בָּקַשׁ (ba.qash) means “to seek” in the TBESH Hebrew lexicon from STEPBible.
Pronunciation guide: baw-kash' Strong’s Hebrew pronunciation spelling.
בָּקַשׁ · ba.qash · to seek
1) to seek, require, desire, exact, request 1a) (Piel) 1a1) to seek to find 1a2) to seek to secure 1a3) to seek the face 1a4) to desire, demand 1a5) to require, exact 1a6) to ask, request 1b) (Pual) to be sought
STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0
a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
KJV glosses: ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).
Open Scriptures transcription · CC BY-SA
Counts below follow each translation’s tagged words. A rendering can cover a phrase. Differences in text editions and tagging can produce different totals.
| Rendering | Count |
|---|---|
| seek | 14 |
| seeks | 7 |
| who seek | 7 |
| and seek | 6 |
| sought | 6 |
| to seek | 6 |
| i will seek | 4 |
| may those who seek | 4 |
| of those who seek | 4 |
| in search of | 3 |
| intends | 3 |
| seeking | 3 |
| those who seek | 3 |
| to look for | 3 |
| you will seek | 3 |
| and they are seeking | 2 |
| are seeking | 2 |
| i sought him | 2 |
| responsible for | 2 |
| searched for | 2 |
| searched for him | 2 |
| searching | 2 |
| seek me | 2 |
| to search for | 2 |
| to seek him | 2 |
| trying | 2 |
| want | 2 |
| who seek you | 2 |
| a search will be made | 1 |
| accountable | 1 |
| and ask him for | 1 |
| and conspired | 1 |
| and people should seek | 1 |
| and petitioned | 1 |
| and plead | 1 |
| and search for | 1 |
| and seek after | 1 |
| and sought him | 1 |
| and those who seek | 1 |
| and to seek | 1 |
| and trying to | 1 |
| and was about | 1 |
| and will require | 1 |
| and will seek | 1 |
| and you demanded | 1 |
| anyone who seeks | 1 |
| are you looking for | 1 |
| as they search | 1 |
| ask for | 1 |
| because he seeks | 1 |
| begging | 1 |
| but those who seek | 1 |
| but when they looked for him | 1 |
| but you are seeking | 1 |
| can i find | 1 |
| care for | 1 |
| consulted | 1 |
| demand | 1 |
| do not seek them out | 1 |
| do you seek | 1 |
| find | 1 |
| finds | 1 |
| had been investigated | 1 |
| had sought | 1 |
| has required | 1 |
| has sought | 1 |
| have been requesting | 1 |
| have sought out | 1 |
| having searched | 1 |
| he seeks | 1 |
| he sought | 1 |
| he wants to take | 1 |
| hold us accountable | 1 |
| i searched for | 1 |
| i sought | 1 |
| i will set out | 1 |
| in search | 1 |
| inquiring of | 1 |
| intend | 1 |
| intended | 1 |
| invites | 1 |
| is looking for | 1 |
| is seeking | 1 |
| let a search be made | 1 |
| let us search for | 1 |
| look for | 1 |
| looking for | 1 |
| may those who seek you | 1 |
| men seek | 1 |
| or searched for | 1 |
| pleaded | 1 |
| promotes | 1 |
| pursues | 1 |
| pursuit | 1 |
| request | 1 |
| require | 1 |
| search | 1 |
| searched | 1 |
| seek him | 1 |
| seek the life | 1 |
| seek them out | 1 |
| she will seek them | 1 |
| so he asked | 1 |
| so i sought him | 1 |
| someone to search for you | 1 |
| that they may seek | 1 |
| the men searched | 1 |
| then jehu looked for | 1 |
| then they searched | 1 |
| then they will seek | 1 |
| therefore sought | 1 |
| they had conspired | 1 |
| they had sought him | 1 |
| they searched for | 1 |
| they want to take | 1 |
| they were eager | 1 |
| they will seek | 1 |
| this is what i desire | 1 |
| those who sought | 1 |
| though i searched | 1 |
| to beg | 1 |
| to search | 1 |
| to search it out | 1 |
| to search out | 1 |
| to seek out | 1 |
| to take | 1 |
| to tears | 1 |
| tried | 1 |
| was looking for | 1 |
| was seeking | 1 |
| we will seek him | 1 |
| were sought out | 1 |
| who are seeking | 1 |
| who searched for | 1 |
| who seek her | 1 |
| who seek him | 1 |
| who sought | 1 |
| who want to take | 1 |
| who was seeking | 1 |
| will call to account | 1 |
| you are seeking | 1 |
| you may hold me | 1 |
| you pursue | 1 |
| you seek | 1 |
| you should seek | 1 |
| you sought | 1 |
| you who seek | 1 |
| you will be sought | 1 |
| Rendering | Count |
|---|---|
| to seek | 20 |
| seek | 17 |
| sought | 14 |
| seeketh | 13 |
| that seek | 10 |
| and seek | 6 |
| and sought | 5 |
| i will seek | 5 |
| of them that seek | 5 |
| i sought | 4 |
| and he sought | 3 |
| will i require | 3 |
| and they seek | 2 |
| and they that seek | 2 |
| enquired | 2 |
| let all those that seek | 2 |
| of those that seek | 2 |
| them that seek | 2 |
| these sought | 2 |
| which sought | 2 |
| whom thou seekest | 2 |
| whom ye seek | 2 |
| all they that seek | 1 |
| and asked | 1 |
| and besought | 1 |
| and i sought | 1 |
| and seekest | 1 |
| and seeketh | 1 |
| and that sought | 1 |
| and they shall seek | 1 |
| and they should seek | 1 |
| and they sought | 1 |
| and to seek | 1 |
| and to seek out | 1 |
| and when inquisition | 1 |
| and when they had sought | 1 |
| and when they sought | 1 |
| and will require | 1 |
| and ye shall seek | 1 |
| because he hath sought | 1 |
| begging | 1 |
| but if from thence thou shalt seek | 1 |
| but they have sought out | 1 |
| but they that seek | 1 |
| didst thou require | 1 |
| even require | 1 |
| every one which sought | 1 |
| for my sake let not those that seek | 1 |
| for that ye did desire | 1 |
| for thyself seek | 1 |
| hath sought | 1 |
| have sought | 1 |
| he seeketh | 1 |
| he sought | 1 |
| him and sought | 1 |
| him that seek | 1 |
| himself require | 1 |
| himself seeketh | 1 |
| i seek | 1 |
| if thou seekest | 1 |
| me who hath required | 1 |
| neither have ye sought | 1 |
| neither seek | 1 |
| neither shall seek | 1 |
| neither sought | 1 |
| nor seek | 1 |
| not for he that seeketh | 1 |
| not yea i sought | 1 |
| of me to seek | 1 |
| on such as sought | 1 |
| or seek | 1 |
| out | 1 |
| procureth | 1 |
| require | 1 |
| requireth | 1 |
| shall be sought for | 1 |
| shall i not seek | 1 |
| shall i not therefore now require | 1 |
| shall i seek | 1 |
| shalt thou require | 1 |
| she required | 1 |
| so they sought | 1 |
| that have not sought | 1 |
| that he might seek | 1 |
| that he seeketh | 1 |
| that he sought | 1 |
| that seeketh | 1 |
| that they may seek | 1 |
| that thou enquirest | 1 |
| that we may seek | 1 |
| that will i seek | 1 |
| thee and to seek | 1 |
| thee they will seek | 1 |
| thee to seek out | 1 |
| them and she shall seek | 1 |
| then shall they seek | 1 |
| therefore besought | 1 |
| therefore he requested | 1 |
| they also that seek | 1 |
| they seek | 1 |
| they sought | 1 |
| this required | 1 |
| thou also shalt seek | 1 |
| thou seekest | 1 |
| thou shalt seek | 1 |
| though thou be sought for | 1 |
| to ask | 1 |
| to get | 1 |
| to make request | 1 |
| unto him and to make request | 1 |
