Derived Verb Forms

So far we have studied the simple Hebrew verb, or the Qal form. The action of a Qal verb is simple or basic, without nuance.

For example: ש��ב�ר is a third masculine singular Qal form of the root ש�בר (to break) and translates as the simple action “he broke.”

Hebrew has six other verb forms in addition to Qal. The six other verb forms change the simple action of the verb to a more nuanced, complex action. In addition to simple action, we can have intensive action or causative action.

Consider the following examples of simple, intensive, and causative action:

Simple action is direct and conveys the most basic meaning of the verb.

Intensive action conveys an intensification of the meaning of the verb. In our example, “break” becomes “shatter.”

Causative action is less direct. The man was the cause of the vase breaking but he did not necessarily perform the actual action of breaking the vase.

In addition to the three types of action, verb forms may convey active, passive, or reflexive meaning. This meaning relates to how the subject and action of a verb relate. Consider the following examples of active, passive, and reflexive meaning:

active relationship: The king commanded the army.passive relationship: The king was commanded by the army.

reflexive relationship: The king commanded himself.

simple action: The man broke the vase.intensive action: The man shattered the vase.causative action: The man caused the vase to break.

First, let’s review…..

PNG Qal Perfect

3ms כ�ת�ב he wrote

3fs הכ�תב� she wrote

2ms �כ�ת�ב ת� you wrote

2fs כ�ת�ב ת� you wrote

1cs�כ�ת�ב ת�

יI wrote

3cp �כ�תב ו they wrote

2mp�כת�ב ת�

םyou wrote

2fp�כת�ב ת�

ןyou wrote

1cp �כ�ת�ב נו we wrote

PNG Qal Imperfect

3ms כת��בי he will write

3fs � כת��בת� she will write

2ms � כת��בת� you will write

2fs � ב�ת� יכת� you will write

1cs כת��בא� I will write

3mp ב�י �וכת� they will write

3fp��כת��בת� נה

they will write

2mp � בת� �כת� ו you will write

2fp� �כת��בת� נה

you will write

1cp � כת��בנ we will write

Imperfect vs. Imperative…..

PNG Imperfect Imperative

2ms � כת��בת� you will write �ת�ב כ (you) write!

2fs � ב�ת� יכת� you will write ��תב� יכ (you) write!

2mp� בת� כת�� ו

you will write��תב �כ ו

(you) write!

2fp� כת��בת�

�ה נyou will write

�ת�ב �הכ נ(you) write!

Active and Passive Participle…..

PNG Qal

Active Participle ms ��ת�ב כ writing

fs ��ת�ב� תכ writing

mp ��תב� יםכ writing

fp ��תב ו�תכ writing

Passive Participle ms �ב ��תו כ written

fs �ב� �תו הכ written

mp�ב� �תו יכ

םwritten

fp�ב �תו ו�כ

תwritten

A Niphal has four possible meanings: incomplete passive, middle, reflexive, and resultative.

Incomplete passivePassive means the action occurs to the subject instead of by the subject. For example: “the man was heard” is passive, while “the man heard” is active. Incomplete means the agent performing the action of the verb is missing. In our previous example, “the man was heard,” we are not told who heard the man. Our information about the verb’s action is incomplete.

Virtually all Niphal verbs in the Hebrew Bible with a passive meaning do not specify the agent performing the action on the subject. Consider the following examples.

Active (Qal) Incomplete Passive (Niphal)The man heard. The man was heard.We saw. We were seen.The people helped. The people were helped.

MiddleNiphal verbs with a middle meaning are active in nature; however, the active action occurs to the subject instead of by the subject.

Active (Qal) Middle (Niphal)He broke the vase. The vase broke.She opened the door. The door opened.He started the car. The car started.

ReflexiveReflexive verbs have a specified object that reflects back to the subject. For example:

Active (Qal) Reflexive (Niphal)The man heard. The man heard himself.We saw. We saw ourselves.The people helped. The people helped themselves.

ResultativeAs the name suggests, the resultative meaning demonstrates a result. Another indicator of resultative meaning is the need for a “to be” verb such as is or are. The resultative meaning is stative, describing the state of the subject. Often the Resultative Niphal is in Participle form. Resultative describes the state of the subject as a result of some previous verb action, actual or implied. For example:

Active (Qal) Reflexive (Niphal)He broke the vase. The vase is broken.She opened the door. The door is open.They found him. He is found.

