diff --git a/.changeset/mighty-numbers-run.md b/.changeset/mighty-numbers-run.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c612d810
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/mighty-numbers-run.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+"@graphprotocol/hypergraph": minor
+---
+
+rework filter logic to match public filter logic - logic operators are only allowed at the cross-field level
+  
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/hypergraph/src/entity/findMany.ts b/packages/hypergraph/src/entity/findMany.ts
index afca4b8b..297d0190 100644
--- a/packages/hypergraph/src/entity/findMany.ts
+++ b/packages/hypergraph/src/entity/findMany.ts
@@ -255,12 +255,11 @@ export function findMany<const S extends AnyNoContext>(
   const filtered: Array<Entity<S>> = [];
 
   const evaluateFilter = <T>(fieldFilter: EntityFieldFilter<T>, fieldValue: T): boolean => {
-    const ff = fieldFilter as unknown as Record<string, unknown>;
-    if ('not' in ff || 'or' in ff || 'and' in ff) {
-      throw new Error("Logical operators 'not', 'or', 'and' are only allowed at the root (cross-field) level.");
+    if ('not' in fieldFilter || 'or' in fieldFilter) {
+      throw new Error("Logical operators 'not', 'or' are only allowed at the root (cross-field) level.");
     }
 
-    // Handle basic filters
+    // handle basic filters
     if ('is' in fieldFilter) {
       if (typeof fieldValue === 'boolean') {
         return fieldValue === fieldFilter.is;
@@ -316,33 +315,26 @@ export function findMany<const S extends AnyNoContext>(
     crossFieldFilter: CrossFieldFilter<Schema.Schema.Type<S>>,
     entity: Entity<S>,
   ): boolean => {
-    // Evaluate regular field filters with AND semantics
+    // evaluate regular field filters with AND semantics
     for (const fieldName in crossFieldFilter) {
       if (fieldName === 'or' || fieldName === 'not') continue;
-      const fieldFilter = crossFieldFilter[fieldName] as unknown as EntityFieldFilter<unknown> | undefined;
+      const fieldFilter = crossFieldFilter[fieldName];
       if (!fieldFilter) continue;
-      const fieldValue = (entity as unknown as Record<string, unknown>)[fieldName] as unknown;
+      const fieldValue = entity[fieldName];
       if (!evaluateFilter(fieldFilter, fieldValue)) {
         return false;
       }
     }
 
-    // Evaluate nested OR at cross-field level (if present)
-    const cf = crossFieldFilter as unknown as Record<string, unknown>;
-    const maybeOr = cf.or;
-    if (Array.isArray(maybeOr)) {
-      const orFilters = maybeOr as Array<CrossFieldFilter<Schema.Schema.Type<S>>>;
-      const orSatisfied = orFilters.some((orFilter) => evaluateCrossFieldFilter(orFilter, entity));
+    // evaluate nested OR at cross-field level (if present)
+    if (Array.isArray(crossFieldFilter.or)) {
+      const orSatisfied = crossFieldFilter.or.some((orFilter) => evaluateCrossFieldFilter(orFilter, entity));
       if (!orSatisfied) return false;
     }
 
-    // Evaluate nested NOT at cross-field level (if present)
-    const maybeNot = cf.not;
-    if (maybeNot) {
-      const notFilter = maybeNot as CrossFieldFilter<Schema.Schema.Type<S>>;
-      if (evaluateCrossFieldFilter(notFilter, entity)) {
-        return false;
-      }
+    // evaluate nested NOT at cross-field level (if present)
+    if (crossFieldFilter.not && evaluateCrossFieldFilter(crossFieldFilter.not, entity)) {
+      return false;
     }
 
     return true;
@@ -380,7 +372,14 @@ export function findMany<const S extends AnyNoContext>(
           decoded.__schema = type;
           filtered.push(decoded);
         }
-      } catch (_error) {
+      } catch (error) {
+        // rethrow in case it's filter error
+        if (
+          error instanceof Error &&
+          error.message.includes("Logical operators 'not', 'or' are only allowed at the root (cross-field) level")
+        ) {
+          throw error;
+        }
         corruptEntityIds.push(id);
       }
     }
diff --git a/packages/hypergraph/test/entity/findMany.test.ts b/packages/hypergraph/test/entity/findMany.test.ts
index 811426e2..23c639a3 100644
--- a/packages/hypergraph/test/entity/findMany.test.ts
+++ b/packages/hypergraph/test/entity/findMany.test.ts
@@ -201,7 +201,27 @@ describe('findMany with filters', () => {
       expect(result.entities.map((e) => e.name).sort()).toEqual(['Bob', 'Jane']);
     });
 
