מֶחְקָר
𐤌𐤇𐤒𐤓
mechqâr
H4278 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A thoroughly investigated or searched place; a hidden, obscure, or inaccessible locality, especially in reference to the depths of the earth or sea. The term conveys the notion of something examined to its depth, or a place remote from normal human access or understanding.
Semantic Range
recess, deep place, hidden locality, thing deeply investigated, inscrutable or unfathomable depth, searched-out place
Root / Etymology
From the root חקר (ḥ-q-r), meaning 'to search, investigate, examine.' Mechqâr is a noun formation from this root, indicating a place or thing which has been investigated, or a place characterized by being hidden and in need of searching to be discovered.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מֶחְקָר appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, typically in poetic or wisdom literature (e.g. Job 28:27; Proverbs 25:3), often in parallel with terms for 'depths' or 'heights.' Its use emphasizes the inscrutability or profound depth of physical or abstract locations—such as the depths of the earth, the sea, or even the human mind—often suggesting that only the divine can truly search or comprehend them. English translations frequently render it 'recesses,' 'depths,' or 'deep place,' but these can sometimes miss the intensity of investigation implied by the Hebrew root. Unlike surface-level or visible locations, mechqâr implies that which requires searching, investigating, or uncovering. It stands in contrast to related terms like תְּהוֹם (tehom, 'deep, abyss') or מַ֫עַמַּקִּים (ma‘ammaqim, 'depths'), which focus on depth per se without the nuance of investigation or scrutiny.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָקַר; properly, scrutinized, i.e. (by implication) a recess; deep place.
Bantu Hebrew
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חקר (ḥ-q-r) — to search, investigate, examine thoroughly
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4278-01 |
מֶחְקְרֵי | mecheqerey | HNcmpc |
depths | searched-out recesses of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4278-01 |
Psalms 95:4 | מֶחְקְרֵי | mecheqerey | HNcmpc |
depths | searched-out recesses of |