In English, many words have been changed as we reconcile meaning with pronunciation.

For example: Just as inaccurate means “not accurate” inmovable “not movable”

Because “inmoveable” is difficult to pronounce, it eventually became “immovable”.

The “n” disappeared and the “m” doubled.

Other examples: inlegal - illegal inrelevant - irrelevant

Some words did not change because they were easy to pronounce: For example: Inexperienced, incorrect, infamous, ineffective

Hebrew does the same thing—we call it “Nun-Assimilation”

For example: (to fall) פ�ל� �ל would be נ פ� in the 3ms imperfect (he will fall) ינ

But, that’s hard to pronounce—try it!

So instead, the nun drops off and the next consonant is doubled (In other

words, the nun has assimilated into the pe.) and we have (he will fall) ל� יפ�for the 3ms imperfect.

פ�ל �ל becomes ינ יפ�

PNG Qal Niphal

3ms ק�ט�ל he killed �קט�ל נ he was killed

3fs ק�טל�ה she killed �קטל�ה נ she was killed

2ms � ק�ט�לת� you killed � �קט�לת� נ you were killed

2fs ק�ט�לת� you killed �קט�לת� נ you were killed

1cs �י ק�ט�לת� I killed� �קט�לת� נ

יI was killed

3cp � ק�טלו they killed � �קטלו נ they were killed

2mp� קט�לת�

םyou killed

� �קט�לת� נם

you were killed

2fp �ן קט�לת� you killed� �קט�לת� נ

ןyou were killed

1cp � ק�ט�לנו we killed�קטת�ל נ

� נוwe were killed

The perfect endings that help you identify the person, number, and gender of the Qal perfect verb are also the same for Niphal.

All Niphal perfect forms have a prefixed nun. The presence of the nun prefix and the perfect suffixes make identification of a Niphal perfect straightforward.

Note the differences in the vowels of the Qal and Niphal. The qamets beneath the first root consonant of the Niphal reduces to a shewa. Otherwise, the vowels of Qal and Niphal are the same.

To summarize, the diagnostic features of the Niphal perfect are:1.Nun prefix2.Hireq vowel frequently beneath the nun prefix3.Patakh vowel beneath the second root consonant

PNG Qal Niphal

3ms יקט��ל he will kill יק��ט�ל he will be killed

3fs �קט��ל ת� she will kill �ק��ט�ל ת� she will be killed

2ms �קט��ל ת� you will kill �ק��ט�ל ת� you will be killed

2fs �קט�ל�י ת� you will kill �ק��טל�י ת� you will be killed

1cs א�קט��ל I will kill א�ק��ט�ל I will be killed

3mp � יקט�לו they will kill � יק��טלו they will be killed

3fp�קט��ל ת�

�ה נthey will kill

� �ק��ט�לנ ת�ה

they will be killed

2mp � �קט�לו ת� you will kill � �ק��טלו ת� you will be killed

2fp�קט��ל ת�

�ה נyou will kill

� �ק��ט�לנ ת�ה

you will be killed

1cp �קט��ל נ we will kill �ק��ט�ל נ we will be killed

The four prefixes ת, נ, א , and י are consistent for all imperfect verbs, whether they are regular/strong or irregular verbs.

The nun is present in all forms of the Niphal either as a visible nun or as a dagesh in the first root consonant unless a guttural or resh prevents the existence of a dagesh. The nun assimilates only when a prefix is added to the verb.

A hireq vowel is beneath most Niphal imperfect prefixes except 1cs, which is a segol.

A qamets is beneath many of the first root consonant of all Niphal imperfects.

Note the differences between Qal 1cp and Niphal 1cp. Both have a nun prefix but the vowels of the second root consonant should allow you to distinguish between the two forms.

