בַּקָּשָׁה
𐤁𐤒𐤔𐤄
baqqâshâh
H1246 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A formal request or entreaty, particularly one directed to a human or divine authority; denotes a spoken or written plea for favor, information, or action. Used for expressions of earnest desire, supplication, or asking, whether of individuals, groups, or deity. The term encompasses both humble supplication and official appeals.
Semantic Range
petition, request, entreaty, plea, application (formal or informal), demand (in some contexts)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root ב-ק-ש (בקש), which means 'to seek, search, request.' The noun form בַּקָּשָׁה (baqqâshâh) signifies the object of seeking—namely, a request, petition, or entreaty.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בַּקָּשָׁה appears in later Hebrew (especially in post-exilic and Second Temple texts, such as Daniel and Ezra) rather than in the earliest strata of the Hebrew Bible. The noun is rare in earlier biblical texts, as verbs from the same root (בקש) are generally used to express the act of requesting or seeking. It is often found in contexts of formal communication to a royal, administrative, or divine authority, especially where a distinction is made between the act of seeking (verb) and the specific item or request (noun). English translations typically render the term as 'request' or 'petition,' though in later Jewish literature and modern Hebrew it has taken on a broader sense of 'wish' or 'application.' The word should be contrasted with תְּחִנָּה (tᵉḥinnah), which leans more toward 'supplication' or 'plea,' frequently emphasizing humility, whereas בַּקָּשָׁה is more neutral and may be formal or informal. When used in governmental or legal contexts, בַּקָּשָׁה can connote an official petition or application. In Second Temple texts and later rabbinic usage, the term's range expanded to include requests addressed to the divine in prayer as well as to earthly authorities. The contrast between this noun and the more active verbal forms is an important nuance in interpreting narrative and legal passages.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּקַשׁ; a petition; request.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בקש (b-q-sh) — seek, request, desire
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1245 | בָּקַשׁ | I earnestly seek |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1246-01 |
בַּקָּשָׁתֵ֛/ךְ | baqashatekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
is your request | your request | 4 |
H1246-03 |
בַּקָּשָׁתֽ/וֹ | baqashato | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
that he requested | his petition | 1 |
H1246-02 |
בַּקָּשָׁתִ֑/י | baqashati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my request | my petition | 1 |
H1246-05 |
וּ/בַקָּשָׁתִֽ/י | uvaqashati | HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cs |
and my request | and my petition | 1 |
H1246-04 |
בְּ/בַקָּשָׁתִֽ/י | bevaqashati | HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs |
as my request | in my petition | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1246-01 |
Esther 5:3 | בַּקָּשָׁתֵ֛/ךְ | baqashatekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
is your request | your request |
H1246-01 |
Esther 5:6 | בַּקָּשָׁתֵ֛/ךְ | baqashatekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
is your request | your request |
H1246-05 |
Esther 5:7 | וּ/בַקָּשָׁתִֽ/י | uvaqashati | HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cs |
and my request | and my petition |
H1246-02 |
Esther 5:8 | בַּקָּשָׁתִ֑/י | baqashati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my request | my petition |
H1246-01 |
Esther 7:2 | בַּקָּשָׁתֵ֛/ךְ | baqashatekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
your-request | your request |
H1246-04 |
Esther 7:3 | בְּ/בַקָּשָׁתִֽ/י | bevaqashati | HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs |
as my request | in my petition |
H1246-01 |
Esther 9:12 | בַּקָּשָׁתֵ֥/ךְ | baqashatekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
is your request | your request |
H1246-03 |
Ezra 7:6 | בַּקָּשָׁתֽ/וֹ | baqashato | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
that he requested | his petition |