# BBH Chapter 31 — Piel Weak Verbs (פִּעֵל)

## Files

### Exercises

Exercise | Description
--- | ---
exercises/ch31-passage-exercise/ | Passage exercise — identify and parse Piel Weak verbs in context (Gen 2–3, Gen 6, Gen 18:19, Gen 16:6, Deu 8:2–3, Amos 3:7, Gen 50:16)
exercises/ch31-weak-form-id/ | Weak-form identification drill — parse 20 weak Piel forms grouped by weak class (I-gutt, III-he, Geminate, I-nun) + 10 mixed
exercises/ch31-function-sort/ | Semantic function sorting — Piel Weak verbs by function type
exercises/ch31-piel-weak-paradigm-drill/ | Paradigm drill — write selected Piel Weak forms for גלה (III-ה) from memory
exercises/ch31-qal-piel-contrast/ | Qal vs. Piel contrast drill (weak roots)
exercises/ch31-stem-id-drill/ | Stem identification drill — Qal/Niphal/Piel weak roots

### Flashcards

File | Format | Description
--- | --- | ---
ch31-vocab-deck.md | Markdown | 12-word vocabulary deck — 12 nouns
ch31-vocab-deck.txt | Anki import | Vocabulary deck — tab-separated, ready for Anki File → Import (12 cards)
ch31-vocab-deck-fd.txt | Flashcards Deluxe | Vocabulary deck — tab-separated, ready for Flashcards Deluxe import (12 cards)

### Notebooks

Notebook | What it shows
--- | ---
Piel Stem | Piel stem: root×conjugation heatmap; weak root behavior in the intensive

Basics of Biblical Hebrew, Pratico & Van Pelt, Chapter 31
Builds on Ch30 (Piel Strong Verbs). Weak forms only — semantic functions (Intensive, Factitive, Declarative, Denominative) not repeated.

> Scope: This chapter extends the Piel paradigm to eight weak-root classes. In every class the
> Dagesh Forte in R2 remains the defining Piel marker — what changes is the vowel pattern
> surrounding R2, driven by the phonological properties of the weak radical. Recognize the rule;
> the form follows.

## 1. The Eight Weak Classes — Overview

Class | Label | Representative roots | What changes | Key conjugations affected
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
I-guttural (Pe-Guttural) | `pe-guttural` | עָנָה, חָזַק | Guttural rejects simple shewa → composite shewa (hateph); vowel before R1 adjusts; dagesh in R2 intact | Perfect, imperfect, all
III-ח/ע (Lamed-Guttural) | `lamed-guttural` | שָׁלַח, שָׁמַע | Guttural demands a-class vowel; patach furtive before final ח/ע in open syllable | Perfect, imperfect, participle
III-א (Lamed-Aleph) | `lamed-aleph` | מָלָא, קָרָא | Final א quiesces; compensatory lengthening of preceding vowel; tsere under R2 lengthens to tsere + א | Perfect 3ms/3fs, imperfect, participle
III-ה (Lamed-He) | `lamed-he` | צִוָּה, גָּלָה, כָּסָה, עָנָה | Final ה is a vowel letter; endings contract throughout; wayyiqtol 3ms apocopates | All conjugations
I-נ (Pe-Nun) | `pe-nun` | נִחֵּם, נִצֵּל | Root נ assimilates into R2 with dagesh forte — in the Piel this dagesh merges with the characteristic Piel dagesh in R2 | All (assimilation visible in all)
I-י (Pe-Yod) | `pe-yod` | יִסֵּר, יִבֵּשׁ | I-י quiesces; characteristic Hireq-Yod pattern; Piel vowels shift slightly | Perfect, imperfect
Biconsonantal (II-ו/י) | `biconsonantal` | קוֹמֵם (from קוּם), שׁוֹרֵר | Two-consonant root; Piel doubles R2 by gemination; holem-vav medial; pattern differs markedly from strong | All conjugations
Geminate (Ayin-Doubled) | `geminate` | הִלֵּל, חִלֵּל, קִלֵּל | R2 = R3; Piel dagesh in R2 serves double duty (Piel + geminate); forms closely parallel strong Piel | All conjugations

> Key principle: The Piel Dagesh Forte in R2 is present in every weak class where R2 can accept
> a dagesh. When R2 is a guttural or ר (which reject dagesh forte), compensatory lengthening occurs
> in the vowel before R2. In all other weak classes, the dagesh in R2 stays; what changes is
> what surrounds it.

