The Hebrew chaphas means to search out, to examine carefully, or to disguise oneself. The range of meaning connects careful investigation with the idea of concealment — searching implies something is hidden; disguise implies the searcher hides their own identity.
Chaphas appears in Joseph's story when he 'searches' his brothers' sacks for the silver cup (Genesis 44:12). It describes God's thorough searching of the human heart (Psalm 77:6 — 'I searched my spirit') and Zephaniah's warning that God will 'search Jerusalem with lamps' (Zephaniah 1:12). The word captures the thoroughness of divine omniscience — nothing is hidden from God's searching. The disguise usage (1 Kings 22:30, where Ahab disguises himself before battle) is ironic: humans try to hide from consequences, but God searches what is concealed.