H2714 H2714
Searching, investigation — the act of probing deeply into what is hidden, inscrutable, or beyond reach
The noun חֵקֶר (cheqer) denotes the process or result of deep investigation — a thorough searching-out of what is hidden. It appears most frequently in wisdom and poetic literature, where it underscores the limits of human knowledge before divine mystery. Job declares that God's wonders are 'without searching out' (Job 5:9; 9:10), and the psalmist affirms that God's greatness is 'unsearchable' (Ps 145:3). In Judges 5:15-16, Deborah asks why Reuben lingered amid 'searchings of heart' — introspective deliberation about whether to join the battle. Proverbs uses the word for the unfathomable depths of a king's heart (Prov 25:3). Spanish 'búsquedas' and French 'recherche' both capture the investigative probing.
Senses
1. searching / investigation — The act or result of deep examination, investigation, or probing into what is hidden or inscrutable. Used of divine works beyond human comprehension (Job 5:9; 9:10; 11:7; Ps 145:3), of internal deliberation and self-examination ('searchings of heart,' Judg 5:15-16), and of the unfathomable depths of royal authority or human character (Prov 25:3). Often appears in the negative construction 'without searching' (אֵין חֵקֶר), meaning 'past finding out' or 'inscrutable.' Spanish 'búsquedas' and English 'searching' both convey the probing, investigative quality. 12×
AR["أَفَحْصَ", "بَحْثٌ", "بَحْثُ-", "فَحصٍ", "فَحصَ", "فَحْصٌ", "فَحْصٍ", "لِفَحْصِ", "مُسْتَقْصًى", "وَ-فَحْصُ", "وَفِي-فَحْصِ"]·ben["-অনুসন্ধানে", "অনুসন্ধান", "অনুসন্ধান-করে", "অনুসন্ধানগুলি-", "অনুসন্ধানযোগ্য", "আর-অনুসন্ধানে", "এবং-অনুসন্ধান"]·DE["-searchings-von-", "[ובחקר]", "[חקר]", "der-erforschte", "erforschte", "searching", "und-erforschte", "zu-erforschte"]·EN["-searchings-of-", "?-searching-of", "and-in-the-recesses-of", "but-searching-out", "for-inquiry-of", "inquiry", "of-His-understanding", "searching", "searching-out"]·FR["-searchings-de-", "[חקר]", "et-recherche", "le-recherche", "recherche", "sonder"]·heb["ה-חקר", "ו-ב-חקר", "ו-חקר", "חקר", "חקרי", "ל-חקר"]·HI["और-खोज-में", "और-खोजना", "क्या-खोजकर", "खोज", "खोज-के-लिए", "खोजा-जा-सकता", "जाँच", "जांच"]·ID["Apakah-penyelidikan", "batas", "dan-dalam-penelitian", "dan-menyelidiki", "dapat diselidiki", "kepada-penyelidikan", "penyelidikan", "yang-dapat-diselidiki"]·IT["-searchings-di-", "[חקר]", "e-in-ricerca", "e-ricerca", "il-ricerca", "ricerca"]·jav["dhumateng-panaliten", "lan-ing-panaliten-ipun", "lan-nliti", "panaliten", "punapa-tetepangan", "pèmiring", "tetepangan", "tliti", "watesan"]·KO["그러나-탐구하는-것은", "그리고-탐구-에서", "에게-탐구함", "조사들-", "찾음", "찾음-을-", "탐구함", "탐구함이", "헤아림", "헤아림이"]·PT["Investigação-de", "e-investigar", "e-na-investigação-do-", "indagações-de-", "investigação", "investigável.", "limite", "para-investigação-de", "pesquisa"]·RU["а-исследование", "и-в-глубине", "исследимо", "исследованием-ли", "исследования", "к-исследованию", "розыски-"]·ES["búsquedas-de", "e-investigar", "escudriñamiento", "investigación", "investigación,", "para-la-investigación-de", "y-en-profundidad-de", "¿La-profundidad-de"]·SW["inachunguzika", "je-utapata", "kuchunguza", "kuchunguzika", "kutafiti-kwa-", "lakini-kuchunguza", "mwisho", "na-katika-kuchunguza", "uchunguzi", "uchunguzi-wa"]·TR["araştırma", "araştırmaları-", "araştırmasına", "araştırmasını-mı", "araştırılabilir", "araştırılamaz", "siniri", "ve-araştırmak", "ve-araştırmasında"]·urd["اور-تلاش میں", "اور-تلاش-کرنا", "تحقیق", "تحقیق کے", "تحقیق-کے", "تحقیق-کے-لیے", "تلاش", "تلاش-ہو-سکتی", "تلاشیں", "کیا-تحقیق-سے"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† חֵ֫קֶר n.m. Ju 5:16 searching, thing (to be) searched out;—abs. הֵ֫קֶר Jb 5:9 + 8 times; cstr. id. Pr 25:27 + 2 times; pl. cstr. חִקְרֵי Ju 5:16;—חִקְרֵי לֵב Ju 5:16 searchings, questionings of heart; Jb 11:7 canst thou reach ח׳ אֱלוֹהַּ i.e. what is to be explored in him, the whole range of his nature, so ח׳ תהום 38:16 the range of the deep; especially אֵין ח׳ i.e. it is unsearchable Jb 5:9;…