### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **baqqârâh**, represented by `{{H1243}}`, is a rare and intensive term meaning **a looking after** or to **seek out**. Derived from the root `{{H1239}}` `bâqar`, it signifies a diligent and thorough search. It appears only one time in the entire Bible, making its single usage particularly significant.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H1243}}` is in [[Ezekiel 34:12]], where it forms a powerful simile for God's redemptive love. The verse begins, "As a shepherd **seeketh out** his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered." This imagery establishes the context of a caring shepherd actively looking for his lost sheep. The verse immediately continues this parallel by stating, "so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them," connecting the shepherd's action directly to God's promised restoration of His people.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words illuminate the pastoral and redemptive themes surrounding **baqqârâh**:
* `{{H1239}}` **bâqar** (search, seek out): This is the root from which `{{H1243}}` is derived. It describes the action God himself will take to find his people, as stated in [[Ezekiel 34:11]], "I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out."
* `{{H7462}}` **râʻâh** (to tend a flock; shepherd): This word defines the central figure in the metaphor. God's action is compared to that of a shepherd [[Ezekiel 34:12]], a role He explicitly claims in passages like [[Psalms 23:1]], "The LORD is my shepherd."
* `{{H5337}}` **nâtsal** (to snatch away, deliver, rescue): This term reveals the ultimate purpose of the search. The shepherd does not seek the flock merely to find it, but to "deliver" it from danger and scattering [[Ezekiel 34:12]].
* `{{H6629}}` **tsôʼn** (flock, sheep): This represents the people of God who are lost and in need of being found. The failure of human shepherds to care for the flock [[Jeremiah 23:1]] necessitates the divine Shepherd's intervention.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1243}}` is concentrated in its single, vivid application.
* **The Divine Shepherd:** The term is used exclusively to illustrate God's role as the ultimate shepherd. Unlike the failed pastors who scatter the sheep [[Jeremiah 23:1]], God personally initiates the search for His flock.
* **Active Seeking and Restoration:** The word emphasizes God's active pursuit of the lost. The search is purposeful, leading directly to deliverance `{{H5337}}` and a promise to gather the people from all the places where they were scattered [[Ezekiel 34:12]].
* **Intensive Care:** As an intensive form, **baqqârâh** conveys a search that is not casual but meticulous and exhaustive. It reflects a deep, personal commitment to find every last sheep, even those lost in a "cloudy and dark day" [[Ezekiel 34:12]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1243}}` **baqqârâh** is a highly specific term that, in its single scriptural use, provides a profound insight into the character of God. It transforms the simple pastoral duty of looking for sheep into a powerful metaphor for divine love. The word encapsulates God's promise to be a shepherd who will not wait for the lost to return, but will actively and diligently seek out His people to deliver and restore them.
TRV