Inquire

in - kwı̄r ´ ( שׁאל , shā'al , "to ask," "desire"; ζητέω , zētḗō , "to seek"); A form sometimes employed with reference to the practice of divination, as where Saul "inquires of" (or "consults") the witch of Endor as to the issue of the coming battle ( 1 Samuel 28:6 , 1 Samuel 28:7 ) (see DIVINATION ).

In Job 10:6 , "to inquire (בּקשׁ , bāḳash ) after iniquity" signifies to bring to light and punish for it, and Job asks distractedly if God's time is so short that He is in a hurry to find him guilty and to punish him as if He had only a man's few days to live.

"To inquire of Yahweh" denotes the consultation of oracle, priest, prophet or Yahweh Himself, as to a certain course of action or as to necessary supplies. (Judges 20:27 the King James Version, "to ask"; 1 Kings 22:5; 1 Samuel 9:9 ( דּרשׁ , dārash ); 1 Samuel 10:22 the King James Version; 2 Samuel 2:1; 2 Samuel 5:19 , 2 Samuel 5:23; Ezekiel 36:37 ).

"To inquire ( בּקר , bāḳar ) in his temple" (palace) means to find out all that constant fellowship or unbroken intercourse with God can teach ( Psalm 27:4 ).

Proverbs 20:25 warns against rashness in making a vow and afterward considering ( bāḳar , "to make inquiry") as to whether it can be fulfilled or how it may be eluded.

In the King James Version, the translation of several Greek words: diaginō̇skō , "to know thoroughly" ( Acts 23:15 ); epizētḗō , "to seek after" (Acts 19:39 ); suzetéō , "to seek together" (Luke 22:23 ); exetázō , "to search out" (Matthew 10:11 ).