-    it('should filter entities using NOT operator with number fields', () => {
+    it('should throw an error if NOT operator is used at the field level', () => {
+      // Create test entities
+      Entity.create(handle, Person)({ name: 'John', age: 30, isActive: true });
+      Entity.create(handle, Person)({ name: 'Jane', age: 25, isActive: true });
+      Entity.create(handle, Person)({ name: 'Bob', age: 40, isActive: false });
+
+      expect(() => {
+        // Filter by name NOT equal to 'John'
+        Entity.findMany(
+          handle,
+          Person,
+          {
+            // @ts-expect-error
+            name: { not: { is: 'John' } },
+          },
+          undefined,
+        );
+      }).toThrowError("Logical operators 'not', 'or' are only allowed at the root (cross-field) level.");
+    });
+
+    it.skip('should filter entities using NOT operator with number fields', () => {
       // Create test entities
       Entity.create(handle, Person)({ name: 'John', age: 30, isActive: true });
       Entity.create(handle, Person)({ name: 'Jane', age: 25, isActive: true });
@@ -241,6 +261,26 @@ describe('findMany with filters', () => {
       expect(result.entities.map((e) => e.name).sort()).toEqual(['Jane', 'John']);
     });
 
+    it('should throw an error if OR operator is used at the field level', () => {
+      // Create test entities
+      Entity.create(handle, Person)({ name: 'John', age: 30, isActive: true });
+      Entity.create(handle, Person)({ name: 'Jane', age: 25, isActive: true });
+      Entity.create(handle, Person)({ name: 'Bob', age: 40, isActive: false });
+
+      expect(() => {
+        // Attempt to use OR operator at the field level (should throw)
+        Entity.findMany(
+          handle,
+          Person,
+          {
+            // @ts-expect-error
+            name: { or: [{ is: 'John' }, { is: 'Jane' }] },
+          },
+          undefined,
+        );
+      }).toThrowError("Logical operators 'not', 'or' are only allowed at the root (cross-field) level.");
+    });
+
     it('should filter entities using OR operator with number fields', () => {
       // Create test entities
       Entity.create(handle, Person)({ name: 'John', age: 30, isActive: true });
@@ -281,23 +321,24 @@ describe('findMany with filters', () => {
       expect(result.entities[0].name).toBe('Bob');
     });
 
-    it('should filter entities using NOT with OR operator', () => {
+    it('should throw an error if NOT operator is used at the field level', () => {
       // Create test entities
       Entity.create(handle, Person)({ name: 'John', age: 30, isActive: true });
       Entity.create(handle, Person)({ name: 'Jane', age: 25, isActive: true });
       Entity.create(handle, Person)({ name: 'Bob', age: 40, isActive: false });
 
-      // Filter by NOT (name equal to 'John' OR 'Jane')
-      const result = Entity.findMany(
-        handle,
-        Person,
-        {
-          not: { or: [{ name: { is: 'John' } }, { name: { is: 'Jane' } }] },
-        },
-        undefined,
-      );
-      expect(result.entities).toHaveLength(1);
-      expect(result.entities[0].name).toBe('Bob');
+      expect(() => {
+        // Filter by name NOT (name is 'John' OR name is 'Jane')
+        Entity.findMany(
+          handle,
+          Person,
+          {
+            // @ts-expect-error
+            name: { not: { or: [{ is: 'John' }, { is: 'Jane' }] } },
+          },
+          undefined,
+        );
+      }).toThrowError("Logical operators 'not', 'or' are only allowed at the root (cross-field) level.");
     });
   });