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The Hebrew Verb דָּרַשׁ: To Seek, Inquire, Investigate, or Preach
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.”… Learn Hebrew
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