Lexical Definition

‎חָפַר‎ châphar (khaw-far') to search ^H:V
a primitive root

dig, paw, search out, seek.

• properly, to pry into
• by implication, to delve, to explore

1) to dig, search for
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to dig
1a2) to search, search out, explore

See Greek: ζητέω · ὀρύσσω

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. ‎חָפַר‎ verb dig, search for (Arabic id.; Aramaic ‎חֲפַר‎, , id.; Late Hebrew ‎חֵפֶר‎ act of digging) —

Qal Perfect ‎׳‎‎ח‎ Job 39:29 ‎וְחָפַרְתָּ֫‎ Job 11:18 ‎וְחָפַרְתָּ֫ה‎ Deut 23:14* ‎חָפַרְתִּי‎ Gen 21:30 ‎חָֽפְרוּ‎ Gen 26:18 + 2 t.; ‎חָפָ֑רוּ‎ Gen 26:32 ‎חֲפָרוּהָ‎ Num 21:18 Imperfect ‎וַיַּחְפֹּר‎ Gen 26:18; Gen 26:22 ‎וַיַּחְפְּרֵהוּ‎ Ps 7:16* ‎וָאֶחְפֹּר‎ Jer 13:7 ‎יַחְפְּרוּ‎ Job Job 39:21 (but read ‎יַחְפֹּר‎ so ᵐ5 ᵑ9 ᵑ6 Di) Deut 1:22 ‎וַיַּחְפְּרוּ‎ Gen 26:19 + 2 t.; ‎וַיַּחְפְּרֻהוּ‎ Job 3:21 Infinitive construct ‎לַחְפֹּר‎ Josh 2:2; Josh 2:3 + Isa 2:20 (compare below); Participle ‎חֹפֵר‎ Eccl 10:8 —

1. dig:
a. a well, with accusative ‎בְּאֵר‎ Gen 21:30 (E), Gen 26:15; Gen 26:18 (twice in verse); Gen 26:19; Gen 26:21; Gen 26:22; Gen 26:32 (J), Num 21:18 (E); compare Exod 7:24 (E); dig (a hole, implied as object) Deut 23:14* a pit, with hostile purpose, as snare or trap, figurative of malicious plan, with accusative ‎בּוֺר‎ Ps 7:16* (|| ‎כָּרָה‎); so with accusative ‎גומץ‎ Eccl 10:8, compare [‎שַׁחַת‎] ‎לְנַפְשִׁי‎ ‎׳‎‎ח‎ Ps 35:7 of horse, dig, i.e. paw the ground, ‎יַחְפֹּר בָּעֵמֶק‎ Job 39:21 (so read, see above) he paweth in the valley (compare Arabic hoof).
b. dig for something hidden, with accusative Job 3:21 (figurative of longing for death), Jer 13:7 (no object expressed)

2. search, search out, explore, with accusative ‎הָאָרֶץ‎ Josh 2:3 (twice in verse) (JE), Deut 1:22 of eagle, search for food, with accusative ‎אֹכֶל‎ ‎׳‎‎ח‎ Job 39:29, with especially reference to keen vision (|| ‎מֵרָחוֺק עֵינָיו יַבִּיטוּ‎); so = search or look carefully about before going to rest Job 11:18 (no object). — ‎לַחְפֹּר‎ Isa 2:20 see ‎חֲפַרְפָּרָה‎ below

Brown-Driver-Briggs References