## 2. I-guttural (Pe-Guttural) Verbs

### Pattern

The Piel perfect 3ms of a strong root shows Hireq under R1 (דִּבֵּר). When R1 is a guttural (א, ה, ח, ע), the guttural cannot take a simple shewa — it takes a composite shewa (hateph) instead. This shifts the vowel under R1:

- ע/ח typically take hateph-patach (ֲ), yielding a sub-pattern with patach coloring under R1
- א takes hateph-seghol (ֱ), yielding seghol coloring
- The Piel Dagesh Forte in R2 is unaffected — it remains present throughout

The most important I-guttural Piel root is עָנָה → עִנָּה ("to afflict, humble"). Note that ע takes hateph-patach in most forms, but the perfect 3ms shows the long vowel Hireq under the prefix/R1 slot adjusted.

Diagnostic markers:
- Perfect 3ms: עִנָּה — the א/ע/ח is R1; Hireq under R1 (with composite shewa adjustment); Dagesh in R2
- Imperfect 3ms: יְעַנֶּה — Shewa under prefix (יְ); composite shewa under ע; Patach under R1; Dagesh in R2
- Wayyiqtol 3ms: וַיְעַנֶּה — וַיְ prefix (characteristic Piel patach+shewa); composite shewa under ע
- Participle ms: מְעַנֶּה — מְ prefix; composite shewa under R1; Dagesh in R2

### Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Conjugation | Strong (דבר) | I-guttural (ענה — afflict)
--- | --- | ---
Perfect | דִּבֵּר | עִנָּה
Imperfect | יְדַבֵּר | יְעַנֶּה
Wayyiqtol | וַיְדַבֵּר | וַיְעַנֶּה
Weqatal | וְדִבֵּר | וְעִנָּה
Imperative | דַּבֵּר | עַנֵּה
Inf. Construct | דַּבֵּר | עַנּוֹת
Inf. Absolute | דַּבֵּר | עַנֵּה
Participle | מְדַבֵּר | מְעַנֶּה

### Key Corpus Examples

- עִנָּה (Deu 8:2) — "he humbled/afflicted you" — perfect 3ms Piel; "in order to humble you" (לְמַעַן עַנֹּתְךָ); R1=ע with composite shewa; Dagesh Forte in נ
- וַיְעַנּוּ (Exo 1:12) — "and the more they afflicted them" — wayyiqtol 3mp; וַיְ prefix marks Piel Wayyiqtol; ע with composite shewa; Dagesh in נ
- חִזַּקְתִּי (Isa 41:10) — "I have strengthened you" — perfect 1cs Piel of חָזַק; R1=ח (I-guttural) but ח can take dagesh in closed syllables; note Piel Hireq-Dagesh pattern

## 3. III-ח/ע (Lamed-Guttural) Verbs

### Pattern

When R3 is ח or ע, the guttural demands an a-class vowel in its syllable and refuses e/i-class vowels before it. In the Piel, the characteristic Tsere under R2 (the Piel's signature vowel) is maintained up to R2, but before the final guttural:

- In an open, stressed final syllable a patach furtive (פַּתַח גְּנוּבָה) appears immediately before the ח/ע — written below and to the right of the preceding vowel, pronounced before the guttural
- When the guttural carries a suffix (closed syllable), the patach furtive disappears and a regular Patach appears under the guttural

The Piel Dagesh Forte in R2 is completely unaffected by a III-guttural final radical.

Diagnostic markers:
- Perfect 3ms: שִׁלַּח — patach furtive before ח; Piel Hireq under R1; Dagesh in R2 (ל)
- Imperfect 3ms: יְשַׁלַּח — Shewa under prefix; Patach under R1; Dagesh in R2; patach before ח
- Participle ms: מְשַׁלֵּחַ — מְ prefix; Tsere under R2; patach furtive before ח

> Note: שִׁלַּח (Piel of שָׁלַח) is among the most frequent verbs in the Torah — "send away, release, let go." Its Piel force is intensive vs. the Qal "to send."

### Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Conjugation | Strong (דבר) | III-ח (שלח — send away) | III-ע (שמע — cause to hear)
--- | --- | --- | ---
Perfect | דִּבֵּר | שִׁלַּח | שִׁמַּע
Imperfect | יְדַבֵּר | יְשַׁלַּח | יְשַׁמַּע
Wayyiqtol | וַיְדַבֵּר | וַיְשַׁלַּח | וַיְשַׁמַּע
Weqatal | וְדִבֵּר | וְשִׁלַּח | וְשִׁמַּע
Imperative | דַּבֵּר | שַׁלַּח | שַׁמַּע
Inf. Construct | דַּבֵּר | שַׁלַּח | שַׁמַּע
Inf. Absolute | דַּבֵּר | שַׁלֵּחַ | שַׁמֵּעַ
Participle | מְדַבֵּר | מְשַׁלֵּחַ | מְשַׁמֵּעַ

### Key Corpus Examples

- שִׁלַּח (Gen 3:23) — "the LORD God sent him out" — perfect 3ms Piel; Hireq + Dagesh in ל + patach before ח; intensive vs. Qal "to send"
- וַיְשַׁלַּח (Gen 8:7) — "he sent out a raven" — wayyiqtol 3ms; וַיְ prefix; Dagesh in ל; patach before ח
- מְשַׁלֵּחַ (Mal 3:1) — "I am sending my messenger" — participle ms; מְ prefix; Tsere under R2; patach furtive before ח

## 4. III-א (Lamed-Aleph) Verbs

### Pattern

The final א of these roots quiesces (becomes silent) in word-final position. Because the silent א can no longer close a syllable, the preceding vowel lengthens compensatorily. In the Piel, the Tsere under R2 that would be followed by the final consonant א instead stands before a silent letter — the Tsere is retained or lengthened to a long vowel + א mater.

- The Piel Dagesh Forte in R2 remains
- Final א is written but silent: the form looks like it ends in a long vowel

Diagnostic markers:
- Perfect 3ms: מִלֵּא — Hireq under R1; Dagesh in ל (R2); Tsere + silent א
- Imperfect 3ms: יְמַלֵּא — Shewa under prefix; Patach under R1; Dagesh in R2; Tsere + silent א
- Participle ms: מְמַלֵּא — מְ prefix; Patach under R1; Dagesh; Tsere + silent א

### Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Conjugation | Strong (דבר) | III-א (מלא — fill)
--- | --- | ---
Perfect | דִּבֵּר | מִלֵּא
Imperfect | יְדַבֵּר | יְמַלֵּא
Wayyiqtol | וַיְדַבֵּר | וַיְמַלֵּא
Weqatal | וְדִבֵּר | וְמִלֵּא
Imperative | דַּבֵּר | מַלֵּא
Inf. Construct | דַּבֵּר | מַלֵּא
Inf. Absolute | דַּבֵּר | מַלֵּא
Participle | מְדַבֵּר | מְמַלֵּא

### Key Corpus Examples

- מִלֵּא (Exo 28:3) — "I have filled with a spirit of wisdom" — perfect 3ms Piel; Tsere + silent א; "filled" (factitive — causing to become full)
- וַיְמַלֵּא (Exo 40:34) — "and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle" — wayyiqtol 3ms; וַיְ prefix; Dagesh in ל; Tsere + silent א
- מְמַלֵּא (Jer 23:24) — "do I not fill heaven and earth?" — participle ms; מְ prefix; Dagesh + Tsere + silent א

## 5. III-ה (Lamed-He) Verbs

### Pattern

III-ה roots are among the most common weak roots in the OT. The final ה is a vowel letter (mater lectionis), not a true consonant. In the Piel, the characteristic Dagesh Forte in R2 is fully retained — this is the most important identification marker. What changes are the endings, which use the ה mater throughout:

- Perfect 3ms: Tsere under R2 + ה mater (e.g., צִוָּה, גִּלָּה, כִּסָּה)
- Imperfect 3ms: Seghol + ה mater (e.g., יְצַוֶּה, יְגַלֶּה)
- Wayyiqtol 3ms: Apocopates — the final ה is dropped; the form ends in R2 (e.g., וַיְצַו, וַיְגַל)
- Imperative/Inf. Construct: Tsere + ה mater
- Participle ms: Seghol + ה mater

> Key: The Dagesh Forte in R2 plus the ה mater at the end of the form is the reliable signature of the III-ה Piel. When the wayyiqtol drops the ה, the Dagesh in R2 is the only Piel marker remaining.

### Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Conjugation | Strong (דבר) | III-ה (צוה — command) | III-ה (גלה — uncover) | III-ה (כסה — cover)
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Perfect | דִּבֵּר | צִוָּה | גִּלָּה | כִּסָּה
Imperfect | יְדַבֵּר | יְצַוֶּה | יְגַלֶּה | יְכַסֶּה
Wayyiqtol | וַיְדַבֵּר | וַיְצַו | וַיְגַל | וַיְכַס
Weqatal | וְדִבֵּר | וְצִוָּה | וְגִלָּה | וְכִסָּה
Imperative | דַּבֵּר | צַוֵּה | גַּלֵּה | כַּסֵּה
Inf. Construct | דַּבֵּר | צַוּוֹת | גַּלּוֹת | כַּסּוֹת
Inf. Absolute | דַּבֵּר | צַוֵּה | גַּלֵּה | כַּסֵּה
Participle | מְדַבֵּר | מְצַוֶּה | מְגַלֶּה | מְכַסֶּה

### Key Corpus Examples

- צִוָּה (Gen 2:16) — "the LORD God commanded the man" — perfect 3ms Piel; Tsere under R2 (וּ with dagesh forte in ו) + ה mater; highly frequent (246 Torah occurrences)
- וַיְצַו (Gen 18:19) — "he has commanded his children and his household" — wayyiqtol 3ms; apocopated; ה dropped; Dagesh Forte in ו is the Piel marker; most common Piel wayyiqtol form in the Torah
- גִּלָּה (Gen 9:21) — "he was uncovered" — the root גלה appears in Piel meaning "to uncover, reveal"; Tsere (ā) + ה mater; Dagesh in ל
- וַיְגַל (1 Sam 20:2) — "he has not uncovered my ear" — wayyiqtol apocopated; Piel of גָּלָה; ה dropped; Dagesh in ל
- כִּסָּה (Gen 7:19) — "and the waters covered all the high mountains" — perfect 3ms Piel; Hireq + Dagesh in ס + Tsere + ה; "covered" (Piel intensive of כסה)
- עִנָּה (Gen 16:6) — "Sarai afflicted her" — perfect 3ms Piel of עָנָה (III-ה + I-guttural); note both weak features: ע as R1 + ה as R3; Dagesh in נ intact

## 6. I-נ (Pe-Nun) Verbs

### Pattern

In I-נ roots, the root נ (R1) assimilates into R2 whenever it would stand before another consonant with only a shewa (in unaccented syllables). In the Piel, this assimilation affects the entire paradigm because the Piel already places a Dagesh Forte in R2 — the assimilated נ simply merges into the Piel's existing Dagesh in R2. The result is:

- No separate trace of נ — the Piel Dagesh in R2 represents both the Piel stem marker and the assimilated נ
- The vowel pattern otherwise follows the standard Piel: Hireq or i-class vowel under R1 (which is now effectively the prefix) + Tsere under R2

The most important I-נ Piel roots are:
- נחם → Piel נִחֵּם ("to comfort, console")
- נצל → Piel נִצֵּל ("to rescue, deliver")

Diagnostic markers:
- Perfect 3ms: נִחֵּם — Hireq under נ (R1 intact in the perfect); Dagesh Forte in ח (R2) = Piel dagesh; Tsere final
- Imperfect 3ms: יְנַחֵּם — Shewa under prefix (יְ); Patach under נ; Dagesh in ח; Tsere
- Wayyiqtol 3ms: וַיְנַחֵּם — וַיְ prefix; Patach under נ; Dagesh in ח

> Note: Unlike in the Hiphil or Qal where I-נ assimilation often eliminates נ entirely, the Piel preserves נ as R1 throughout because the Piel prefix/vowel structure provides a stable syllable for the נ to stand in. Assimilation is partial or non-visible rather than total.

### Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Conjugation | Strong (דבר) | I-נ (נחם — comfort) | I-נ (נצל — rescue)
--- | --- | --- | ---
Perfect | דִּבֵּר | נִחֵּם | נִצֵּל
Imperfect | יְדַבֵּר | יְנַחֵּם | יְנַצֵּל
Wayyiqtol | וַיְדַבֵּר | וַיְנַחֵּם | וַיְנַצֵּל
Weqatal | וְדִבֵּר | וְנִחֵּם | וְנִצֵּל
Imperative | דַּבֵּר | נַחֵּם | נַצֵּל
Inf. Construct | דַּבֵּר | נַחֵּם | נַצֵּל
Inf. Absolute | דַּבֵּר | נַחֵּם | נַצֵּל
Participle | מְדַבֵּר | מְנַחֵּם | מְנַצֵּל

