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בַּקָּרָה

𐤁𐤒𐤓𐤄

baqqârâh

H1243 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בקר to inquire, examine, inspect, visit

Definition

An act of attentive examination; careful investigation or inspection. In biblical usage, בַּקָּרָה refers to the process of closely inspecting, overseeing, or seeking out, often with the intention of determining condition, status, or fault.

Semantic Range

inspection, investigation, examination, official inquiry; process of scrutinizing or seeking out; (rarely) careful oversight

Root / Etymology

The term derives from the root בָּקַר (b-q-r), whose core meaning is to examine or inquire. The form בַּקָּרָה is an abstract noun, likely denoting the process or state of examination. The intensive or nominal form signifies the act or result of scrutinizing or inquiring closely.

Historical & Contextual Notes

This word is rare in the Hebrew Bible, attested in 1 Samuel 21:3(4), where it describes David's claim of having undertaken an examination or investigation as part of his official business. The term connotes a process more thorough than casual observation, implying an official or purposeful review. The noun should be distinguished from the homonym בַּקָּרָה (meaning 'heifer' from the unrelated root בָּקָר, 'cattle'). Unlike the verb בָּקַר, which is regularly used for 'to seek', 'to inquire', or 'to visit' (especially in the sense of care or inspection), the noun form here emphasizes the result or process of inspection itself. English translations such as 'investigation' or 'inspection' best capture the nuance, though many renderings simply use 'matter', 'business', or 'affair'—these are contextually inferred and do not always reflect the investigative nuance. As the term is only attested in a limited context, its broader use in ancient Israelite administration or society is difficult to ascertain.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

intensive from בָּקַר; a looking after; seek out.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בקר (b-q-r) — inquire, examine, inspect, visit

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1230 בַּקְבַּקַּר Search-Seeker
H1239 בָּקַר I will examine closely
H1240 בְּקַר to thoroughly investigate
H1241 בָּקָר in the cattle
H1242 בֹּקֶר in the morning

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1243-01 כְּ/בַקָּרַת֩ kevaqarat HR/Ncfsc as the seeking as inspection-of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1243-01 Ezekiel 34:12 כְּ/בַקָּרַת֩ kevaqarat HR/Ncfsc as the seeking as inspection-of
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