# Chapter 31 — Qal–Piel Contrast Drill (Weak Roots)

*BBH Chapter 31 · Piel Weak Verbs*

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## Instructions

Below are 15 weak-root Piel forms organized in three parts by weak class. For each item:

1. **Translate** the Piel form.
2. **Name the semantic function:** I (Intensive), F (Factitive), D (Declarative), SA (Simple Action), or DN (Denominative).
3. **Compare** with the Qal gloss to see what the Piel adds or changes.

| Code | Function | Diagnostic |
|---|---|---|
| **I** | Intensive | Piel does the Qal action more forcefully, thoroughly, or repeatedly |
| **F** | Factitive | Piel causes an object to enter a state (stative Qal root) |
| **D** | Declarative | Piel pronounces/treats something as being in a state |
| **SA** | Simple Action | No productive Qal; Piel is the primary form |
| **DN** | Denominative | Verb built on a noun; performs the noun's characteristic action |

**Weak root reminder:**
- **I-Guttural:** Gutturals (א ה ח ע) reject dagesh; Piel shows compensatory lengthening or virtual doubling.
- **III-ה:** The final ה of the root drops or transforms; Piel perfect 3ms ends in ָה (qamets-he).
- **I-י / Hollow:** The first root consonant (י) may assimilate or contract; vowel patterns shift accordingly.

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## Part A — I-Guttural Roots (5)

| # | Hebrew | Root | Qal Gloss | Conjugation | Reference | Translation | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | בֵּרַךְ | ברך | to kneel/bless | Perfect 3ms | Gen 1:28 | | |
| 2 | אֵהֵב | אהב | to love | Perfect 3ms | — | | |
| 3 | חִזֵּק | חזק | to be strong | Perfect 3ms | Exo 4:21 | | |
| 4 | עִזֵּב | עזב | to forsake | Perfect 3ms | — | | |
| 5 | עִנָּה | ענה | to answer/respond | Perfect 3ms | — | | |

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## Part B — III-ה Roots (5)

| # | Hebrew | Root | Qal Gloss | Conjugation | Reference | Translation | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | גִּלָּה | גלה | to uncover/go into exile | Perfect 3ms | Gen 35:7 | | |
| 7 | בִּנָּה | בנה | to build | Perfect 3ms | 1 Kgs 6:2 | | |
| 8 | צִוָּה | צוה | (no common Qal) | Perfect 3ms | Gen 2:16 | | |
| 9 | קִנָּה | קנה | to acquire/buy | Perfect 3ms | — | | |
| 10 | כִּלָּה | כלה | to be finished/complete | Perfect 3ms | Gen 2:2 | | |

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## Part C — I-י / Hollow Roots (5)

| # | Hebrew | Root | Qal Gloss | Conjugation | Reference | Translation | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | יִדֵּעַ | ידע | to know | Perfect 3ms | — | | |
| 12 | חִיָּה | חיה | to live/be alive | Perfect 3ms | Gen 47:25 | | |
| 13 | שִׁנָּה | שׁנה | to change/repeat | Perfect 3ms | — | | |
| 14 | שִׁלֵּם | שׁלם | to be complete/at peace | Perfect 3ms | Exo 22:2 | | |
| 15 | כִּנָּה | כנה | (noun כִּנּוּי "title/name") | Perfect 3ms | Isa 45:4 | | |

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## Answer Key

### Part A — I-Guttural Roots

| # | Hebrew | Root | Piel Translation | Function | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | בֵּרַךְ | ברך | he blessed | I | Qal "to kneel" is rare; Piel is the standard word for formal blessing. The gutturals (ר, ב's context) don't affect the paradigm marker here — the ב takes a virtual dagesh. The Piel intensifies the bestowal of divine favor. |
| 2 | אֵהֵב | אהב | he loved (intensively) | I | Qal also means "to love"; Piel = love fervently/passionately. The א (guttural R1) takes a virtual dagesh (compensatory lengthening seen in vowel pattern). |
| 3 | חִזֵּק | חזק | he hardened / made strong | F | Qal = stative "to be strong/hard." Piel causes something to enter that state: "he made hard/firm." Pharaoh's heart was caused to be in a state of hardness. Classic Factitive. |
| 4 | עִזֵּב | עזב | he utterly forsook | I | Qal = "to forsake/leave." Piel = leave completely, abandon thoroughly. The ע (guttural R1) shows virtual doubling. |
| 5 | עִנָּה | ענה | he afflicted / he humbled | F | Qal = stative "to be bowed down/afflicted." Piel = cause to be in a state of affliction or humiliation. Guttural ע at R1 causes virtual doubling / compensatory lengthening. |

### Part B — III-ה Roots

| # | Hebrew | Root | Piel Translation | Function | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | גִּלָּה | גלה | he revealed | I | Qal = uncover, go into exile. Piel = reveal thoroughly, disclose completely. The ה (III-ה root) contracts to ָה in the Piel perfect 3ms. |
| 7 | בִּנָּה | בנה | he built / rebuilt | I | Qal = build. Piel = build thoroughly/completely; often used for comprehensive construction projects. |
| 8 | צִוָּה | צוה | he commanded | SA | No common Qal form. Commanding is the Piel's own primary function. III-ה root: the ה contracts; waw appears as part of the vowel. |
| 9 | קִנָּה | קנה | he acquired thoroughly | I | Qal = to acquire/buy. Piel = thorough or formal acquisition. |
| 10 | כִּלָּה | כלה | he finished / completed | I | Qal = stative "be finished/complete." Piel = bring to completion, finish thoroughly. Often analyzed as Factitive (cause to be complete) or Intensive (finish thoroughly). |

### Part C — I-י / Hollow Roots

| # | Hebrew | Root | Piel Translation | Function | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | יִדֵּעַ | ידע | he made known / declared | D or I | Qal = to know. Piel = cause to know = declare, make known; some analyze as Declarative (pronouncing knowledge) or Intensive (know thoroughly). |
| 12 | חִיָּה | חיה | he kept alive / preserved | F | Qal = stative "to live/be alive." Piel = cause to be alive = preserve, keep alive. Classic Factitive from a stative root. |
| 13 | שִׁנָּה | שׁנה | he changed / altered | I | Qal = to change/repeat. Piel = change thoroughly, alter completely. |
| 14 | שִׁלֵּם | שׁלם | he made restitution / paid fully | I or F | Qal = stative "to be complete/at peace." Piel = cause completion (F) or make payment thoroughly/fully (I). Both analyses occur; legal contexts favor "make full restitution." |
| 15 | כִּנָּה | כנה | he gave a title / assigned a name | DN | Derived from the noun כִּנּוּי ("title, surname"). The Piel performs the noun's characteristic action: to give someone an honorific title or name. |

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### Function Summary

| Part | Items | Functions Present |
|---|---|---|
| A (I-Guttural) | 1–5 | I (×3), F (×2) |
| B (III-ה) | 6–10 | I (×3), SA (×1), I/F (×1) |
| C (I-י / Hollow) | 11–15 | D/I (×1), F (×1), I (×1), I/F (×1), DN (×1) |