| unto him let there be sought | 1 |
| unto me for what dost thou make request | 1 |
| we pray thee and seek | 1 |
| what seekest | 1 |
| while they sought | 1 |
| who sought | 1 |
| will i seek | 1 |
| with him to seek | 1 |
| with me that behold thou seekest | 1 |
| with thee and seek | 1 |
| ye sought | 1 |
| ye that seek | 1 |
Page 2 of 5. 215 verses in the selected STEP text, printed below in BSB where available. Read each verse in its chapter to follow the author’s thought.
When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.
Read word by wordDavid pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground.
Read word by wordThen David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.
Read word by wordand bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man; then all the people will be at peace.”
Read word by wordWhen Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” “They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.
Read word by wordI am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”
Read word by wordDuring the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”
Read word by wordAt this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.)
Read word by wordSo his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.”
Read word by wordThen they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
Read word by wordSo Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath.
Read word by wordThe whole world sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.
Read word by wordBut Pharaoh asked him, “What have you lacked here with me that you suddenly want to go back to your own country?” “Nothing,” Hadad replied, “but please let me go.”
Read word by wordSolomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, where he remained until the death of Solomon.
Read word by wordAs surely as the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you.
Read word by word“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”
Read word by word“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”
Read word by wordThen the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said, “Please take note and see that this man is looking for trouble, for when he demanded my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, I did not deny him.”
Read word by word“Look now,” they said to Elisha, “we your servants have fifty valiant men. Please let them go and search for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and put him on one of the mountains or in one of the valleys.” “Do not send them,” Elisha replied.
Read word by wordBut when they pressed him to the point of embarrassment, he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find Elijah.
Read word by wordAnd Elisha told them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.
Read word by wordand they journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, in search of pasture for their flocks.
Read word by wordWhen the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went out to face them.
Read word by wordGlory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Read word by wordSeek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.
Read word by wordBut Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply His troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all servants of my lord? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”
Read word by wordand if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Read word by wordAll the kings of the earth sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.
Read word by wordThose from every tribe of Israel who had set their hearts to seek the LORD their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
Read word by wordBut in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought Him, and He was found by them.
Read word by wordAnd all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their heart. They had sought Him earnestly, and He was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.
Read word by wordSo the people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD, and indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him.
Read word by wordThen Jehu looked for Ahaziah, and Jehu’s soldiers captured him while he was hiding in Samaria. So Ahaziah was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they said, “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart.” So no one was left from the house of Ahaziah with the strength to rule the kingdom.
Read word by wordThese men searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.
Read word by wordAnd there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
Read word by wordFor I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.”
Read word by wordSo we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request.
Read word by word“What is your request?” replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven
Read word by wordBut when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.
Read word by word“We will restore it,” they replied, “and will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised.
Read word by wordEach day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.
Read word by wordThese men searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.
Read word by wordAt the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from all their homes and brought to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.
Read word by wordThen the king’s attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king,
Read word by wordNow Esther was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle from whom Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter. And when it was her turn to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king’s trusted official in charge of the harem, had advised. And Esther found favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her.
Read word by wordIn those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, grew angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
Read word by wordAfter the report had been investigated and verified, both officials were hanged on the gallows. And all this was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles in the presence of the king.
Read word by wordAnd when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes.
Read word by wordMordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people.
Read word by wordAnd there it was found recorded that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the king’s entrance, when they had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
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