What does בָּקַשׁ · ζητέω mean in the Bible?
בָּקַשׁ · ζητέω is a Hebrew phrase meaning "to pursue or strive for something".
Hebrew · H1245, G2212
בָּקַשׁ
To search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after · to seek
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
בָּקַשׁH1245to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
Pronunciationbāqash
To seek God through worship and prayer; also means to strive after or desire something earnestly.
Open lexicon entry →ζητέωG2212to seek
Pronunciationzētéō
To seek actively and intentionally, often implying desire, striving, or demanding rather than passive searching.
Open lexicon entry →What does בָּקַשׁ (baqash) mean in the Bible?
בָּקַשׁ · ζητέω is a Hebrew phrase meaning "to pursue or strive for something".
Full entry for בָּקַשׁ (H1245, G2212) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H1245, G2212?
H1245, G2212 is connected to 225 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. to pursue or strive for something
Source Gloss
to pursue or strive for something
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms123
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action122×
Participle active1Chr 16:10 · 1Kgs 10:24 · 1Kgs 11:22 · 1Kgs 20:7 · 1Sam 19:2 · 1Sam 20:1 · 1Sam 23:10 · 1Sam 24:10 · 2Chr 9:23 · 2Sam 3:17 · 2Sam 16:11 · 2Sam 17:3 · 2Sam 20:19 · Exod 10:11 · Exod 33:7 · Ezek 34:650×
Imperfect1Chr 21:3 · 1Sam 22:23 · Eccl 3:15 · Isa 40:20 · Josh 22:23 · Prov 11:27 · Prov 15:14 · Prov 17:11 · Prov 18:1 · Zech 11:16 · 2Sam 4:11 · Ezek 3:18 · Ezek 3:20 · Ezek 33:8 · Ezek 34:16 · Nah 3:735×
PerfectEccl 7:29 · Esth 6:2 · Ezra 2:62 · Lam 1:19 · Neh 7:64 · Neh 12:27 · Ps 54:5 · Ps 86:14 · Zeph 1:6 · 1Sam 13:14 · 1Sam 14:4 · 2Sam 4:8 · Dan 1:20 · Deut 13:11 · Eccl 12:10 · Isa 1:1222×
Sequential imperfect1Chr 16:11 · 1Sam 28:7 · Ps 27:8 · Ps 105:4 · Zeph 2:3 · 1Sam 9:3 · Ps 34:15 · Ps 119:17610×
JussiveEsth 2:2 · Jer 45:5 · Lev 19:313×
CohortativePs 122:9 · Song 3:22×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject1×
ImperfectJer 50:201×
Word Origins
בָּקַשׁ is a primitive root - no further derivation.