חָקַר
𐤇𐤒𐤓
châqar
H2713 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To search out, investigate thoroughly, or examine with care. Used broadly for acts of mental or physical inquiry, both literal searching (such as exploring the land) and figurative investigation (such as examining intentions, motives, or the depths of knowledge or wisdom). In wisdom literature, frequently denotes the act of probing or attempting to comprehend matters that may be ultimately inscrutable or hidden to humans.
Semantic Range
to search out, investigate, examine, probe, explore, try to understand, make an extensive inquiry, sound (as in sounding the depths), scrutinize, try (as in test), explore mentally or physically
Root / Etymology
Root is ח–ק–ר (חָקַר), carrying the core idea of penetrating or delving into something in order to reveal what is hidden. The verb form expresses the action of searching or investigating in depth, often with diligence or intensity. The root is attested throughout biblical and later Hebrew with similar connotations of careful inquiry or examination.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, חָקַר is used with both concrete and abstract objects. It appears in narratives (e.g., searching the land in Judges 18:2) and metaphorical senses (e.g., Job 28:3's investigating the sources of darkness, or Psalms 44:21's reference to YHWH searching the heart). Wisdom literature (Job, Proverbs, Qohelet) uses the verb to express humanity's attempts to probe or fathom wisdom, divine knowledge, or the course of events—often suggesting the limits of human ability in these efforts (cf. Ecclesiastes 7:25). Later Rabbinic literature continues and expands these figured uses. English translations usually render חָקַר as "search," "examine," or "investigate," but sometimes miss the depth of penetrative inquiry implied by the term. Related roots include דרשׁ (to seek, inquire) and בחן (to test, try), but חָקַר emphasizes the intensive and thorough nature of the inquiry, whether in physical exploration or intellectual examination.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to penetrate; hence, to examine intimately; find out, (make) search (out), seek (out), sound, try.
Bantu Hebrew
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חקר (ḥ-q-r) — searching, investigating, probing, examining
Word Forms
23 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2713-10 |
לַ/חְקֹ֥ר | lacheqor | HR/Vqc |
to search | to search out | 2 |
H2713-05 |
חֲק֤וֹר | chaqor | HVqc |
search | to search out | 2 |
H2713-07 |
חֹקֵ֥ר | choqer | HVqrmsa |
search | the one who searches out | 2 |
H2713-11 |
נֶחְקַ֖ר | necheqar | HVNp3ms |
was determined | was searched out | 2 |
H2713-06 |
חִקְר֣וּ | chiqeru | HVqv2mp |
explore | Search out! | 1 |
H2713-21 |
יַחְקֹ֣ר | yacheqor | HVqi3ms |
He examines | he will search out | 1 |
H2713-08 |
אֶחְקְרֵֽ/הוּ | echeqerehu | HVqi1cs/Sp3ms |
I searched it out | I will search him | 1 |
H2713-12 |
תַּחְקְר֥וּ/ן | tacheqerun | HVqi2mp/Sn |
you searched out | you search out | 1 |
H2713-18 |
וְ/יֵחָקְר֥וּ | veyechaqeru | HC/VNi3mp |
and-they-can-be-searched-out | and they will be searched out | 1 |
H2713-20 |
יַחְקְרֶֽ/נּוּ | yacheqerenu | HVqi3ms/Sp3ms |
searches him out | he searches him out | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
27 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2713-15 |
Deuteronomy 13:15 | וְ/חָקַרְתָּ֧ | vechaqareta | HC/Vqq2ms |
investigate | and you searched out |
H2713-13 |
Judges 18:2 | וּ/לְ/חָקְרָ֔/הּ | ulechaqerah | HC/R/Vqc/Sp3fs |
and to search it | and to search her |
H2713-06 |
Judges 18:2 | חִקְר֣וּ | chiqeru | HVqv2mp |
explore | Search out! |
H2713-09 |
1 Samuel 20:12 | אֶחְקֹ֣ר | echeqor | HVqi1cs |
I-will-sound-out | I will search out |
H2713-05 |
2 Samuel 10:3 | חֲק֤וֹר | chaqor | HVqc |
search | to search out |
H2713-11 |
1 Kings 7:47 | נֶחְקַ֖ר | necheqar | HVNp3ms |
was examined | was searched out |
H2713-07 |
Jeremiah 17:10 | חֹקֵ֥ר | choqer | HVqrmsa |
search | the one who searches out |
H2713-18 |
Jeremiah 31:37 | וְ/יֵחָקְר֥וּ | veyechaqeru | HC/VNi3mp |
and-they-can-be-searched-out | and they will be searched out |
H2713-23 |
Jeremiah 46:23 | יֵֽחָקֵ֑ר | yechaqer | HVNi3ms |
be searched | will be searched out |
H2713-22 |
Ezekiel 39:14 | יַחְקֹֽרוּ | yacheqoru | HVqi3mp |
they-shall-search | they will search out |