Deuteronomy 4:29
וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֥ם מִשָּׁ֛ם אֶת־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ וּמָצָ֑אתָ כִּ֣י תִדְרְשֶׁ֔נּוּ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֖ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃
Initiation of Seeking: וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם מִשָּׁם אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ
וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם (“and you will seek”) is a Piel perfect 2mp from ב־ק־שׁ (“to seek, inquire”), preceded by vav-consecutive, turning the perfect into a predictive future. מִשָּׁם (“from there”) marks the place of exile as the starting point of seeking. אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ (“YHWH your God”) identifies the object of the quest, framed relationally by the pronominal suffix אֱלֹהֶיךָ (“your God”).
Promise of Discovery: וּמָצָאתָ
וּמָצָאתָ (“and you will find”) is a Qal perfect 2ms from מ־צ־א (“to find”), again using vav-consecutive to imply future fulfillment. The singular form תָּ (2ms suffix) may signify a shift from corporate to individual responsibility — emphasizing personal engagement in the search.
Condition of Success: כִּי תִדְרְשֶׁנּוּ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶׁךָ
כִּי (“because, if”) introduces the condition: success depends on wholehearted pursuit.
- תִדְרְשֶׁנּוּ (“you will seek him”) — Qal imperfect 2ms + 3ms suffix from ד־ר־שׁ, meaning “to seek diligently.” The suffix ־נּוּ refers to God.
- בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ — “with all your heart” (emotion and will)
- וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶׁךָ — “and with all your soul” (whole being, life force)
The dual phraseology reflects covenant language demanding complete devotion — mind, emotion, and life itself engaged in pursuit.
Parsing Table: Key Forms in Deuteronomy 4:29
| Hebrew Word | Root | Form | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם | ב־ק־שׁ | Piel perfect (2mp) with vav-consecutive | “You will seek” — prophetic prediction of action |
| וּמָצָאתָ | מ־צ־א | Qal perfect (2ms) with vav-consecutive | “And you will find” — divine assurance upon seeking |
| תִדְרְשֶׁנּוּ | ד־ר־שׁ | Qal imperfect (2ms + 3ms suffix) | “You will seek Him” — condition for finding YHWH |
| בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ | ל־ב־ב | Preposition + construct phrase | “With all your heart” — whole-hearted devotion |
| וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶׁךָ | נ־פ־שׁ | Preposition + construct phrase | “And with all your soul” — total life commitment |
The Grammar of Covenant Pursuit
Deuteronomy 4:29 weaves a theology of exile and return through precise grammatical sequencing: seeking leads to finding, but only when conditioned on total heart and soul devotion. Hebrew verbs and prepositions, far from mere structure, embody the relational dynamism between humanity and YHWH — a grammar of pursuit, hope, and wholehearted covenant restoration.
