Lexical Definition

‎חָפַשׂ‎ châphas (khaw-fas') to search ^H:V
a primitive root

change, (make) diligent (search), disquise self, hide, search (for, out).

• to seek
• causatively, to conceal oneself (i.e. let be sought), or mask

1) to search, search for, to search out, disguise oneself
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to search for
1a2) to think out, devise
1a3) to search, test
1b) (Niphal) to be searched out, be exposed
1c) (Piel) to search, search through, search for
1d) (Pual) to be searched for, be sought out
1e) (Hithpael)
1e1) to disguise oneself
1e2) to let oneself be searched for

See Greek: ἐρευνάω · ἐρευνάω · καταδέω · κατακαλύπτω · κραταιόω · περικαλύπτω

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[‎חָפַשׂ‎] verb search (ᵑ7^Jer ‎חֲפַס‎ dig, seek; Palestinian, Syriac dig (Schw); perhaps Assyrian êppêšu, êtpêšu, sensible, Lyon^{Sargontexte 65}) —

Qal Imperfect 2 masculine singular suffix ‎תַּחְפְּשֶׂ֫נָּה‎ Prov 2:4 ‎יַחְפְּשׂוּ‎ Ps 64:7* ‎נַחְפְּשָׂה‎ Lam 3:40 Participle ‎חֹפֵשׂ‎ Prov 20:27 — search, search out, figurative;

1. search for, object ‎בִּינָה‎ etc. Prov 2:4 (|| ‎בקשׁ‎).

2. = think out, devise, with accusative ‎עולות‎ unjust acts Ps 64:7* (compare also sub. Pu`al)

3. search = test, Lam 3:40 (object ‎דרכינו‎; || ‎חקר‎), Prov 20:27. Niph`al Perfect ‎נַחְפְּשׁוּ‎ Obad 1:6 subject ‎עֵשָׂו‎ collective; searched out = exposed and plundered (|| ‎נִבְעוּ מַצְפּוּנָיו‎). Pi`el Perfect ‎וְחִפַּשְׂתִּ֫י‎ 1Sam 23:23 ‎וְחִפְּשׂוּ‎ 1Kgs 20:6 Imperfect ‎וַיְחַפֵּשׂ‎ Gen 31:35 + 2 t.; ‎אֲחַפֵּשׂ‎ Amos 9:3; Zeph 1:12 Imperative ‎חַפְּשׂוּ‎ 2Kgs 10:23 —

1. search through, with accusative, a house 1Kgs 20:6, Jerusalem (metaphor) Zeph 1:12 no object expressed 2Kgs 10:23.

2. search for:
a. a person with accusative 1Sam 23:23.
b. a thing, with accusative Gen 44:12 (J; Joseph searching for his cup); Gen 31:35 (E; no object expressed, Laban looking for his teraphim); Amos 9:3 (‎׳‎‎י‎ searching for evildoers), Ps 77:7* (soul searching to understand ‎׳‎‎י‎'s dealings with his servants). Pu`al Imperfect ‎יְחֻפַּשׂ‎ Prov 28:12 be searched for = be hidden; Participle ‎מְחֻפָּשׂ‎ Ps 64:7* in ‎׳‎‎חֵפֶשׂ מ‎ = a searched out search, i.e. a device well thought out (compare Che; || Qal q. v.); see also ‎חֵ֫פֶשׂ‎. Hithpa`el Perfect ‎הִתְחַפֵּשׂ‎ 2Chr 35:22 (but ᵐ5 ‎הִתְחַזֵּק‎, compare also ᵑ9 ᵑ6 3 Esdr 1:26; so Be Öttli); Imperfect ‎יִתְחַפֵּשׂ‎ Job 30:18 ‎וַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂ‎ 1Sam 28:8 + 3 t.; Infinitive absolute ‎הִתְחַפֵּשׂ‎ 1Kgs 22:30 = 2Chr 18:29 — disguise oneself (literally let oneself be searched for) 1Sam 28:8; 1Kgs 22:30 (twice in verse) = 2Chr 18:29 (twice in verse), 2Chr 35:22 (but see above), all of disguise by change of garments; 1Kgs 20:38 ‎באפר‎ i.e. with headgear over eyes; subject ‎לבושׂ‎ Job 30:18, i.e. his garment is disguised, no longer looks like the mantle it is.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References