# Chapter 31 — "Spot the Piel Weak" Passage Exercise

**Stem:** Piel (פִּעֵל) — Weak Verbs
**Passages:** Gen 2–3 + Gen 6 + Gen 18:19 + Exo 1:17 (Command, life) · Gen 16:6 + Deu 8:2–3 (Humbling) · Amos 3:7 + Gen 50:16 + Deu 8:1 + Gen 39:1 (Revelation, command)

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## Instructions

For each bolded verb, indicate:

1. **Piel?** (Yes / No — is it the Piel stem?)
2. **Conjugation** (Perfect, Imperfect, Wayyiqtol, Weqatal, Imperative, Inf. Construct, Participle)
3. **PGN** (Person–Gender–Number)
4. **Root** (3-letter root, unvoweled)
5. **Stem / Function** (if Piel: Intensive / Factitive / Denominative / Declarative; if not: name the stem — Qal, Niphal, Hiphil, or Hophal)

*Three verbs in this exercise are not Piel — drawn from Hiphil and Hophal already studied. Focus: Piel weak verbs with III-ה roots lose the final ה in some conjugations. The key marker remains the Piel vowel pattern: i-class vowel under R1 + dagesh forte in R2 (where possible).*

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## Passage A — Genesis 2:16; 3:11, 17

*Context: The LORD commands and questions in the garden.*

> וַיְצַו יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים עַל־הָאָדָם לֵאמֹר מִכֹּל עֵץ הַגָּן **אָכֹל תֹּאכֵל**

"And the LORD God **commanded** the man, saying, 'You may freely eat from every tree of the garden…'" (Gen 2:16)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וַיְצַו | | | | | |

---

> וַיֹּאמֶר הָאָדָם הָאִשָּׁה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה עִמָּדִי הִוא נָתְנָה לִי מִן הָעֵץ **וָאֹכֵל** — **הֲמִן הָעֵץ אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיךָ (2)** לְבִלְתִּי אֲכָל מִמֶּנּוּ אָכָלְתָּ

"…'Have you eaten from the tree of which **I commanded you** not to eat?'" (Gen 3:11)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | צִוִּיתִיךָ | | | | | |

---

> כִּי שָׁמַעְתָּ לְקוֹל אִשְׁתֶּךָ וַתֹּאכַל מִן הָעֵץ **אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיךָ (3)** לֵאמֹר לֹא תֹאכַל מִמֶּנּוּ

"'…because you listened to the voice of your wife and ate of the tree about which **I commanded you**…'" (Gen 3:17)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | צִוִּיתִיךָ | | | | | |

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## Passage B — Genesis 6:18–20 + 18:19 + Exodus 1:17

*Context: God commands Noah; Abraham is chosen to command his household; the midwives keep alive.*

> וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת בְּרִיתִי אִתָּךְ — **לְהַחֲיוֹת (4)** אִתָּךְ **מִכֹּל חַי מִכֹּל בָּשָׂר שְׁנַיִם מִכֹּל תָּבִיא אֶל הַתֵּבָה**

"…and I will establish my covenant with you… **to keep alive** with you…" (Gen 6:18–19)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | לְהַחֲיוֹת | | | | | |

---

> **חִיָּה (5)** אֶת אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ

"**Keep alive** what is on the earth." (Gen 6:19 — Piel imperative sense in context)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | חִיָּה | | | | | |

---

> כִּי **יְדַעְתִּיו** לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר **יְצַוֶּה (6)** אֶת בָּנָיו וְאֶת בֵּיתוֹ אַחֲרָיו

"For I know him, so that he **will command** his sons and his household after him…" (Gen 18:19)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | יְצַוֶּה | | | | | |

---

> **וְחַיּוּ (7)** אֶת יַלְדֵי הַנָּשִׁים הָעִבְרִיּוֹת

"…and **they kept alive** the male children of the Hebrew women." (Exo 1:17 — the midwives)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | וַיְחַיּוּ | | | | | |

---

## Passage C — Genesis 16:6 + Deuteronomy 8:2–3

*Context: Hagar is afflicted; Israel is humbled in the wilderness.*

> וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָם אֶל שָׂרַי הִנֵּה שִׁפְחָתֵךְ בְּיָדֵךְ עֲשִׂי לָהּ הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינַיִךְ וַתְּעַנֶּהָ שָׂרַי וַתִּבְרַח מִפָּנֶיהָ — *see below*

