# Chapter 25 — Qal–Niphal Contrast Drill (Weak Roots)

*Comparing the active Qal with its passive/reflexive/stative Niphal counterpart in weak roots*

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## Instructions

Each item gives you a weak root with its Qal meaning, a Niphal form with conjugation, and a reference or context. For each one:

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

An answer key is at the bottom.

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## Part A — I-נ Roots (5 items)

| # | Root | Qal Meaning | Niphal Form | Conj | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | נפל | to fall | יִפָּל | Imperfect 3ms | Gen 14:10 |
| 2 | נגש | to approach | נִגַּשׁ | Perfect 3ms | — |
| 3 | נגד | to tell | הִגָּד | Inf. Absolute | — |
| 4 | נגע | to touch | נִגַּע | Perfect 3ms | — |
| 5 | נכה | to strike | יִנָּכֶה | Imperfect 3ms | Exo 21:20 |

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## Part B — III-ה Roots (5 items)

| # | Root | Qal Meaning | Niphal Form | Conj | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | גלה | to uncover, reveal | נִגְלָה | Perfect 3ms | Gen 35:7 |
| 7 | עלה | to go up, ascend | נַעֲלָה | Perfect 3ms | — |
| 8 | ראה | to see | נִרְאָה | Perfect 3ms | Gen 12:7 |
| 9 | בנה | to build | יִבָּנֶה | Imperfect 3ms | — |
| 10 | עשׂה | to do, make | נַעֲשָׂה | Perfect 3ms | Gen 20:9 |

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## Part C — Hollow Roots (5 items)

| # | Root | Qal Meaning | Niphal Form | Conj | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | קום | to rise, stand up | נָקוֹם | Perfect 3ms | — |
| 12 | כון | to be firm, established | נָכוֹן | Perfect 3ms | Psa 103:19 |
| 13 | שׁים | to place, set | יִשָּׂם | Imperfect 3ms | — |
| 14 | בוא | to come, go in | נָבוֹא | Perfect 1cp | Num 32:9 |
| 15 | שׁוב | to return | נָשׁוּב | Perfect 3ms | — |

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## Answer Key

### Part A — I-נ Roots

| # | Translation | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | he fell (into the tar pits) | Simple Action | I-נ Niphal imperfect: root nun assimilates → dagesh forte in פּ (יִפָּל). The Niphal is the standard form for "fall" in many contexts. |
| 2 | he approached | Simple Action | Niphal of נגש often carries the simple intransitive sense of drawing near. |
| 3 | to be told | Passive | הִגָּד is the Niphal inf. absolute of נגד; הִ prefix + dagesh forte in גּ (assimilated nun). "being told / to be declared." |
| 4 | he was touched | Passive | Niphal of נגע: the subject receives the touch. |
| 5 | he shall be struck / beaten | Passive | Exo 21:20 — legal context (striking a servant). Niphal imperfect with dagesh forte in כּ (assimilated nun). |

### Part B — III-ה Roots

| # | Translation | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | it/God was revealed / he revealed himself | Passive or Reflexive | Gen 35:7 — "God was revealed to him" or "revealed himself"; the ambiguity is intentional in Niphal. |
| 7 | he went up / ascended | Simple Action | Niphal of עלה sometimes overlaps with Qal meaning. Note the patach-furtive under the ע (III-ה + guttural). |
| 8 | he appeared / was seen | Passive/Reflexive | Gen 12:7 — "The LORD appeared to Abram"; classic Niphal of appearance. |
| 9 | it will be built | Passive | Niphal imperfect of בנה; dagesh forte in בּ + ֶה ending. |
| 10 | what has been done (to me) | Passive | Gen 20:9 — "What have you done to me?" / "what has been done." Patach-furtive before ה. |

### Part C — Hollow Roots

| # | Translation | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | it was established / raised up | Passive | Niphal of קום; the hollow root's characteristic long ō vowel is preserved in the Niphal perfect (נָקוֹם). |
| 12 | it is firm / established | Stative Niphal | Psa 103:19 — "his throne is established." The Niphal of כון is nearly always stative, expressing a state of being fixed or ready. |
| 13 | it will be placed / set | Passive | Niphal imperfect of שׁים; note the sin (שׁ→שׂ) and dagesh forte in שּׂ. |
| 14 | we went / came | Simple Action | Num 32:9 — "they went up." Niphal of בוא often functions as a simple intransitive of movement. |
| 15 | it was brought back / returned | Passive or Simple Action | Niphal of שׁוב; the hollow root preserves the ū vowel (נָשׁוּב). Context determines passive vs. simple intransitive. |
