בָּחַן (b. h.; √בח , v. Ges. H. Dict. s. v.; cmp. בה s. v. בהי) prop. to distinguish, examine (cmp. בון, חזי), hence to try, probe (of metals); to find out. Snh. 107ᵃ בְּחָנֵנִי try me.—Part. pass. בָּחוּן. Pes. 87ᵃ בְּחוּנֶיךָ Ms. M. (ed. חנוניך, v. Rabb. D. S. a. l.) thy tried servants. Ib.ᵇ בְּחוּנַי my tried servants. Yalk. Hos. 515; a. e.
Pi. - בִּיחֵן to inquire. Yoma 73ᵇ; Shebu. 35ᵇ לא ביחנו they did not ask distinctly. Y. B. Kam. IV, 4ᵇ bot. שב"ד מְבַחֲנִין וכ׳ for the court (appointing him guardian) inquires after his character.
Hif. - הִבְחִין to distinguish. Snh. 8ᵇ a. e. להַבְחִין בין וכ׳ in order to be able to distinguish between the ignorant and the willful transgressor. Yeb. 42ᵃ; a. fr.