> **עִנָּה (8)** אֹתָהּ שָׂרַי

"Sarai **afflicted / humbled** her." (Gen 16:6)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | עִנָּה | | | | | |

---

> וְזָכַרְתָּ אֶת כָּל הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר הֹלִיכְךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ זֶה אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה בַּמִּדְבָּר לְמַעַן **עַנֹּתְךָ (9)** לְנַסֹּתְךָ

"…to humble you and to test you…" (Deu 8:2)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | עַנֹּתְךָ | | | | | |

---

> וַיְעַנְּךָ וַיַּרְעִבֶךָ וַיַּאֲכִלְךָ אֶת הַמָּן — **לְמַעַן הוֹדִיעֲךָ (10)** כִּי לֹא עַל הַלֶּחֶם לְבַדּוֹ יִחְיֶה הָאָדָם

"…and he fed you manna **in order to make you know** that man does not live by bread alone." (Deu 8:3)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | הוֹדִיעֲךָ | | | | | |

---

> **יְעַנֶּה (11)** יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֹתְךָ בַּמִּדְבָּר

"The LORD your God **will humble** you in the wilderness." (Deu 8:2 parallel)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | יְעַנֶּה | | | | | |

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## Passage D — Amos 3:7 + Genesis 50:16 + Deuteronomy 8:1 + Genesis 39:1

*Context: God reveals; Israel is commanded to observe.*

> כִּי לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה דָּבָר כִּי אִם **גִּלָּה (12)** סוֹדוֹ אֶל עֲבָדָיו הַנְּבִיאִים

"For the Lord GOD does nothing without **revealing** his secret to his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | גִּלָּה | | | | | |

---

> **וַיְצַוּוּ (13)** אֶל יוֹסֵף לֵאמֹר אָבִיךָ צִוָּה לִפְנֵי מוֹתוֹ לֵאמֹר

"They **sent a command** to Joseph, saying, 'Your father gave orders before his death…'" (Gen 50:16)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | וַיְצַוּוּ | | | | | |

---

> כָּל הַמִּצְוָה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי **מְצַוְּךָ (14)** הַיּוֹם תִּשְׁמְרוּן לַעֲשׂוֹת

"All the commandment that I **am commanding you** today, you shall be careful to do." (Deu 8:1)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | מְצַוְּךָ | | | | | |

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> **הוּבָא (15)** יוֹסֵף מִצְרָיְמָה

"**Joseph was brought** to Egypt." (Gen 39:1 — same form as ch29 exercise, included as cross-stem review)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | הוּבָא | | | | | |

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## Reflection Questions

1. All target-stem verbs in this exercise come from III-ה roots. In the Piel Perfect 3ms (verbs 7 and 10), the final ה appears as the long vowel pattern ָה (Qamets-He). In the Imperfect 3ms (verbs 5 and 9), the pattern ends in ֶּה (tsere-He, with dagesh in R2). What form-rule governs this alternation? How does the Piel pattern differ from the Qal for the same root classes?

2. Verbs 2 and 3 are both forms of צוה (Piel Perf. 1cs + 2ms object suffix). How does the object suffix affect the form, and what rule about R2 (ו of III-ה roots) applies in the Piel Perfect? Can you spot where the vowel contraction occurs?

3. Distractor 4 (לְהַחֲיוֹת) is Hiphil Inf. Construct of חיה, while verbs 5 and 7 are Piel of the same root. Compare: Hiphil לְהַחֲיוֹת ("to keep alive" — causative) vs. Piel חִיָּה ("kept alive" — intensive/factitive). What is the diagnostic morphological difference that tells you one is Hiphil and the other is Piel?

