • Isaiah 1:17 calls Judah to “learn to do right; seek justice,” grounding social righteousness in deliberate pursuit. Negative Uses: Seeking Harm, Idolatry, and Self-Serving Ends • Saul perpetually “sought David every day to kill him” (1 Samuel 23:14). God as the Seeker • Ezekiel 34:11: “For this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.” Divine initiative precedes human response, ensuring the covenant’s ultimate fulfillment. Messianic and Eschatological Dimensions • Isaiah 11:10 foresees a Root of Jesse: “The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.” Historical Case Studies • Jehoshaphat “sought the LORD” and taught the Book of the Law (2 Chronicles 17:4, 9), embodying royal obedience. Theological Themes 1. Whole-heartedness: Seeking is invalid if divided (Jeremiah 3:10). Practical Ministry Applications • Preaching: Stress repentant seeking as prerequisite for revival (2 Chronicles 7:14). New Testament Continuity Though the verb itself is Hebrew, its theology bridges to Christ’s command, “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33), and His purpose “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). The Old Testament call to seek the LORD thus finds climactic fulfillment in the incarnate Messiah, reinforcing Scripture’s unified witness. Typical Expressions and Patterns • Seek the LORD (Genesis 25:22; 2 Chronicles 26:5; Psalm 105:4). These patterns reveal the moral spectrum: the same action of seeking can aim toward life or death, blessing or curse, depending on the object pursued. Summary Across narrative, poetry, and prophecy, the verb consistently calls God’s people to an active, diligent, heart-level pursuit of the LORD. Spiritual vitality, national destiny, and eschatological hope all hinge on whether individuals and communities heed the command to seek, making בָּקַשׁ a central thread in the tapestry of Scripture. Forms and Transliterations אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ אֲבַקְשֶׁ֥נּוּ אֲבַקְשָׁ֕ה אֲבַקְשָׁ֖ה אֲבַקֵּ֗שׁ אֲבַקֵּ֤שׁ אֲבַקֵּ֥שׁ אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ אֲבַקֵּשׁ֙ אֲבַקֶּשׁ־ אבקש אבקש־ אבקש׃ אבקשה אבקשנו בִּמְבַקְשֵׁ֖י בִּקְשָׁ֥ה בִּקְשֻׁ֔הוּ בִּקְשׁ֣וּ בִּקְשׁ֤וּ בִּקְשׁ֧וּ בִּקְשׁוּ֙ בִּקֵּ֖שׁ בִּקֵּ֣שׁ בִּקֵּ֤שׁ בִּקֵּ֥שׁ בִּקֵּשׁ֩ בִּקֶּשׁ־ בִּקַּ֕שְׁתִּי בִּקַּשְׁתִּ֖יו בִּקַּשְׁתִּ֙יהוּ֙ בִקְשָׁה֙ בִקְשֻׁ֑נִי בִקְשֻׁ֖הוּ בִקְשׁ֖וּ בִקְשׁ֥וּ בִקֵּ֗שׁ בִקֵּ֥שׁ בִקַּ֔שְׁתִּי בִקַּשְׁתֶּ֑ם בַּקְּשׁ֖וּ בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ בַּקְּשׁ֤וּ בַּקְּשׁ֥וּ בַּקְּשׁוּ־ בַּקֵּ֖שׁ בַּקֵּ֣שׁ בַקְּשׁ֑וּנִי במבקשי בקש בקש־ בקשה בקשהו בקשו בקשו־ בקשוני בקשני