# Chapter 24 — "Qal–Niphal Contrast Drill"

*Comparing the active Qal with its passive/reflexive/middle Niphal counterpart*

---

## Instructions

Each item below gives you a root with its **Qal meaning** and an attested **Niphal form** from the OT. For each one:

1. **Translate** the Niphal form in context.
2. **Name the semantic function:** Passive / Reflexive / Simple action.
3. **Explain in one sentence** how the Niphal meaning follows from (or diverges from) the Qal.

An answer key is at the bottom.

---

## Part A — Transitive Roots (Qal acts on an object)

These roots take a direct object in the Qal. The Niphal turns the object into the subject — the classic passive pattern.

| # | Root | Qal Meaning | Niphal Form | Reference | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | מָכַר | to sell | וַיִּמָּכֵר | Gen 37:36 | "and Joseph \_\_\_\_ into Egypt" |
| 2 | מָצָא | to find | יִמָּצֵא | Gen 44:9 | "whichever servant \_\_\_\_ [with the cup] shall die" |
| 3 | שָׁמַע | to hear | נִשְׁמַע | Gen 45:16 | "And the report \_\_\_\_ in Pharaoh's house" |
| 4 | אָסַף | to gather | וַיֵּאָסֶף | Gen 49:33 | "and he \_\_\_\_ to his people" |
| 5 | כָּרַת | to cut off | וְנִכְרְתָה | Exo 12:15 | "that person \_\_\_\_ from Israel" |
| 6 | נָתַן | to give | נִתְּנוּ | Gen 9:2 | "they are \_\_\_\_ into your hand" |
| 7 | אָכַל | to eat | יֵאָכֵל | Exo 12:46 | "it shall \_\_\_\_" (the Passover lamb) |
| 8 | שָׁמַר | to keep / guard | הִשָּׁמְרוּ | Exo 19:12 | "\_\_\_\_ for yourselves!" (guard yourselves) |

---

## Part B — Stative / Intransitive Roots

These roots describe states. Their Niphal expresses the subject coming into or remaining in a state, or placing itself in a position.

| # | Root | Qal Meaning | Niphal Form | Reference | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | נָצַב | to be stationed, stand | נִצָּבָה | Gen 37:7 | "and my sheaf \_\_\_\_ upright" |
| 10 | יָתַר | to remain, be left over | וַיִּוָּתֵר | Gen 44:20 | "and he alone \_\_\_\_" |
| 11 | שָׁאַר | to remain, be left | נִשְׁאַר | Exo 14:28 | "not one \_\_\_\_ of them" |

---

## Part C — Roots with No Standard Qal

These roots occur almost exclusively in the Niphal. The Niphal form *is* the standard lexical entry.

| # | Root | Qal Meaning | Niphal Form | Reference | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | לָחַם | (to eat — rare) | הִלָּחֵם | Exo 17:9 | "\_\_\_\_ against Amalek!" |
| 13 | נָחַם | — | וַיִּנָּחֶם | Gen 6:6 | "And the LORD \_\_\_\_" |
| 14 | שָׁבַע | (to seven / make complete) | הִשָּׁבְעָה | Gen 47:31 | "\_\_\_\_ to me!" |

---

## Answer Key

| # | Translation | Function | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "and Joseph was sold into Egypt" | Passive | The Qal act of selling (מָכַר) becomes a state experienced by Joseph — he receives the action. |
| 2 | "whichever servant is found [with the cup]" | Passive | The Qal finds something; Niphal: the cup is discovered (the object becomes subject). |
| 3 | "And the report was heard" | Passive | The Qal hears sound; Niphal: the report receives the hearing — it becomes audible. |
| 4 | "and he was gathered to his people" | Passive | The Qal gathers people; Niphal: Jacob is gathered in (the euphemism for death — he receives the action of being brought in). |
| 5 | "that person will be cut off from Israel" | Passive | The Qal cuts; Niphal: the person is cut off — covenant exclusion passive. |
| 6 | "they are given into your hand" | Passive | The Qal gives; Niphal: the animals are placed under human authority. |
| 7 | "it shall be eaten" | Passive | The Qal eats; Niphal: the lamb is consumed — ritual passive in Passover legislation. |
| 8 | "Take heed for yourselves!" | Reflexive | שָׁמַר Qal = guard something; Niphal = guard yourself, take heed. The subject directs the guarding action back on itself. |
| 9 | "and my sheaf stood upright" | Reflexive | נָצַב Niphal: the sheaf stations itself — places itself in the standing position. |
| 10 | "and he alone was left" | Passive/Middle | יָתַר Niphal: he remained — the state of being-left-over fell upon him; shades into middle (it happened to him). |
| 11 | "not one of them remained" | Middle | שָׁאַר Niphal: the soldiers remained (were left in a state of survival) — middle/stative nuance. |
| 12 | "Fight against Amalek!" | Simple action | לָחַם has no standard Qal; Niphal = "fight" with no separate passive or reflexive force. The stem is the base form. |
| 13 | "And the LORD regretted / relented" | Simple action | נָחַם Niphal = "to regret, relent, be comforted." No standard Qal counterpart; this is the basic lexical form. |
| 14 | "Swear to me!" | Reflexive | שָׁבַע Qal is very rare; Niphal = bind oneself by oath. The subject performs the oath-binding on/for itself. |

---

## Reflection Questions

1. Items 9–11 all involve verbs of position or remaining (נָצַב, יָתַר, שָׁאַר). How does "reflexive" vs. "middle" vs. "passive" help explain the subtle difference in agency across these three?
2. לָחַם (item 12) and נָחַם (item 13) are both "lexical Niphal" roots — they have no functioning Qal. How does a student recognize this in lexicon work? What should they look for in a dictionary entry?
3. שָׁמַר appears in both Part A (as passive: something is kept/guarded) and here in Part B as reflexive (guard yourself). Look up שָׁמַר Niphal in a lexicon: does the lexicon list both meanings? How does context help you choose?
