What does חָפַר mean in the Bible?
חָפַר is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to pry into ; by implication, to delve , to explore".
Hebrew · H2658
חָפַר
Properly, to pry into ; by implication, to delve , to explore
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חָפַרH2658
What does חָפַר mean in the Bible?
חָפַר is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to pry into ; by implication, to delve , to explore".
Full entry for חָפַר (H2658) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2658?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include dug (3), to spy out (2), . . . (1), and dug (1), and dug up (1).
Where does חָפַר appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 21:30. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (8), Job (4), Deuteronomy (2), Joshua (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itdug3×Genesis 26:19, Exodus 7:24, Numbers 21:18
to spy out2×Joshua 2:2, Joshua 2:3
. . .1×Genesis 26:18
and dug1×Genesis 26:22
and dug up1×Jeremiah 13:7
and hollowed it out1×Psalms 7:15
and search for it1×Job 3:21
and you will look around1×Job 11:18
had been dug1×Genesis 26:18
had dug1×Genesis 26:15
He paws1×Job 39:21
he spies1×Job 39:29
He who digs1×Ecclesiastes 10:8
I dug1×Genesis 21:30
Then they dug1×Genesis 26:21
they dug1×Psalms 35:7
they had dug1×Genesis 26:32
to search out1×Deuteronomy 1:22
you can dig a hole1×Deuteronomy 23:13
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 21:30חָפַ֖רְתִּיtoI dugVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularGenesis 26:15חָֽפְרוּ֙tohad dugVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralGenesis 26:18וַיַּחְפֹּ֣ר׀to. . .Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 26:18חָֽפְרוּ֙tohad been dugVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralGenesis 26:19וַיַּחְפְּר֥וּtodugConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralGenesis 26:21וַֽיַּחְפְּרוּ֙toThen they dugConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralGenesis 26:22וַיַּחְפֹּר֙toand dugConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 26:32חָפָ֑רוּtothey had dugVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralExodus 7:24וַיַּחְפְּר֧וּtodugConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralNumbers 21:18חֲפָר֣וּהָtodugVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 21:30
Aligned rows22
Books represented9
Genesis8Exodus1Numbers1Deuteronomy2Joshua2Job4Psalms2Ecclesiastes1Jeremiah1
Source forms
חָֽפְרוּ֙2xḥā·p̄ə·rūGenesis 26:15, Genesis 26:18
לַחְפֹּ֥ר2xlaḥ·pōrJoshua 2:2, Joshua 2:3
וָאֶחְפֹּ֗ר1xwā·’eḥ·pōrJeremiah 13:7
וְ֝חָפַרְתָּ֗1xwə·ḥā·p̄ar·tāJob 11:18
וְחָפַרְתָּ֣ה1xwə·ḥā·p̄ar·tāhDeuteronomy 23:13
וַיַּחְפֹּר֙1xway·yaḥ·pōrGenesis 26:22
וַיַּחְפֹּ֣ר׀1xway·yaḥ·pōrGenesis 26:18
וַֽיַּחְפְּרֵ֑הוּ1xway·yaḥ·pə·rê·hūPsalms 7:15
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural4xGenesis 26:15, Genesis 26:18, Genesis 26:32, Psalms 35:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural3xGenesis 26:19, Genesis 26:21, Exodus 7:24
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular2xDeuteronomy 23:13, Job 11:18
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2xGenesis 26:18, Genesis 26:22
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct2xJoshua 2:2, Joshua 2:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xDeuteronomy 1:22
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular1xJeremiah 13:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular1xJob 3:21
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. properly, to pry into ; by implication, to delve , to explore
Source Gloss
properly, to pry into ; by implication, to delve , to explore
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
properly, to pry into; by implication, to delve, to explore BDB: dig Usage: dig, paw, search out, seek.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms8
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense8×
PerfectGen 26:15 · Gen 26:18 · Gen 26:32 · Ps 35:7 · Gen 21:30 · Job 39:296×
Participle activeEccl 10:81×
ImperfectJob 39:211×
Word Origins
חָפַר is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.