בקשתי בקשתיהו בקשתיו בקשתם הַֽמְבַקְשִׁ֖ים הַֽמְבַקְשִׁ֥ים המבקשים וְהַֽמְבַקְשִׁ֥ים וִֽיבַקְשׁ֖וּ וִֽיבַקְשׁ֣וּ וִיבַקְשׁ֣וּ וַיְבַקְשֵׁ֤הוּ וַיְבַקְשֻׁ֖הוּ וַיְבַקְשׁ֔וּ וַיְבַקְשׁ֥וּ וַיְבַקְשׁ֧וּ וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ וַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁ וַיְבַקֵּ֣שׁ וַיְבַקֵּ֤שׁ וַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁ וַיְבַקֵּ֨שׁ וַיְבַקֵּשׁ֙ וַיְבַקֵּשׁ֩ וַיְבֻקַּ֤שׁ וַנְּבַקְשָׁ֥ה וָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּ וָאֲבַקְשָׁ֣ה וָאֲבַקֵּ֣שׁ וּ֝מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ וּֽתְבֻקְשִׁ֗י וּבִקְשָׁ֖תַם וּבִקְשׁ֣וּ וּבִקְשׁ֤וּ וּבִקְשׁ֥וּ וּבִקְשׁוּ֙ וּבִקֵּ֣שׁ וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֖ם וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֥ם וּבַקְשׁ֣וּ וּבַקֵּ֥שׁ וּלְבַקֵּ֖שׁ וּלְבַקֵּ֥שׁ וּמְבַקְשֵׁ֥י וּמְבַקֵּ֥שׁ וּנְבַקְשֶׁ֖נּוּ ואבקש ואבקשה ואבקשהו ובקש ובקשו ובקשתם והמבקשים ויבקש ויבקשהו ויבקשו ולבקש ומבקש ומבקשי ונבקשה ונבקשנו ותבקשי יְבַקְשׁ֕וּ יְבַקְשׁ֞וּ יְבַקְשׁ֣וּ יְבַקְשׁ֥וּ יְבַקֵּ֔שׁ יְבַקֵּ֣שׁ יְבַקֵּ֥שׁ יְבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ יְבַקֵּֽשׁוּ׃ יְבַקֶּשׁ־ יְבֻקַּ֞שׁ יבקש יבקש־ יבקש׃ יבקשו יבקשו׃ לְבַקְשֵׁ֤נִי לְבַקְשֽׁוֹ׃ לְבַקֵּ֔שׁ לְבַקֵּ֕שׁ לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ לְבַקֵּ֛שׁ לְבַקֵּ֣שׁ לְבַקֵּ֤שׁ לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ לְבַקֵּשׁ֒ לְבַקֵּשׁ֙ לְבַקֶּשְׁךָ֔ לבקש לבקשו׃ לבקשך לבקשני מְ֝בַקְשֵׁ֗י מְבַ֫קְשֶׁ֥יךָ מְבַקְּשִׁ֣ים מְבַקְשִׁ֑ים מְבַקְשִׁ֖ים מְבַקְשִׁ֗ים מְבַקְשִׁ֣ים מְבַקְשִׁ֥ים מְבַקְשִׁ֧ים מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י מְבַקְשֵׁ֥י מְבַקְשֵׁ֨י מְבַקְשֵׁ֪י מְבַקְשֵׁ֬י מְבַקְשֵׁי־ מְבַקְשֶׁ֑יךָ מְבַקְשֶׁ֙יהָ֙ מְבַקְשָׁיו֙ מְבַקֵּ֑שׁ מְבַקֵּ֔שׁ מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ מְבַקֵּ֛שׁ מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ מְבַקֵּ֥שׁ מְבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ מְבַקֶּשׁ־ מבקש מבקש־ מבקש׃ מבקשי מבקשי־ מבקשיה מבקשיו מבקשיך מבקשים נְבַקֵּ֔שׁ נבקש תְּבַקְשִׁ֥י תְּבַקְשֵׁם֙ תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נָּה תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נּוּ תְּבַקְשֶׁ֥נָּה תְּבַקְשׁ֖וּ תְּבַקֵּ֑שׁ תְּבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ תְּבַקֵּשׁ֑וּן תְּבַקֶּשׁ־ תְבַקֵּ֥שׁ תבקש תבקש־ תבקש׃ תבקשו תבקשון תבקשי תבקשם תבקשנה תבקשנו ’ă·ḇaq·qêš ’ă·ḇaq·qeš- ’ă·ḇaq·šāh ’ă·ḇaq·šen·nū ’ăḇaqqêš ’ăḇaqqeš- ’ăḇaqšāh ’ăḇaqšennū avakkesh avakShah avakShennu bakKesh bakkeshu baq·qə·šū baq·qə·šū- ḇaq·qə·šū·nî baq·qêš baqqêš baqqəšū baqqəšū- ḇaqqəšūnî bikKashti bikkashTihu bikkashTiv bikKesh bikShah bikShu