# Chapter 24 — Stem-ID Drill (Strong Roots)

BBH Chapter 24 · Niphal Strong Verbs

For each Hebrew form, identify: (1) Stem (Qal or Niphal), (2) Conjugation, (3) PGN (write — for non-finite), (4) Root.

Note on items 18 & 20: הִשָּׁמֵר is ambiguous — Niphal Imperative 2ms and Niphal Inf. Absolute are identical in form. Both analyses are accepted.

# | Hebrew | Stem | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | קָטַל |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Perfect · 3ms · קטל — The paradigm root; Qal Perfect 3ms is the dictionary form.
2 | נִקְטַל |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Perfect · 3ms · קטל — נִ prefix + patach under second root letter is the Niphal Perfect 3ms signature.
3 | שָׁמַר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Perfect · 3ms · שׁמר — Qamets under first root letter, patach under second: standard Qal Perfect 3ms.
4 | נִשְׁמַר |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Perfect · 3ms · שׁמר — נִ prefix signals Niphal; shewa under shin because nun has closed the syllable before it.
5 | מָכַר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Perfect · 3ms · מכר — to sell.
6 | נִמְכַּר |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Perfect · 3ms · מכר — "he was sold"; dagesh forte in כּ is characteristic of some Niphal Perfect forms with certain roots.
7 | כָּרַת |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Perfect · 3ms · כרת — to cut (a covenant).
8 | נִכְרַת |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Perfect · 3ms · כרת — "he/it was cut off"; common in legal formulas (כָּרֵת penalty).
9 | יִשְׁמֹר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Imperfect · 3ms · שׁמר — יִ prefix + shewa under first root letter + holem (ō) theme vowel = Qal Imperfect.
10 | יִשָּׁמֵר |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Imperfect · 3ms · שׁמר — dagesh forte in שּׁ (assimilated nun from נִ) + tsere (ē) theme vowel = Niphal Imperfect signature.
11 | יִמָּכֵר |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Imperfect · 3ms · מכר — dagesh forte in מּ + qamets + tsere = Niphal Imperfect. "he will be sold."
12 | יִמְכֹּר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Imperfect · 3ms · מכר — shewa under מ (no dagesh), holem theme vowel = Qal Imperfect. "he will sell."
13 | וַיִּשְׁמֹר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · שׁמר — וַיִּ + shewa + holem = Qal Wayyiqtol (waw-consecutive + imperfect).
14 | וַיִּשָּׁמֵר |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · שׁמר — וַיִּ + dagesh forte in שּׁ + tsere = Niphal Wayyiqtol. "and he guarded himself / was guarded."
15 | וַיִּמָּכֵר |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · מכר — dagesh forte in מּ + tsere = Niphal Wayyiqtol. "and he was sold" (Gen 37:36).
16 | וַיִּמְכֹּר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · מכר — no dagesh in מ, holem theme vowel = Qal Wayyiqtol. "and he sold."
17 | שְׁמֹר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Imperative · 2ms · שׁמר — shewa under first root letter, holem theme vowel; no prefix. "Keep! / Guard!"
18 | הִשָּׁמֵר |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Imperative 2ms or Inf. Absolute · 2ms / — · שׁמר — הִ prefix + dagesh forte in שּׁ + tsere: these two Niphal forms are identical. Context determines which is intended. "Watch out! / Beware!" (Deut 6:12).
19 | שָׁמוֹר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Inf. Absolute · — · שׁמר — Qamets under first root letter, ō (vav) vowel letter in second syllable = Qal Inf. Absolute pattern.
20 | הִשָּׁמֵר |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Inf. Absolute or Imperative 2ms · — / 2ms · שׁמר — Same form as #18. Both analyses are correct; see context.
21 | הִנָּתֵן |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Inf. Absolute · — · נתן — הִ prefix; the I-נ root's nun assimilates into the following נּ via dagesh forte. "to be given."
22 | נָתוֹן |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Inf. Absolute · — · נתן — Qamets under first root letter, ō (vav) vowel letter = Qal Inf. Absolute. "to give."
23 | שֹׁמֵר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Participle · ms · שׁמר — Holem under first root letter, tsere under second = Qal Active Participle ms. "one who keeps / a guard."
24 | נִשְׁמָר |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Participle · ms · שׁמר — נִ prefix + qamets under second root letter = Niphal Participle ms. "one being kept / guarded."