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It’s time to meet the six verbal patterns derived from the simple conjugation (Qal). For examples we will use strong roots in which all three consonants are retained in all forms. Before we begin, review the patterns for the past, present and future of the Qal form (see Hebrew for Bible Readers, BR 08:01).
The following chart gives the names of the other verbal forms and distinguishes their functions. Hebrew verbs can describe simple, intensive or causative actions; these actions can be active, passive or reflexive:
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Simple
|
Intensive
|
Causative
|
Active
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Qal
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Piel
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Hiphil
|
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vb’K;
|
vBeKi
|
vyBik]hi
|
|
“he subdued”
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“he conquered”
|
“he brought into bondage”
|
Passive
|
Niphal
|
Pual
|
Hophal
|
|
vB’k]nI
|
vB’Ku
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vBik]h;
|
|
“he was subdued”
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“he was conquered”
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“he was brought into bondage”
|
Reflexive (or Passive)
|
|
Hithpael
|
|
|
vBeK’t]hi
|
|
|
“he was suppressed”
|
Let’s look at each conjugation individually. Though what follows has been the bane of many a Hebrew student, the ability to recognize the verb forms is crucial to understanding the text of the Hebrew Bible. We will encounter many different patterns; try to memorize them, or at least master the distinguishing feature of each one and then refer back to these lessons to look up a particular verb form.
The Niphal mainly expresses the passive of Qal (see chart below). Compare rm’v;, “he guarded” with rm’v]nI, “he was guarded.” Note that the main difference is the prefixed Nun and a modified vowel pattern.
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NIPHAL
|
|
Future will be guarded
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Present guarded
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Past were/was guarded
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we rmeV;nI I rmeV;a,
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I am/you are/he is (m.) rm;v]nI
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we Wnr]m’v]nI I yTir]m’v]nI
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you (m.) Wrm]V;Ti you (m.) rmeV;Ti
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I am/you are/she is (f.) hr;m;v]nI
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you (m.) µT,r]m’v]nI you (m.) T;r]m’v]nI
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you (f.) hn:r]m’V;Ti you (f.) yrim]V;Ti
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we/you/they are (m.) µyrim;v]nI
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you (f.) ÷T,r]m’v]nI you (f.) T]r]m’v]nI
|
they (m.) Wrm]V;yI he ymeV;yI
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we/you/they are (f.) t/rm;v]nI
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they (m.) Wrm]v]nI he rm’v]nI
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they (f.) hn:r]m’V;Ti she rmeV;Ti
|
|
they (f.) Wrm]v]nI she hr;m]v]nI
|
Note the Niphal form in Deuteronomy 23:10, lKomi T;r]m,v]nIwÒ òyb,yÒaoël[‘ hn (kee-teh-tseh macha-neh al-oyvey-ka ve-nish-mar-ta mik-kol da-var ra) “When you are encamped against your enemy, be on your guard against any bad (impure) thing.”
The Piel (see chart at bottom) usually expresses intensive action, for example, compare the Piel, rBevi (shib-ber), “he smashed” to the Qal, rb’v;, (sha-var), “he broke.” The main feature of the Piel is the dagesh in second root letter.
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|
|
PIEL
|
|
|
|
Future
|
|
Present
|
|
Past
|
|
|
will smash
|
|
smash/smashes
|
|
smashed
|
|
we rBev’nÒ
|
|
I rBev’a}
|
I/you/he (m.) rBev’m]
|
we Wnr]B’vi
|
|
I yTir]Bevi
|
you (m.) WrB]v’T]
|
|
you (m.) rBev’T]
|
I/you/he (f.) tr,B,v’m]
|
you (m.) µT,r]B’vi
|
|
you (m.) T;r]B’vi
|
you (f.) hn:r]Bev’T]
|
|
you (f.) yriB]v’T]
|
we/you/they (m.) µyriB]v’m]
|
you (f.) ÷T,r]B’vi
|
|
you (f.) T]r]B’vi
|
they (m.) WrB]v’yÒ
|
|
he rBev’yÒ
|
we/you/they (f.) t/rB]v’m]
|
they (m.) WrB]vi
|
|
he rBevi
|
they (f.) hn:r]Bev’T]
|
|
she rBev’T]
|
|
they (f.) WrB]vi
|
|
she hr;B]vi
|
Watch for the Piel form in Exodus 9:25: rBevi hd,C;h’ Å[eëlK;ëta,wÒ (ve-et-kol-ets has-sa-deh shib-ber) “and every tree of the field (it) shattered.”
In future lessons we will study the pual, hiphil, hophal and hithpael forms and continue to find examples within the biblical text.
It’s time to meet the six verbal patterns derived from the simple conjugation (Qal). For examples we will use strong roots in which all three consonants are retained in all forms. Before we begin, review the patterns for the past, present and future of the Qal form (see Hebrew for Bible Readers, BR 08:01). The following chart gives the names of the other verbal forms and distinguishes their functions. Hebrew verbs can describe simple, intensive or causative actions; these actions can be active, passive or reflexive: Simple Intensive Causative Active Qal Piel Hiphil vb’K; vBeKi vyBik]hi “he subdued” “he […]