# Chapter 24 — Qal–Niphal Contrast Drill

BBH Chapter 24 · Niphal Strong Verbs

For each Niphal form below: (1) translate it into English, (2) name the semantic function (Passive / Reflexive / Simple Action), and (3) explain in one sentence how the Niphal meaning relates to the Qal.

## Part A — Transitive Roots (Qal acts on an object)

These roots take a direct object in the Qal. The Niphal turns the object into the subject — the classic passive pattern.

# | Root | Qal Meaning | Niphal Form | Ref | Translation | Function |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | מָכַר | to sell | וַיִּמָּכֵר (Wayyiqtol 3ms) | Gen 37:36 |  |  |
he was sold into Egypt — Passive — The object of selling (Joseph) becomes the subject; Qal "to sell" → Niphal "to be sold"
2 | מָצָא | to find | יִמָּצֵא (Imperfect 3ms) | Gen 44:9 |  |  |
is found (with the cup) — Passive — The thing found becomes the subject; Qal "to find" → Niphal "to be found"
3 | שָׁמַע | to hear | נִשְׁמַע (Perfect 3ms) | Gen 45:16 |  |  |
was heard (in Pharaoh's house) — Passive — The report receives the hearing; Qal "to hear" → Niphal "to be heard / become audible"
4 | אָסַף | to gather | וַיֵּאָסֶף (Wayyiqtol 3ms) | Gen 49:33 |  |  |
was gathered to his people — Passive — Jacob receives the action of being gathered in; Qal "to gather" → Niphal "to be gathered" (euphemism for dying)
5 | כָּרַת | to cut off | וְנִכְרְתָה (Weqatal 3fs) | Exo 12:15 |  |  |
will be cut off from Israel — Passive — The person receives the covenant-exclusion penalty; Qal "to cut off" → Niphal "to be cut off"
6 | נָתַן | to give | נִתְּנוּ (Perfect 3mp) | Gen 9:2 |  |  |
they are given into your hand — Passive — The animals receive the action of being given/placed; Qal "to give" → Niphal "to be given"
7 | אָכַל | to eat | יֵאָכֵל (Imperfect 3ms) | Exo 12:46 |  |  |
it shall be eaten — Passive — The Passover lamb receives the action of eating; Qal "to eat" → Niphal "to be eaten"
8 | שָׁמַר | to keep / guard | הִשָּׁמְרוּ (Imperative 2mp) | Exo 19:12 |  |  |
take heed for yourselves! — Reflexive — Guard yourself; the subject directs the keeping action back on itself; Qal "to guard something" → Niphal "to guard oneself / take heed"

## Part B — Stative / Intransitive Roots

These roots describe states. Their Niphal expresses the subject coming into or remaining in a state, or placing itself in a position.

# | Root | Qal Meaning | Niphal Form | Ref | Translation | Function |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
9 | נָצַב | to be stationed, stand | נִצָּבָה (Perfect 3fs) | Gen 37:7 |  |  |
it stood upright — Reflexive — The sheaf stations itself in the standing position; it acts on itself
10 | יָתַר | to remain, be left over | וַיִּוָּתֵר (Wayyiqtol 3ms) | Gen 44:20 |  |  |
he alone was left — Passive/Middle — The state of being-left-over fell upon him; shades toward middle (it happened to him)
11 | שָׁאַר | to remain, be left | נִשְׁאַר (Perfect 3ms) | Exo 14:28 |  |  |
not one of them remained — Middle — The soldiers were in the state of having been left; stative/middle nuance

## Part C — Roots with No Standard Qal

These roots occur almost exclusively in the Niphal. The Niphal form is the standard lexical entry.

# | Root | Qal Situation | Niphal Form | Ref | Translation | Function |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
12 | לָחַם | no standard Qal | הִלָּחֵם (Imperative 2ms) | Exo 17:9 |  |  |
fight against Amalek! — Simple action — Niphal is the base form; "to fight" is the standard meaning with no causative or passive layer
13 | נָחַם | no standard Qal | וַיִּנָּחֶם (Wayyiqtol 3ms) | Gen 6:6 |  |  |
the LORD regretted / relented — Simple action — Niphal is the base form; to regret / relent / be comforted is the standard Niphal meaning
14 | שָׁבַע | to seven / complete (rare) | הִשָּׁבְעָה (Imperative 2ms) | Gen 47:31 |  |  |
swear to me! — Reflexive — The subject binds himself by oath; שָׁבַע Niphal = to bind oneself by oath; reflexive force is clear

## Discussion Questions

1. For the transitive roots in Part A, describe the pattern in one sentence: what does the Niphal consistently do to the Qal meaning?
2. Items 9–11 all involve verbs of position or remaining (נָצַב, יָתַר, שָׁאַר). How does "reflexive" vs. "middle" vs. "passive" help explain the subtle difference in agency across these three?
3. לָחַם (item 12) and נָחַם (item 13) are both "lexical Niphal" roots. How does a student recognize this in lexicon work? What should they look for in a dictionary entry?