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## Answer Key

**Score: 12 Piel + 3 non-Piel = 15 total**

**Conjugation coverage:**
- Wayyiqtol (3): #1, #7, #13
- Perfect (5): #2, #3, #5, #8, #12
- Imperfect (2): #6, #11
- Inf. Construct (1): #9
- Participle (1): #14
- Non-Piel (3): #4 (Hiphil Inf. Const.), #10 (Hiphil Inf. Const. + suffix), #15 (Hophal Perfect 3ms)

| # | Verb | Piel? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וַיְצַו | Yes | Wayyiqtol | 3ms | צוה | Piel — Denominative (from מִצְוָה); III-ה apocopated in Wayyiqtol: וַיְצַו |
| 2 | צִוִּיתִיךָ | Yes | Perfect | 1cs + 2ms obj. | צוה | Piel — Denominative; III-ה: ו contraction in Pf. + 2ms suffix; "I commanded you" |
| 3 | צִוִּיתִיךָ | Yes | Perfect | 1cs + 2ms obj. | צוה | Piel — Denominative; same form as #2, repeated in different literary context |
| 4 | לְהַחֲיוֹת | No | Inf. Construct | — | חיה | NOT Piel — Hiphil Inf. Const. of חיה (III-ה); לְהַ- prefix = Hiphil marker; "to keep alive" (causative) |
| 5 | חִיָּה | Yes | Perfect | 3ms | חיה | Piel — Factitive; III-ה root: Piel Pf. 3ms = חִיָּה (Hireq under R1 + dagesh in R2 + ָה); "kept alive" |
| 6 | יְצַוֶּה | Yes | Imperfect | 3ms | צוה | Piel — Denominative; III-ה Impf. 3ms: יְ prefix + patach under R1 + dagesh forte in צּ + tsere-He ending |
| 7 | וַיְחַיּוּ | Yes | Wayyiqtol | 3mp | חיה | Piel — Factitive; III-ה Wayyiqtol 3mp: וַיְ + חַ + יּ (dagesh forte in yod) + וּ suffix; "they kept alive" |
| 8 | עִנָּה | Yes | Perfect | 3ms | ענה | Piel — Factitive; III-ה root ענה; Hireq under ע + dagesh forte in נּ + ָה; "she afflicted/humbled" |
| 9 | עַנֹּתְךָ | Yes | Inf. Construct | — + 2ms suffix | ענה | Piel — Factitive; III-ה Inf. Const. with 2ms suffix: לְעַנֹּתְךָ (patach under ע + dagesh in נּ); "to humble you" |
| 10 | הוֹדִיעֲךָ | No | Inf. Construct | — + 2ms suffix | ידע | NOT Piel — Hiphil Inf. Const. of ידע (I-י); הוֹ- prefix = Hiphil marker; "to make known / to cause to know" |
| 11 | יְעַנֶּה | Yes | Imperfect | 3ms | ענה | Piel — Factitive; III-ה Impf. 3ms: יְ prefix + patach under ע + dagesh forte in נּ + tsere-He; "will humble" |
| 12 | גִּלָּה | Yes | Perfect | 3ms | גלה | Piel — Declarative/Intensive; III-ה root גלה: Hireq under ג + dagesh forte in לּ + ָה; "revealed" |
| 13 | וַיְצַוּוּ | Yes | Wayyiqtol | 3mp | צוה | Piel — Denominative; Wayyiqtol 3mp of צוה III-ה: וַיְ + צַ + וּ (3mp ending); "they commanded/sent word" |
| 14 | מְצַוְּךָ | Yes | Participle | ms + 2ms obj. | צוה | Piel — Denominative; Piel Ptc. ms with 2ms suffix: מְ prefix + patach under צ + dagesh in וּ; "commanding you" |
| 15 | הוּבָא | No | Perfect | 3ms | בוא | NOT Piel — Hophal Pf. 3ms of I-י root בוא; הוּ prefix (u-class) = Hophal; "was brought" |

> **Notes on distractors:**
> - **4 לְהַחֲיוֹת** is Hiphil Inf. Construct of חיה. The לְהַ- prefix marks Hiphil (not Piel). Piel Inf. Const. of חיה would be לְחַיּוֹת (no הַ- prefix).
> - **10 הוֹדִיעֲךָ** is Hiphil Inf. Const. of ידע (I-י). The הוֹ- (Holem-Vav) prefix marks Hiphil; Piel of ידע is extremely rare and has different morphology.
> - **15 הוּבָא** is Hophal Perfect 3ms of בוא. The הוּ- (Shureq) prefix marks Hophal (u-class vowel), not Piel (i-class vowel under R1 + dagesh forte in R2).
> - Verb **#1 וַיְצַו** is the apocopated Piel Wayyiqtol 3ms of צוה: the III-ה drops in the Wayyiqtol, yielding וַיְצַו instead of *וַיְצַוֶּה. Compare with the full imperfect form in #6 (יְצַוֶּה).
