cha.phar denotes digging or excavating, and in some contexts searching out land, a hidden item, or food.

The predominant use is physical excavation: people dig for water, make wells, or dig a pit. A smaller group of contexts presents directed searching, including reconnaissance of land, seeking a hidden object, and looking for food.

1. Digging or excavating · dominant

   In Genesis 21:30 the speaker identifies himself as the one who made a well, while Genesis 26:19 describes Isaac's servants working in a wadi and finding living water. Exodus 7:24 has Egyptians digging around the Nile for drinking water, and Ecclesiastes 10:8 describes the person who makes a pit and then falls into it. Numbers 21:18 likewise places the action in the making of a well.

   Genesis 21:30Genesis 26:19Exodus 7:24Ecclesiastes 10:8Numbers 21:18Genesis 26:32
2. Searching out or seeking · occasional

   In Deuteronomy 1:22 the requested action concerns investigating the land and reporting the route and cities; Joshua 2:2 and Joshua 2:3 similarly concern men sent to examine the land. Jeremiah 13:7 places the action in recovering a girdle from its hidden location, while Job 39:29 has the bird looking for food from afar. Job 3:21 applies the action figuratively to those who seek death as though looking for hidden treasure.

   Deuteronomy 1:22Joshua 2:2Joshua 2:3Jeremiah 13:7Job 39:29Job 3:21

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the action as "dug" or "excavated" in well, water, and pit contexts, while reconnaissance and recovery contexts use "search out" or "searched." These renderings indicate the surrounding clauses rather than a fixed English equivalent in every occurrence.