←
bˁy vb. to ask, to beg, to inquire
GDGtDt
Gpəˁalto seek, look for6 senses▶
1
to seek, look for
(1)
to seek for something
Common Aramaic
Sf.3 a11↗ wybˁh rˀšy lhmtty : and he seeks my head to kill me ; CPA Job6:5↗ ܡܐ ܓܪ ܕܡܐ ܠܡܓܢ ܡܨܝܚ ܥܪܕܐ ܐܠܐ ܐܢ ܒܥܐ݁ ܡܙܘܢܗ‏ : does the wild ass bray for nothing? rather it is seeking its food ; JBABowl 4.1:6↗ דבעית נקטית ודשאילית נסבת‏ : what I sought I grabbed and what I asked for I took
(2)
to seek for someone
Common Aramaic
TgO Gen37:16↗ יָת אַחַי אֲנָא בָעֵי‏ : it is my brothers that I am looking for ; OS MtCur2:13↗ ܡܛܘܠ ܕܥܬܝܕ ܗܘ ܗܪܘܕܣ ܠܡܒܥܝܗ ܠܛܠܝܐ‏ : because Herod is going to seek the child ; PJ Gen37:16↗ text not cited
(3)
to investigate
Qumran
4Q541 24.2:4↗ בקר ובעי ודע‏
(1)
to look after, keep an eye on
Sam
SamTgJ Deut11:12↗ ארע דיהוה אלהך בעי יתה תדיר‏ : a land that the Lord your God is constantly looking after
(4)
to try to do something
Common Aramaic
ATS 2.3:1478↗ uba mihambla/lmihambla/ lkulẖ biniana : he tried to destroy the entire structure
2
to ask a question
JLAtg, JBA
TgO Gen19:21↗ קַרתָא דִבעֵיתָא עֲלַה‏ : the city you asked about ; BT San 43a(27)↗ בתר דבעיה הדר פשטה‏ : after he asked it, he then explained it ; BT Ker 5b(53)↗ ובעי דנידע אי מצלח בעסקיה ואי לא‏ : he is asking to find out if he will be successful in his business or not
(1)
to assert by way of argument
Gal, Sam, Syr
PTBer 2.b:12[2]↗ ר׳ יוסי ביר׳ בון בעי‏ : PN asserts
(1)
w. ܥܡ : to do so mutually, dispute each other
Syr
Ps-Clem Recogs 1.76:33↗ ܣܓܝ̈ܐܐ ܂܂܂ ܡܣܟܝܢ ܠܡܐܬܝܬܟ ܕܬܒܥܐ ܥܡܗ݂ ܐܝܟܢܐ ܕܢܚܙܘܢ ܡ̈ܠܐ ܕܡܢܘ ܫܪܝܪ̈ܢ‏ : many await your coming to dispute with him so that they may see whose words are true ; P Mk8:11↗ ܫܲܪܼܝܘ ܠܡܸܒ݂ܥܵܐ ܥܲܡܸܗ‏ : they began to dispute with him
(2)
to require further study
Gal
PTSan 30.c:45[2]↗ בעיא הדא מילתא‏
3
to wish for something, want, request
Common Aramaic
Sf.1.b39↗ wtbˁh nbšk wtˀzl : your soul desires and you go ; GenApoc 19.15↗ ובעין למקץ ולמעקר ל[א]ר̇זא‏ : wanting to cut down and uproot the [ced]ar ; GenApoc 19.19↗ די יבעון למקטלני ולכי למשבק‏ : who want to kill me and leave you ; TgO Gen23:8↗ וֻבעוֹ לִי מִן עַפרוֹן‏ : request it for me from PN ; TgO Ex4:24↗ וֻבעָא לְמִקטְלֵיה‏ : he wanted to kill him ; CPA Mark11:18↗ ܒܥ̈ܝܢ ^ܗ^ܝܟ ܕܝܘ̈ܒܕܘܢ ^ܝ^ܬܗ‏ : they