The Hebrew verb דָּרַשׁ (root: ד־ר־שׁ) has a wide and rich semantic range. It fundamentally means “to seek” or “to inquire,” but its usage expands into contexts of:
- Seeking or inquiring after someone or something (including God).
- Studying or investigating deeply, especially Scripture or law.
- Preaching, interpreting, or expounding—as seen in Rabbinic Hebrew.
This verb is central to the development of midrash (מִדְרָשׁ), meaning “interpretation” or “exposition.” It appears frequently in the Bible, especially in Deuteronomy, Psalms, and prophetic literature.
Qal Binyan Conjugation of דָּרַשׁ (“to seek, inquire, interpret”)
Past (Perfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | דָּרַשְׁתִּי |
| 2nd person masculine singular | דָּרַשְׁתָּ |
| 2nd person feminine singular | דָּרַשְׁתְּ |
| 3rd person masculine singular | דָּרַשׁ |
| 3rd person feminine singular | דָּרְשָׁה |
| 1st person plural | דָּרַשְׁנוּ |
| 2nd person masculine plural | דְּרַשְׁתֶּם |
| 2nd person feminine plural | דְּרַשְׁתֶּן |
| 3rd person plural | דָּרְשׁוּ |
Present (Participle) Tense
| Gender/Number | Form |
|---|---|
| Masculine singular | דּוֹרֵשׁ |
| Feminine singular | דּוֹרֶשֶׁת |
| Masculine plural | דּוֹרְשִׁים |
| Feminine plural | דּוֹרְשׁוֹת |
Future (Imperfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | אֶדְרֹשׁ |
| 2nd person masculine singular | תִּדְרֹשׁ |
| 2nd person feminine singular | תִּדְרְשִׁי |
| 3rd person masculine singular | יִדְרֹשׁ |
| 3rd person feminine singular | תִּדְרֹשׁ |
| 1st person plural | נִדְרֹשׁ |
| 2nd person masculine plural | תִּדְרְשׁוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | תִּדְרֹשְׁנָה |
| 3rd person plural | יִדְרְשׁוּ |
Imperative Mood
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 2nd person masculine singular | דְּרֹשׁ |
| 2nd person feminine singular | דִּרְשִׁי |
| 2nd person masculine plural | דִּרְשׁוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | דְּרֹשְׁנָה |
Usage in Scripture
- Deuteronomy 4:29 – וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם מִשָּׁם אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וּמָצָאתָ כִּי תִדְרְשֶׁנּוּ
“You will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him, if you search after Him…” - Amos 5:4 – דִּרְשׁוּנִי וִחְיוּ
“Seek Me and live.” - Ezra 7:10 – כִּי עֶזְרָא הֵכִין לְבָבוֹ לִדְרוֹשׁ אֶת־תּוֹרַת יְהוָה
“For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD…”
Summary
The verb דָּרַשׁ is rich with layers of meaning—from actively seeking God, to exploring His word, to interpreting or expounding truth. It lies at the heart of biblical study and religious devotion, and gave rise to the entire tradition of Midrash. Whether used to describe earnest prayer, legal inquiry, or textual interpretation, it always suggests intensity, attentiveness, and pursuit.
