Inquire

Inquire in-kwir' (sha'al, "to ask," "desire"; zeteo, "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 (1Sam 28:6, 1Sam 28:7) (see DIVINATION).

In Job 10:6, "to inquire (baqash) 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. (Jud 20:27 the King James Version, "to ask"; 1Kgs 22:5, 1Sam 9:9 (darash); 1Sa 10:22 the King James Version; 2Sam 2:1, 2Sam 5:19, 2Sam 5:23, Ezek 36:37).

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

Pr 20:25 warns against rashness in making a vow and afterward considering (baqar, "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: diaginosko, "to know thoroughly" (Ac 23:15); epizeteo, "to seek after" (Ac 19:39); suzeteo, "to seek together" (Lu 22:23); exetazo, "to search out" (Mt 10:11).

M. O. Evans