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).

H1245

2 Chronicles 20:4 · Word #3

Lexicon H1245

Lemmaבָּקַשׁ
Lemma (Paleo)𐤁𐤒𐤔
Transliterationbâqash
Strong'sH1245
In-contextto 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

Rootבקש (b-q-sh)
Core Meaningsseeking, searching out, striving after, inquiring, requesting
Semantic Rangeto seek, search out, inquire, request, demand, strive after, seek in worship or prayer, attempt to obtain
Conceptual Significanceבקש 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 NotesVerb, Piel stem, infinitive construct with prefixed לְ (“to”). The Piel often expresses intensive, active, or intentional pursuit.
Rendering RationaleThe 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