לְ/בַקֵּ֖שׁ
𐤋/𐤁𐤒𐤔
levaqesh
to seek
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).
2 Chronicles 20:4 · Word #3
Lexicon H1245
| Lemma | בָּקַשׁ |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤁𐤒𐤔 |
| Transliteration | bâqash |
| Strong's | H1245 |
| In-context | to seek |
Morphology HR/Vpc
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | V — Verb — An action or state |
| Binyan | p — Piel — Intensive active |
| Conjugation | c — Infinitive Construct — The verbal noun ("to ...") |
SIBI-P1 H1245-15
to earnestly seek
| Root | בקש (b-q-sh) |
| Core Meanings | seeking, searching out, striving after, inquiring, requesting |
| Semantic Range | to seek, search out, inquire, request, demand, strive after, seek in worship or prayer, attempt to obtain |
| Conceptual Significance | בקש frequently describes active pursuit—whether seeking YHWH in worship, seeking wisdom, or seeking someone’s life. It reflects covenantal intentionality: true seeking involves deliberate, persistent pursuit rather than passive curiosity. |
| Morphological Notes | Verb, Piel stem, infinitive construct with prefixed לְ (“to”). The Piel often expresses intensive, active, or intentional pursuit. |
| Rendering Rationale | The form לְבַקֵּשׁ is a Piel infinitive construct of בקש with the prefixed לְ (“to”). The Piel stem conveys intensive or deliberate action, so “to earnestly seek” preserves both the root idea of searching and the intensified, purposeful nuance of the stem. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root בקש (seeking, searching out, striving after, inquiring, requesting)
| SILEX Code | Transliteration | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
H1245-01 |
avaqesh | I earnestly seek |
H1245-02 |
avaqeshah | Let me diligently seek |
H1245-03 |
avaqeshenu | I earnestly seek him |
Word Usage (225 occurrences of H1245)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis 31:39 | תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑/נָּה | tevaqeshenah | you required it |
| Genesis 37:15 | תְּבַקֵּֽשׁ | tevaqesh | are you seeking |
| Genesis 37:16 | מְבַקֵּ֑שׁ | mevaqesh | am seeking |