# Chapter 35 — Qal / Piel / Hithpael Contrast Drill (Weak Roots)

BBH Chapter 35 · Hithpael Weak Verbs

Each group of three shares the same weak root. For each form: (1) identify the stem, (2) identify the weak class, (3) describe how the weakness affects the form, (4) translate. Type your answers, then click ▶ Answer to check.

Weak Class | Signal | Hithpael effect
--- | --- | ---
III-ה | Perfect 3ms ends ָ–ה; wayyiqtol drops ה | הִתְ prefix + Qamets + ה at end
Sibilant שׁ/שׂ/ס | R1 is a sibilant | הִתְ + שׁ → הִשְׁתְּ (ת and שׁ swap)
Sibilant צ | R1 is צ | הִתְ + צ → הִצְטְ (ת → ט, then swap)
Geminate | R2 = R3 | הִתְ prefix + Dagesh in R2/R3 retained

Tip: III-ה: look for Qamets + ה at the end. Sibilant metathesis: the ת of the Hithpael prefix appears after R1, not before. Geminate: the doubled consonant (R2 = R3) still takes Dagesh Forte in Hithpael.

# | Hebrew | Stem | Weak Class | Weakness Effect | Translation |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Group 1 — Root: גלה (III-ה: to uncover / go into exile)
1 | גָּלָה |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Perfect 3ms · III-ה · R3 (ה) appears as Qamets + ה (ָ–ה) ending · "he went into exile / uncovered"
2 | גִּלָּה |  |  |  |  |
Piel · Perfect 3ms · III-ה · Dagesh in R2 (לּ); R3 ends as Qamets + ה · "he revealed"
3 | הִתְגַּלָּה |  |  |  |  |
Hithpael · Perfect 3ms · III-ה · הִתְ prefix + Dagesh in R2 + Qamets + ה at end (R3-ה preserved in Hithpael perfect) · "he revealed himself"
Group 2 — Root: שׁמר (sibilant R1: to keep / guard)
4 | שָׁמַר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Perfect 3ms · sibilant R1 (שׁ) · No change in Qal — sibilant metathesis only affects the Hithpael prefix · "he kept / guarded"
5 | שִׁמֵּר |  |  |  |  |
Piel · Perfect 3ms · sibilant R1 (שׁ) · No change in Piel · "he carefully kept / watched over"
6 | הִשְׁתַּמֵּר |  |  |  |  |
Hithpael · Perfect 3ms · sibilant metathesis · הִתְ + שׁ → ת and שׁ swap: הִשְׁתְּ (not *הִתְשְׁ); Dagesh in R2 retained · "he kept himself / was on guard"
Group 3 — Root: צדק (sibilant צ with assimilation: to be righteous)
7 | צָדַק |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Perfect 3ms · sibilant R1 (צ) · No change in Qal · "he was righteous"
8 | צִדֵּק |  |  |  |  |
Piel · Perfect 3ms · sibilant R1 (צ) · No change in Piel · "he declared righteous / justified"
9 | הִצְטַדֵּק |  |  |  |  |
Hithpael · Perfect 3ms · sibilant metathesis + dental assimilation · הִתְ + צ: ת assimilates to ט (both are dentals) and then swaps with צ → הִצְטְ; Dagesh in R2 retained · "he justified himself"
Group 4 — Root: הלל (geminate: to shine / praise)
10 | הָלַל |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Perfect 3ms · geminate (R2 = R3 = ל) · Both radicals appear fully in Qal perfect 3ms; no contraction · "he shone / praised" (rare in Qal)
11 | הִלֵּל |  |  |  |  |
Piel · Perfect 3ms · geminate · Dagesh Forte in R2 (= R3): לּ · Tsere under R1; the geminate R3 cannot take Dagesh separately so R2 carries it · "he praised"
12 | הִתְהַלֵּל |  |  |  |  |
Hithpael · Perfect 3ms · geminate · הִתְ prefix + Dagesh Forte in R2/R3 (לּ) → הִתְהַלֵּל; no metathesis (ה is not a sibilant) · "he boasted / praised himself"
Group 5 — Root: ענה (III-ה: to answer / afflict)
13 | עָנָה |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Perfect 3ms · III-ה · R3 (ה) appears as Qamets + ה ending · "he answered"
14 | עִנָּה |  |  |  |  |
Piel · Perfect 3ms · III-ה · Dagesh in R2 (נּ); R3 ends as Qamets + ה; Hireq under R1 → Piel III-ה perfect · "he afflicted"
15 | הִתְעַנָּה |  |  |  |  |
Hithpael · Perfect 3ms · III-ה · הִתְ prefix + Dagesh in R2 (נּ) + Qamets + ה at end; no metathesis (ע is a guttural, not a sibilant) · "he afflicted himself / fasted"

## Discussion Questions

1. In Group 2, the Qal and Piel of שׁמר are unchanged from the strong pattern, but the Hithpael הִשְׁתַּמֵּר looks dramatically different. Why does sibilant metathesis affect only the Hithpael?
2. Compare the metathesis forms הִשְׁתַּמֵּר (Group 2) and הִצְטַדֵּק (Group 3). What additional change occurs with the צ root that does not occur with the שׁ root?
3. In Group 4, the Piel הִלֵּל begins with הִ–, which looks like a Hiphil or Hithpael prefix. How do you distinguish Piel הִלֵּל from Hiphil or Hithpael forms?
4. Both Groups 1 and 5 are III-ה roots. Compare the Piel forms גִּלָּה and עִנָּה. What is the same and what is different? What causes the difference in R2 pointing?