← H1155 H1157 →

בְּעָא

𐤁𐤏𐤀

bᵉʻâʼ

H1156 verb

SILEX Entry

Root בעה to seek, to ask, to request, to desire, to petition

Definition

To seek, request, ask for, or entreat, especially in the sense of inquiring or earnestly seeking something from someone in authority; used for both mundane requests (such as asking for information or favor) and formal entreaty (such as prayer or petition before God or a ruler). The verb conveys intent and active pursuit of an object or outcome, ranging from general desire to formal petitioning.

Semantic Range

to seek, to ask for, to request, to desire, to make a petition, to entreat, to pray (petitionary), to inquire

Root / Etymology

Root: בעה. This Aramaic root parallels the Hebrew root בקש (to seek, request). בעה's core meaning is to seek, ask for, or request, and the form בְּעָא is the Peal (basic) stem, commonly used for simple active meaning, 'to seek' or 'to ask.' Though similar in meaning to Hebrew בקש, it is distinctly Aramaic in form and usage. The Hebrew equivalent is less frequently employed for formal prayer; Aramaic בעה encompasses a broader scope, extending often to solemn entreaty or intervention.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בְּעָא appears primarily in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, especially in Daniel and Ezra, where it is the standard verb for 'asking' or 'petitioning' both human authorities (e.g. kings, government officials) and the deity. In narrative usage, the verb often signals a formal or official request, not merely idle wishing. When used in religious context (e.g. Daniel 'prays' or 'sought' God), it is sometimes rendered as 'pray' in English translations, but the underlying sense is petitionary rather than worshipful or liturgical. The translation 'pray' reflects later associations, but in the biblical Aramaic period, the word carried a broad meaning ranging from 'ask' or 'request' to 'petition,' with context clarifying the level of formality or spiritual intent. Cognate usage in later Jewish Aramaic continues this spectrum. The associated Hebrew root בקש has a similar range but occurs in distinctively Hebrew portions of the text. English translations often limit בְּעָא to 'pray' or 'request,' but this can obscure the full range of demand, petition, inquiry, and pursuit that the term entails. There is no nuance of worship or praise; the idea is always one of intentional seeking or asking, not passive hoping.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) or בְּעָה; (Aramaic), corresponding to בָּעָה; to seek or ask; ask, desire, make (petition), pray, request, seek.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

בעה (b-ʿ-h) — to seek, to ask, to request, to desire, to petition

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1158 בָּעָה Gush forth!
H1164 בְּעִי Ai
H994 בִּי please

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1156-10 יִבְעֵ֣ה yiveeh AVqi3ms makes petition he will seek 2
H1156-01 בָּעֵ֥א bae AVqrmsa praying seeking one 2
H1156-08 בְעֵ֣ינָא veeyna AVqp1cp we requested we sought 1
H1156-09 יְבַע֑וֹן yevaon AVpi3mp sought they will earnestly seek 1
H1156-03 אֶבְעֵֽא evee AVqi1cs I asked I seek 1
H1156-06 וּ/בְע֛וֹ uveo AC/Vqp3mp and-they-sought and they sought 1
H1156-02 בְּעָ֣א bea AVqp3ms requested he sought 1
H1156-07 בָעַ֧יִן vaayin AVqrmpa seeking and there is not 1
H1156-04 לְ/מִבְעֵא֙ lemivee AR/Vqc to seek to seek, to petition 1
H1156-05 וּ/בְעָ֣ה uveah AC/Vqp3ms and-requested and he sought 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1156-06 Daniel 2:13 וּ/בְע֛וֹ uveo AC/Vqp3mp and-they-sought and they sought
H1156-05 Daniel 2:16 וּ/בְעָ֣ה uveah AC/Vqp3ms and-requested and he sought
H1156-04 Daniel 2:18 לְ/מִבְעֵא֙ lemivee AR/Vqc to seek to seek, to petition
H1156-08 Daniel 2:23 בְעֵ֣ינָא veeyna AVqp1cp we requested we sought
H1156-02 Daniel 2:49 בְּעָ֣א bea AVqp3ms requested he sought
H1156-09 Daniel 4:33 יְבַע֑וֹן yevaon AVpi3mp sought they will earnestly seek
H1156-07 Daniel 6:5 בָעַ֧יִן vaayin AVqrmpa seeking and there is not
H1156-10 Daniel 6:8 יִבְעֵ֣ה yiveeh AVqi3ms makes petition he will seek
H1156-01 Daniel 6:12 בָּעֵ֥א bae AVqrmsa making-request seeking one
H1156-10 Daniel 6:13 יִבְעֵה֩ yiveeh AVqi3ms makes petition he will seek
← H1155 Hebrew Lexicon H1157 →