were seeking how to get rid of him ; SoulBody 28↗ ܐܸܠܽܘ ܒܥܲܝܬܝ ܟܵܠܝܵܐ ܗ̄ܘܲܝܬܝ ܠܼܝ ܡܸܢ ܪܸܓܬܵܐ‏ : had you wanted you would have kept me from desire ; BT Ber 4b(22) and passim↗ איבעית אימא‏ : if you wish, say ... ; BT Git 56b(21)↗ בעי מינאי דידי ואתן לך‏ : ask me (for something) and I shall give (it) to you ; PJ Gen20:13↗ והוה כד בעו לאטעאה יתי פלחי טעוותא‏ : when the idol worshippers wanted to lead me astray
(1)
to pray
BADan, Qumran, JLAtg, Sam, Syr, JBA, LJLA
Dan 6:14↗ זִמְנִין תְּלָתָה בְּיוֹמָא בָּעֵא בָּעוּתֵהּ‏ : he was praying his prayer three times a day ; 4QEnc1.6.18↗ אנתון בעין ומתחנ̇[נין‏ ; GenApoc 20.12↗ בליליא דן צלית ובעית ואתחננת ואמרת באתעצבא‏ ; TgJ Is16:12↗ וְייֵעוֹל לְבֵית טָעוּתֵיה לְמִבעֵי‏ : and he goes into his idolatrous temple to pray ; CTLevi ar a C.15↗ ובעית והתחננת עלוהי‏
(1)
w. ܥܠ : to beseech forgiveness for
JLAtg, Syr
TgJ Is53:4↗ עַל חוֹבַנָא הוּא יִבעֵי‏ ; AGnEx 123.22↗ ܘܒܥ݂ܐ ܥܠ ܣܟܠܘܬܗܘܢ‏ : he prayed for forgiveness from their folly
(2)
especially with רחמין
JLAtg, Gal, PTA, JBA, LJLA
TgJ 2Sam21:3↗ ובעו רחמין דתעדי כפנא מאחסנת עמא דייי‏ ; Hem 1:3↗ ולמצלייה ולמבעי רחמין‏ ; TN Gen18:22↗ ואברהם עד כען הוה קאם בעי רחמין מן קדם ייי‏ : while Abraham up to then was staying, praying to God ; BT Ber 6a(21)↗ ובעו רבנן רחמי עליה ואיתסי‏ : the rabbis prayed over him and he was healed ; PJ Gen18:22↗ ואברהם עד כדון בעי רחמין על לוט‏ : up to then Abraham was praying for Lot
4
to require
Gal, Syr, JBA
BHde Plantis 85:167 ܒܗ݀ܝ ܕܩܫܝܬܐ ܗܘܠܐ ܥܨܘܝܬܐ ܘܙܒܢܐ ܢܓܝܪܐ ܕܦܫܪܐ ܒܥ݁ܝܐ‏ : inasmuch as a hard (plant) requires constraining matter and a lengthy time of ripening ; JSB2 36 110:16↗ ܪܘܡܐ ܒܥܐ ܐܘ ܗܝ ܚܫܠܬܗ ܠܐ ܫܦܝܪܐ‏ : does it need some height or is its engraving not beautiful? ; BT MQ 12b(48)↗ דבליליא בעו גברי יתירי ובעי מדבורי דנורא‏ : at night it requires extra men and it requires flaming torches
(1)
p.p. : necessary, required
Sam, Syr
Marqe 1.231↗ לית בעי מעבד גבורה מבלדה‏ : there is no need to act brave due to fearfulness ; SyrAhiq 5 388:20↗ ܘܐܢܐ ܕܝܢ ܝܕܥܬ ܕܒܥܝܐ ܕܬܕܪܟܟ ܬܘܬܐ ܒܩܛܠܗ‏ : but I know that remorse must overtake you at his killing
(2)
+ infinitive : to be required to
JBA
BT Git 68b(34)↗ ובעיא למינטר תליסר שנין‏ : she will have to wait thirty years
(3)
after מאי : what is it doing?