To summarize, the diagnostic features of the Niphal imperfect are:1. Assimilated nun manifested as a dagesh in the first root consonant2. Hireq vowel beneath the imperfect prefix3. Qametz vowel beneath the first root consonant

Qal NiphalImperative ק�ט�ל (you) kill! ה�ק��ט�ל be killed! (ms)

ק��טל�י (you) kill! ה�ק�טל�י be killed! (fs)

� ק��טלו (you) kill! � ה�ק��טלו be killed! (mp)

� ק�ט�לנה

(you) kill!�ה ה�ק��ט�לנ

be killed! (fp)

Inf. Construct ק�ט�ל killing ה�ק��ט�ל being killed

Inf. Absoluteק�טו�ל to kill �קטו�ל נ

Type Ito be killed

Type ה�ק��טו�לII

to be killed

As with Qal, the Niphal imperative forms retain the imperfect suffixes.

As with the Qal ms imperative and infinitive construct, the Niphal ms imperative is identical to the Niphal infinitive construct.

Unlike the Qal, the Niphal infinitive absolute has two forms. The first form has a nun prefix, while the second form also has a he prefix, forcing the nun to assimilate into the first root consonant as a dagesh. Also note the difference in the first root consonant vowel.

The Niphal infinitive absolute maintains the same diagnostic characteristic of the Qal infinitive absolute with the second root consonant’s full holem vowel.

Qal NiphalImperative ק�ט�ל (you) kill! ה�ק��ט�ל be killed! (ms)

ק��טל�י (you) kill! ה�ק��טל�י be killed! (fs)

� ק��טלו (you) kill! � ה�ק��טלו be killed! (mp)

� ק�ט�לנה

(you) kill!�ה ה�ק��ט�לנ

be killed! (fp)

Inf. Construct ק�ט�ל killing ה�ק��ט�ל being killed

Inf. Absoluteק�טו�ל to kill �קטו�ל נ

Type Ito be killed

Type ה�ק��טו�לII

to be killedTo summarize, the diagnostic features of the Niphal imperative and infinitive construct are:

1.He prefix2.Hireq vowel beneath the he prefix3.Assimilated nun manifested as a dagesh in the first root consonant4.Qametz vowel beneath the first root consonant

The diagnostic features of the Niphal infinitive absolute are:

Type I1.Nun prefix2.Hireq vowel beneath the nun prefix3.Second root consonant has a full holem vowel

Type IIHe prefix1.Hireq vowel beneath the he prefix2.Assimilated nun manifested as a dagesh in the first root consonant3.Qametz vowel beneath the first root consonant4.Second root consonant has a full holem vowel

PNG Qal NiphalPassive Participle ms �ל ק�טו killing �קט��ל נ being killed

fs �ל�ה קטו killing �קט��ל�ה נ being killed

mp �ל�ים קטו killing �קט��ל�ים נ being killed

fp �לו�ת קטו killing �קט��לו�ת נ being killed

The Niphal does not have an active participle form. This is consistent with the passive meaning of the Niphal verb form.

The Niphal passive participle has a nun prefix with a hireq vowel.

The characteristic suffixes should help you identify the verb as a participle. The nun prefix should help you identify the verb as a Niphal participle.

The Niphal participle has a qamets vowel beneath the second root consonant.

The Niphal masculine singular participle (ל��טק� is most commonly confused with the (נ

Niphal 3ms perfect form (ט�לק� The only difference is the vowel beneath the second .(נroot consonant. Familiarize yourself with these two forms so as to avoid confusion.

To summarize, the diagnostic features of the Niphal participle are:

1.Nun prefix2.Hireq vowel beneath the nun prefix3.Qamets vowel beneath the second root consonant

The diagnostic features of the Niphal perfect are:1.Nun prefix2.Hireq vowel beneath the nun prefix3.Patakh vowel beneath the second root consonant

The diagnostic features of the Niphal infinitive absolute are:

Type I1.Nun prefix2.Hireq vowel beneath the nun prefix3.Second root consonant has a full holem vowel

Type II1.He prefix2.Hireq vowel beneath the he prefix3.Assimilated nun manifested as a dagesh in the first root consonant4.Qametz vowel beneath the first root consonant5.Second root consonant has a full holem vowel

The diagnostic features of the Niphal imperfect are:1.Assimilated nun manifested as a dagesh in the first root consonant2.Hireq vowel beneath the imperfect prefix3.Qametz vowel beneath the first root consonant

