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חָפַר

𐤇𐤐𐤓

châphar

H2658 verb

SILEX Entry

Root חפר to dig, to search out, to seek diligently

Definition

To dig or excavate, often in reference to opening the ground or searching below the surface; by extension, to search out, investigate, or seek diligently, both literally (as with wells or pits) and metaphorically (as in seeking information or uncovering a matter). The word may refer to physical digging for water, minerals, or shelter, as well as to the act of investigation or inquiry.

Semantic Range

to dig (a well, pit, or grave); to excavate; to search diligently; to investigate; to paw (as an animal digs); to pry into; to seek (in an intensive manner)

Root / Etymology

From the root חפר meaning 'to dig.' The verb form is primarily used for physical acts of digging and uncovering, but can extend metaphorically to mean searching or investigating.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָפַר occurs throughout the Hebrew Bible, commonly in contexts where physical digging is meant, such as the digging of wells, cisterns, or pits (e.g., Genesis 26); it is also found in poetic or metaphorical uses for seeking, searching out, or inquiring into matters (Job 3:21; Proverbs 2:4). The physical sense dominates its usage in the patriarchal and monarchic periods, especially within the context of shepherding societies dependent on water sources. The metaphorical sense appears in wisdom literature and in prophetic texts. Related roots include חפר in the sense 'to be ashamed,' thought to be distinct, and גלה (to uncover), but חָפַר in this verb form is not used for 'digging through' or 'breaking in' (cf. חתר). English translations often render the term as 'dig' when literal, and 'search' or 'seek' when metaphorical; these capture the general sense but sometimes obscure the physical imagery present in Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to pry into; by implication, to delve, to explore; dig, paw, search out, seek.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חפר (ḥ-p-r) — to dig, to search out, to seek diligently

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1662 גַּת־הַחֵפֶר Digging-one
H2659 חָפֵר she was ashamed
H2660 חֵפֶר Digging-One
H2661 חֲפֹר to dig
H2662 חֶפְרִי the Chepherite

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2658-05 חָֽפְרוּ֙ chaferu HVqp3cp had dug they dug 3
H2658-10 וַ/יַּחְפְּר֥וּ vayacheperu HC/Vqw3mp and they dug and they dug 3
H2658-12 וַ/יַּחְפֹּ֣ר vayachepor HC/Vqw3ms and dug and he dug 2
H2658-07 לַ/חְפֹּ֥ר lachepor HR/Vqc to search to dig out 2
H2658-04 חֲפָר֣וּ/הָ chafaruha HVqp3cp/Sp3fs dug it they dug her 1
H2658-01 חָֽפַר chafar HVqp3ms it searches he dug 1
H2658-15 וְ/יַחְפְּרוּ veyacheperu HC/Vqi3mp and they may search and they will dig 1
H2658-16 יַחְפְּר֣וּ yacheperu HVqi3mp They paw they dig 1
H2658-13 וְ֝/חָפַרְתָּ֗ vechafareta HC/Vqq2ms and you will look about and you dug 1
H2658-09 וַֽ/יַּחְפְּרֵ֑/הוּ vayacheperehu HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms and he dug it and he dug it 1

Occurrences in Scripture

22 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2658-02 Genesis 21:30 חָפַ֖רְתִּי chafareti HVqp1cs I have dug I dug
H2658-05 Genesis 26:15 חָֽפְרוּ֙ chaferu HVqp3cp had dug they dug
H2658-12 Genesis 26:18 וַ/יַּחְפֹּ֣ר vayachepor HC/Vqw3ms and dug and he dug
H2658-05 Genesis 26:18 חָֽפְרוּ֙ chaferu HVqp3cp they had dug they dug
H2658-10 Genesis 26:19 וַ/יַּחְפְּר֥וּ vayacheperu HC/Vqw3mp and they dug and they dug
H2658-10 Genesis 26:21 וַֽ/יַּחְפְּרוּ֙ vayacheperu HC/Vqw3mp and they dug and they dug
H2658-12 Genesis 26:22 וַ/יַּחְפֹּר֙ vayachepor HC/Vqw3ms and he dug and he dug
H2658-03 Genesis 26:32 חָפָ֑רוּ chafaru HVqp3cp they had dug they dug
H2658-10 Exodus 7:24 וַ/יַּחְפְּר֧וּ vayacheperu HC/Vqw3mp And dug and they dug
H2658-04 Numbers 21:18 חֲפָר֣וּ/הָ chafaruha HVqp3cp/Sp3fs dug it they dug her
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