bikShuhu bim·ḇaq·šê bimḇaqšê bimvakShei ḇiq·qaš·tem biq·qaš·tî ḇiq·qaš·tî biq·qaš·tî·hū biq·qaš·tîw biq·qêš ḇiq·qêš biq·qeš- biq·šāh ḇiq·šāh biq·šū ḇiq·šū biq·šu·hū ḇiq·šu·hū ḇiq·šu·nî ḇiqqaštem biqqaštî ḇiqqaštî biqqaštîhū biqqaštîw biqqêš ḇiqqêš biqqeš- biqšāh ḇiqšāh biqšū ḇiqšū biqšuhū ḇiqšuhū ḇiqšunî ham·ḇaq·šîm hamḇaqšîm hamvakShim lə·ḇaq·qêš lə·ḇaq·qeš·ḵā lə·ḇaq·šê·nî lə·ḇaq·šōw ləḇaqqêš ləḇaqqešḵā ləḇaqšênî ləḇaqšōw levakKesh levakkeshCha levakSheni levakSho mə·ḇaq·qə·šîm mə·ḇaq·qêš mə·ḇaq·qeš- mə·ḇaq·šāw mə·ḇaq·šê mə·ḇaq·šê- mə·ḇaq·še·hā mə·ḇaq·še·ḵā mə·ḇaq·šîm məḇaqqêš məḇaqqeš- məḇaqqəšîm məḇaqšāw məḇaqšê məḇaqšê- məḇaqšehā məḇaqšeḵā məḇaqšîm mevakKesh mevakkeShim mevakShav mevakShei meVakSheicha mevakSheiha mevakShim nə·ḇaq·qêš nəḇaqqêš nevakKesh tə·ḇaq·qê·šūn tə·ḇaq·qêš ṯə·ḇaq·qêš tə·ḇaq·qeš- tə·ḇaq·šêm tə·ḇaq·šen·nāh tə·ḇaq·šen·nū tə·ḇaq·šî tə·ḇaq·šū təḇaqqêš ṯəḇaqqêš təḇaqqeš- təḇaqqêšūn təḇaqšêm təḇaqšennāh təḇaqšennū təḇaqšî təḇaqšū tevakKesh tevakkeShun tevakShem tevakShennah tevakShennu tevakShi tevakShu ū·ḇaq·qêš ū·ḇaq·šū ū·ḇiq·qaš·tem ū·ḇiq·qêš ū·ḇiq·šā·ṯam ū·ḇiq·šū ū·lə·ḇaq·qêš ū·mə·ḇaq·qêš ū·mə·ḇaq·šê ū·nə·ḇaq·šen·nū ū·ṯə·ḇuq·šî ūḇaqqêš ūḇaqšū ūḇiqqaštem ūḇiqqêš ūḇiqšāṯam ūḇiqšū ūləḇaqqêš ulevakKesh ūməḇaqqêš ūməḇaqšê umevakKesh umevakShei ūnəḇaqšennū unevakShennu ūṯəḇuqšî utevukShi uvakKesh uvakShu uvikkashTem uvikKesh uvikShatam uvikShu vaavakKesh vaavakShah vaavakShehu vakkeShuni vannevakShah vayvakKesh vayvakShehu vayvakShu vayvakShuhu vayvukKash vehamvakShim vikkashTem vikKashti vikKesh vikShah vikShu vikShuhu vikShuni vivakShu wā’ăḇaqqêš wā’ăḇaqšāh wā’ăḇaqšêhū wā·’ă·ḇaq·qêš wā·’ă·ḇaq·šāh wā·’ă·ḇaq·šê·hū wan·nə·ḇaq·šāh wannəḇaqšāh way·ḇaq·qêš way·ḇaq·šê·hū way·ḇaq·šū way·ḇaq·šu·hū way·ḇuq·qaš wayḇaqqêš wayḇaqšêhū wayḇaqšū wayḇaqšuhū wayḇuqqaš wə·ham·ḇaq·šîm wəhamḇaqšîm wî·ḇaq·šū wîḇaqšū yə·ḇaq·qê·šū yə·ḇaq·qêš yə·ḇaq·qeš- yə·ḇaq·šū yə·ḇuq·qaš yəḇaqqêš yəḇaqqeš- yəḇaqqêšū yəḇaqšū yəḇuqqaš yevakKesh yevakKeshu yevakShu yevukKashLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 31:39 HEB: אֲחַטֶּ֔נָּה מִיָּדִ֖י תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נָּה גְּנֻֽבְתִ֣י י֔וֹם NAS: of it myself. You required it of my hand KJV: of it; of my hand didst thou require it, [whether] stolen INT: bore of my hand required stolen day Genesis 37:15 Genesis 37:16 Genesis 43:9 Genesis 43:30 Exodus 2:15 Exodus 4:19 Exodus 4:24 Exodus 10:11 Exodus 33:7 Leviticus 19:31 Numbers 16:10 Numbers 35:23 Deuteronomy 4:29 Deuteronomy 13:10 Joshua 2:22 Joshua 22:23 Judges 4:22 Judges 6:29 Judges 14:4 Judges 18:1 Ruth 3:1 1 Samuel 9:3 1 Samuel 10:2 1 Samuel 10:14 225 Occurrences |