The diagnostic features of the Niphal imperative and infinitive construct are:He prefix1.Hireq vowel beneath the he prefix2.Assimilated nun manifested as a dagesh in the first root consonant3.Qametz vowel beneath the first root consonant

The diagnostic features of the Niphal participle are:1.Nun prefix2.Hireq vowel beneath the nun prefix3.Qamets vowel beneath the second root consonant

For I-guttural, notice the tsere beneath the imperfect, imperative, and infinitive construct forms where the Niphal standard has a hireq. Also notice that the I-guttural is missing a dagesh in the first root consonant. Both of these I-guttural traits are a result of compensatory lengthening.

Tip: When you see a tsere beneath the prefix of any verb, check to see if the first root consonant is a guttural. A tsere beneath a verb prefix is usually the result of compensatory lengthening caused by a I-guttural. Once recognized, the standard verb form can be reconstructed to identify the verb.

For the I-guttural and III-guttural imperfect, imperative, and infinitive construct, notice the qamets beneath the second root consonant. This qamets is not impacted by the I-guttural and is one of the diagnostic features studied previously in this lesson for Niphal imperfect, imperative, and infinitive construct verbs.

For the I-guttural perfect and participle, notice the segol vowel beneath the prefixed nun and the khatef segol beneath the first root consonant. This vowel pattern is characteristic of the I-guttural Niphal.

For the I-guttural and III-guttural perfect, notice the presence of the patakh beneath the second root consonant. The patakh is one of the diagnostic features studied previously in this lesson for Niphal perfect verbs.

For the III-gutturals, the replacement of the standard tsere beneath the second root consonant with a patakh is the only change from the standard Niphal. The presence of each of the other diagnostic traits will help you categorize a III-guttural as a Niphal despite the second root guttural vowel change.

I-NunThe nun in the perfect, participle, and one of the infinitive absolutes is the nun prefix of the Niphal form. The first root consonant nun has been assimilated into the second root consonant and appears as a dagesh.

For example: ל�� �צ � or נ ��לת� �צ נ

The other forms (imperfect, imperative, infinitive construct, and one form of the infinitive absolute) retain the first root consonant nun. The Niphal nun prefix is assimilated into first root consonant and appears as a

dagesh. For example: צ�ל�� �ה or ינ ��צ�לנ �נ ת�

I-YodOriginally most I-yod verbs were I-vav. The I-yod reverts to a I-vav in almost all conjugations of the Niphal. For

example: (3ms perfect) נו�ש��ב

The Niphal prefixed nun assimilates into the first root consonant in the imperfect, imperative, infinitive

construct, and infinitive absolute conjugations and appears as a dagesh. For example: ה� ��ש��בנ �ו ת�

III- AlephIn the perfect 3ms and participles, the second root consonant vowel lengthens to a qamets instead of the

standard patakh. For example: (3ms perfect) צ�אמ� נ

In the second person and first person perfect, the second root consonant is a tsere instead of a patakh.

For example: (2ms perfect) צ�את�מ� נOverall the changes are minor to III-aleph Niphal verbs. Most diagnostic features remain, such as the presence of the prefixed nun, actual or assimilated. Identification can still be achieved through recognition of diagnostic features.

III-HeIn the perfect, the second root consonant is either a qamets (3ms) or tsere yod instead of the standard

patakh. For example (2ms perfect) ית�� �בנ �ה or (3ms perfect) נ �בנ נ

It is important to recognize the loss of the III-he in those conjugations with a suffix. Recall lessons 12 and 31 of the Lambdin textbook, where we studied Qal III-he verbs and learned the effects of a suffix on the III-he.

Review III-he characteristics….

standard III-hePerfect 3ms

�קט�ל נ �ה �בנ נ3fs

�קטל�ה נ ת� �בנ נה

2ms� �קט�לת� נ �ית� �בנ נ

2fs �קט�לת� נ �ית �בנ נ

1cs�י �קט�לת� נ �ית� �בנ נ

י3cp � �קטלו נ � �בנו נ

2mp�קט�לת��ם נ �ית� �בנ נ

ם2fp

�ן �קט�לת� נ �ית� �בנ נן

1cp � נקטת�לנו � �ינו �בנ נ