Lexical Summary
bea: To seek, to request, to ask
Original Word:בְּעָא
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:b`a'
Pronunciation:beh-ah
Phonetic Spelling:(beh-aw')
KJV: ask, desire, make (petition), pray, request, seek
NASB:requested, asking, looked, made request, makes, makes a petition, making
Word Origin:[corresponding toH1158 (בָּעָה - inquire)]
1. to seek or ask
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
ask, desire, make petition, pray, request, seek
(Aramaic) or b ah (Aramaic) {beh-aw'}; corresponding toba'ah; to seek or ask -- ask, desire, make (petition), pray, request, seek.
see HEBREWba'ah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to
baahDefinitionto ask, seek
NASB Translationasking (1), looked (1), made request (1), makes (1), makes a petition (1), making (1), making petition (1), request (1), requested (2), seeking (1), trying (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, only Daniel (Biblical Hebrew (rare)); —
Perfect3masculine singularDaniel 2:16,49; 3masculine pluralDaniel 2:13; 1pluralDaniel 2:23;Imperfect3masculine singularDaniel 6:8;Daniel 6:13; 1singularDaniel 7:16;InfinitiveDaniel 2:18;ParticipleDaniel 6:12;Daniel 6:14, pluralDaniel 6:5; —
ask, request, with personDaniel 2:16 (object clause with ),Daniel 2:49;Daniel 7:16 (+ accusative of thing);ask of GodDaniel 2:23 (+id.), of God or manDaniel 6:8 (+ accusative of congnate meaning with verb),Daniel 6:13; with of GodDaniel 2:18 (accusative of thing); =pray,Daniel 6:12,Daniel 6:14.
seek, accusative of personDaniel 2:13, accusative of thingDaniel 6:5.
Imperfect3masculine plural (K§ 47, 3); Mon the passage conjecture )Daniel 4:33resort (for favours) to, person
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Semantic Rangeבְּעָא conveys the act of seeking, requesting, or petitioning with earnest intent. In the Aramaic sections of Daniel it describes (1) pursuit of persons, (2) formal appeals to earthly rulers, (3) supplication before God, and (4) inquiry concerning divine revelation. These nuances highlight both horizontal and vertical dimensions of dependence—people depend on kings and counselors, but ultimately on the Sovereign God who answers prayer.
Occurrences in Daniel
1. Seeking to execute or locate (Daniel 2:13; 6:4).
2. Requesting time or favor from a king (Daniel 2:16; 2:49).
3. Petitioning God for mercy and revelation (Daniel 2:18; 2:23).
4. Courtiers seeking their restored king (Daniel 4:36).
5. Royal decrees regulating prayer (Daniel 6:7, 6:12).
6. Daniel’s unwavering petitions to God (Daniel 6:11, 6:13).
7. Daniel’s request for interpretation of a vision (Daniel 7:16).
Patterns of Human Petition
Daniel demonstrates respectful yet courageous petition toward earthly authorities. “So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time” (Daniel 2:16). His approach models wisdom—he honors the ruler while trusting God for the outcome. Conversely, scheming officials “sought to find a ground of accusation against Daniel” (Daniel 6:4), revealing how requests can be twisted for oppression.
Prayer as Covenant Loyalty
Three key texts show that בְּעָא expresses covenant faithfulness:
•Daniel 2:18 – “He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery.”
•Daniel 6:11 – “These men came by agreement and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God.”
•Daniel 6:13 – “Daniel… keeps petitioning his God three times a day.”
Persistent prayer is portrayed not as ritual but as allegiance to the living God, even under threat of death.
Conflict over Prayer inDaniel 6
The Persian edict forbidding petitions to any god or man except the king weaponized בְּעָא to challenge divine supremacy. Daniel’s refusal to compromise led to the lions’ den, but his deliverance affirmed that true authority belongs to God. The narrative warns against any human system that seeks to monopolize worship.
Inquiry and Revelation
After the beastly vision, Daniel “approached one of those standing by and asked him the truth concerning all this” (Daniel 7:16). Here בְּעָא functions in prophetic inquiry, showing that understanding God’s mysteries often begins with humble questioning. The answer given anchors the hope of God’s everlasting kingdom.
Historical Context
The word appears exclusively in the Aramaic chapters (Daniel 2–7), a section addressing Gentile empires from Babylon to Persia. The term therefore operates within courtly settings where decrees, counsel, and petitions shaped imperial life. Yet the narrative repeatedly subordinates imperial power to divine sovereignty, reinforcing Israel’s faith during exile.
Theological Significance
1. Dependence on God: Human petitions find their ultimate answer in God’s wisdom and mercy (Daniel 2:23).
2. Authority and Limitations of Kings: Earthly rulers may grant or deny requests, but God overrules (Daniel 6:22).
3. Perseverance in Prayer: Daniel’s discipline anticipates New Testament calls to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
4. Revelation through Inquiry: Divine truth is accessible to those who seek it earnestly (cf.Matthew 7:7).
Christological Echoes
Daniel’s faithful petitions foreshadow Jesus Christ, who often withdrew to pray (Luke 5:16) and taught, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7). Like Daniel, Christ faced decrees aimed at silencing divine allegiance, yet His resurrection vindicated steadfast obedience.
Practical Application for Believers
• Cultivate regular, open prayer regardless of cultural pressure.
• Approach earthly authorities with respect, but never at the expense of obedience to God.
• Expect opposition when prayer challenges idolatrous systems, yet trust God for vindication.
• Engage Scripture and the Spirit with honest questions, confident that God delights to reveal truth.
Forms and Transliterations
אֶבְעֵֽא־ אבעא־ בְּעָ֣א בְעֵ֣ינָא בָּעֵ֖א בָּעֵ֥א בָעַ֧יִן בעא בעין בעינא וּבְע֛וֹ וּבְעָ֣ה ובעה ובעו יְבַע֑וֹן יִבְעֵ֣ה יִבְעֵה֩ יבעה יבעון לְמִבְעֵא֙ למבעא ’eḇ‘ê- ’eḇ·‘ê- ḇā‘ayin bā‘ê ḇā·‘a·yin bā·‘ê baE bə‘ā ḇə‘ênā bə·‘ā ḇə·‘ê·nā beA eve lə·miḇ·‘ê ləmiḇ‘ê lemivE ū·ḇə·‘āh ū·ḇə·‘ōw ūḇə‘āh ūḇə‘ōw uveAh uveO vaAyin veEina yə·ḇa·‘ō·wn yəḇa‘ōwn yevaon yiḇ‘êh yiḇ·‘êh yivEh
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