JBA
BT BB 70b(9)↗ שטרך בידי מאי בעי‏ : what is your contract doing in my possession?
(4)
(of authority) to summon
JBA
BT AZ 65a(18)↗ אתא פרסתקא דמלכא, אמ׳ לי׳,קום דבעי לך מלכ׳‏ : the royal messenger came and said to him: get up, for the king summons you
5
w. infinitive: to be due to, to be about to do something
BADan, JLAtg, Gal, PTA, Sam, JBAmb, JBA
Dan 2:13↗ וּבְעוֹ דָנִיֵּאל וְחַבְרוֹהִי לְהִתְקְטָלָה‏ : Daniel and his comrades were due to be killed ; TgO Gen43:30↗ וֻבעָא לְמִבכֵי‏ : he was about to cry ; TgJ Jonah1:4↗ וְאִלפָא בָעיָא לְאִיתְבָרָא‏ : the ship was about to break up ; KohRHirsch 200:247↗ כד בעה למדמך‏ : when he was about to die ; PTYev 6.a:44[2]↗ בעיא היא עד כדון‏ : she (i.e. the donkey) is due now ; TN Gen43:30↗ ובעא למבכי‏ ; JBABowl 76.1:6↗ ובעו מינהון למיקטל יותיה ולמיחנק יותיה‏ : some of them were about to kill and strangle him ; BT Meg 10b(1)↗ השתא בעינן למימר לקמן דלא צר̇י̇כי קידושי‏ : now we are about to say below that sanctifications are not needed ; BT BB 10a(26)↗ חזא להו חלמא דבעו למחסר שבע מאה דינרי‏ : he saw a dream that they were due to lose seven hundred denars ; PJ Gen37:17↗ דחיואי בען למסדרא עמהון סדרי קרבא‏ : that the Hivites were about to to do battle with them
(1)
w. d_ + imperfect
Man
GY 137:22↗ ukḏ bit ḏˁhut : when I was about to descend ; AlmaRZ 228↗ kḏ baiia ḏtizal lbit hamu : when she is about to go to her father in law's house
6
to seek revenge, hold responsible
Common Aramaic
TSF 95 F 204 I/3:12↗ wˁ̇dwh ẏbˁṅṅ bydh ; Xanthos.1.27↗ wˀ̇lh ˀlhyˀ ybˁwn mnh : these gods will hold him responsible ; SamTgJ Ex(1)20:17↗ אנא אבעי מנה‏ : I will hold him responsible ; JS_Elijah 3:354↗ ܐܲܢ̄ܬ ܒܵܚܲܪ ܟܽܠ ܬܸܒܥܸܐ ܥܽܘܠܒܵܢܝ ܡܸܢ ܐܼܝܕܲܝ̈ܗܽܘܢ‏ : you, determiner of all, should seek revenge for my injury from their hands
Dpaˁˁelto seek1 sense▶
to seek
Sam
SamTgJ Gen37:16↗ ית אחי אנא מבעי‏ ; SamTgJ Ex4:19↗ כל גבריה דמבעים ית נפשך‏ : all the men who are seeking your life
Gtˀeṯpəˁelto be sought3 senses▶
1
to be sought
JLAtg, Gal, CPA, Sam, Syr, LJLA
TgJ Ez22:30↗ וְאִתבְעֵי מִנְהוֹן קְֹדָמַי גְבַר‏ : a man was sought by Me ; TgJ Ez26:21↗ תִתבְעַן וְלָא תִשתַכחִין עוֹד לְעָלַם‏ : you(f.s.) shall be looked for and never more found ; PTPea 20.b:4[2]↗ מיד איתבעון ולא אשכח‏ : they were immediately looked for but he did not find them ; P Ez26:21↗ ܬܬܒܥܝܢ ܘܠܐ ܬܫܬܟܚܝܢ ܬܘܒ ܠܥܠܡ‏ ; TgPs10:13↗ יימר בלבביה לא תתבעי‏ : in his heart he will say: you will not be sought (for an oracle) ; TgPs111:2↗ מתבעין לכל דצביין להון‏ : they are sought by all who want them
(1)
to be summoned, to be invited
Gal, Syr, LJLA
KohR[1]20:2(11)↗ ר׳ מאיר הוה מתבעי למלכותא וערק‏ : R' Meir was summoned by the government but fled ; TgEsth2 2:8(7)↗ כד איתבעיית אסתר ולא אישתכחת‏
(2)
to be able to be found by seeking (?)
LJLA
TgPs111:2↗ מתבעין לכל דצביין להון‏ : [MT: דְּרוּשִׁים לְכָל־חֶפְצֵיהֶם]
2
to be necessary, required
JLAtg, Gal, CPA, Syr, JBA, Man
TgO Ex23:2 var.↗ לָא תִתמְנַע מִלְאַלָפָא מָא דִבעֵינָך"דמתבעי לך"‏ : do not hesitate to report your eye-witnessing (var. what is required of you) in court ; CPA 1Cor4:2↗ ܡܬܒܥܐ݁ ܒܦܪ̈ܢܣܝܐ ܕܝܫܬܟܚ ܐ݁ܢܫ ܡܗܝܡܢ‏ : among the stewards it is necessary for a person to be faithful ; AphDem1.8:18↗ ܡܬܒܥܝܐ ܠܗ ܨܠܘܬܐ ܕܟܝܬܐ‏ : it requires pure prayer ; SynagogueChurch 24↗ ܫܲܩܠܸܗ ܠܛܲܒܥܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܡܸܬܒܥܸܐ‏ : He has removed the unnecessary seal ; BT Šab 60b(45)↗ השתא חמש שרי ארבע מיבעיא‏ : since "five" is already allowed, why is it necessary (to mention) "four"? ; BT San 98a(49)↗ אי מיבעינא ביני ביני לא איעכב‏ : if in the meantime, I am required (to redeem the Jews) I shall not be held back
(1)
to be about to, to be on the edge of
Sam
(2)
מן : to be responsible for
LJLA
PJ Gen42:22↗ ואוף אדמי<ה> הא מתבעי מינן‏ : so we are also responsible for his blood-guilt ; TgEsth2 1:2(304)↗ ענא מן מאן מתבעא‏ : who is responsible for the sheep?
(3)
impersonal + ל_
Gal, JBA, JBAg
GnDer 51(54)↗ ומתבעי לן למתרחמה על פלגן פליג‏ : we need to be merciful on one another ; BT Ber 10a(49)↗ איבעי לך לעס{י}<ו>קי בפריה ורביה‏ : You are required to deal with (the commandment of) "being fruitful and multiplying" ; TGAs28(1) 25.1.16↗ ואיבעיא לך‏
(1)
to be responded to positively (?)
Man
JohnBook 14:12↗ ˁu mibilak kma šapir ˁu lamibilak abda aqamẖ ḏmalka huia : if he is responsive (lit. there is need of you) how nice, but if there is no need of you, become a slave before the king
3
to ask one another
CPA
CPA Mark1:27↗ ܠܡܠܘ ܕܗܟܕܢ ܗܘܘ ܡ̈ܬܒܥܝܢ ܘܐܡܪ̈ܝܢ‏ : so that thus they were asking each other and saying
(1)
to respond
Sam
Dtˀeṯpaˁˁalto dispute1 sense▶
to dispute
CPA
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For distinct usages of the Gt in the later Jewish dialects see J.N. Epstein, JQR 12(1922): 316f.
Note that in hermeneutical discussion in the Palestinian Talmud בעי usually means "to assert" whereas in the Babylonian Talmud "to ask."
Page refs. in other dictionaries: LS2: 169[82]DJPA: 107bDJBA: 224bJastrow: 181Drower/Macuch: 44b, 47aPayne-Smith: 556J. Payne-Smith: 50Levy Ch-W: 1:105Tal Sam: 107DNWSI: 180DCPA[Schulthess]: 55[29a]Qumran: 36

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Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:02:43 -0500