### Key Corpus Examples

- נִחֵּם (Gen 50:21) — "and he comforted them" — perfect 3ms Piel; Hireq + Dagesh in ח + Tsere; I-נ root but נ intact; comfort after Joseph's brothers fear retribution
- וַיְנַחֵּם (Gen 50:21) — "and he comforted them and spoke kindly" — wayyiqtol 3ms; וַיְ Piel prefix; Patach under נ; Dagesh in ח
- מְנַחֵּם (Isa 51:12) — "I, I am he who comforts you" — participle ms Piel; God as מְנַחֵּם — the Comforter; מְ prefix + Dagesh in ח + Tsere
- נִצֵּל (Amos 3:12) — "as a shepherd rescues from the mouth of a lion" — perfect 3ms Piel of נצל; Hireq + Dagesh in צ + Tsere

## 7. I-י (Pe-Yod) Verbs

### Pattern

I-י roots in the Piel behave quite differently from I-י roots in the Qal or Hiphil. Because the Piel is a triconsonantal stem with a fixed pattern built on all three root consonants, the initial י (R1) is retained rather than dropped or replaced. The Piel simply applies its standard vowel pattern to the full root:

- Perfect 3ms: Hireq (or Tsere) under R1 (י) + Dagesh in R2 + Tsere — e.g., יִסֵּר
- The initial י behaves normally as a consonant because the Piel does not undergo the same prefix-coalescence that triggers I-י loss in Qal/Hiphil

The key I-י Piel roots:
- יסר → Piel יִסֵּר ("to discipline, chasten, instruct") — important in Deuteronomy
- יבשׁ → Piel יִבֵּשׁ / יְיַבֵּשׁ (rare; "to dry up") — mostly Hiphil/Polel in practice

Diagnostic markers:
- Perfect 3ms: יִסֵּר — Hireq under י (R1); Dagesh Forte in ס (R2); Tsere under ס
- Imperfect 3ms: יְיַסֵּר — Shewa under prefix יְ; Patach under R1 (י); Dagesh in ס; Tsere
- Wayyiqtol 3ms: וַיְיַסֵּר — וַיְ prefix; Patach under R1; Dagesh in R2

### Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Conjugation | Strong (דבר) | I-י (יסר — discipline)
--- | --- | ---
Perfect | דִּבֵּר | יִסֵּר
Imperfect | יְדַבֵּר | יְיַסֵּר
Wayyiqtol | וַיְדַבֵּר | וַיְיַסֵּר
Weqatal | וְדִבֵּר | וְיִסֵּר
Imperative | דַּבֵּר | יַסֵּר
Inf. Construct | דַּבֵּר | יַסֵּר
Inf. Absolute | דַּבֵּר | יַסֵּר
Participle | מְדַבֵּר | מְיַסֵּר

### Key Corpus Examples

- יִסַּרְתִּיו (Jer 31:18) — "you have disciplined me and I was disciplined" — perfect 2ms Piel of יסר with 3ms suffix; Hireq + Dagesh in ס; the reflexive/reciprocal nuance
- יְיַסֶּרְךָ (Deu 8:5) — "the LORD your God disciplines you" — imperfect 3ms Piel with 2ms suffix; Shewa under prefix; Patach + Dagesh in ס; key Deuteronomy passage (יָסַר as fatherly correction)
- מְיַסֵּר (Psa 94:10) — "he who disciplines the nations" — participle ms Piel; מְ prefix + Patach under י + Dagesh in ס + Tsere; God as cosmic disciplinarian

## 8. Biconsonantal (II-ו/י) Verbs

### Pattern

Biconsonantal roots (R1–R3 with a medial vowel letter) present a special challenge in the Piel because the Piel requires a Dagesh Forte in R2 — but these roots have no true R2 consonant to receive it. The solution is gemination: R1 is written with the vowel, and R3 is doubled (written twice or with a Dagesh Forte) to supply the missing consonant cluster. This produces what grammarians call the Polel or Poel pattern, which functions as the Piel equivalent for biconsonantal roots:

- קוֹמֵם (from קוּם) — "to set up, restore, establish" — the root's ו/ו is written as Holem-Vav; R3 (מ) receives the Dagesh Forte
- שׁוֹרֵר (from שׁיר/שׁור) — "to sing" (Polel of שִׁיר) — same pattern

The diagnostic for this class:
- Holem-Vav (וֹ) as the medial vowel (from ו-class roots)
- Dagesh Forte in R3 (which serves as the "R2" in the Piel pattern)
- Tsere under R3 in the perfect (Holem-Vav + R3 with Dagesh + Tsere)

Diagnostic markers:
- Perfect 3ms: קוֹמֵם — Holem-Vav medial; Dagesh in מ (R3 doubled); Tsere final
- Imperfect 3ms: יְקוֹמֵם — Shewa under prefix; Holem-Vav; Dagesh in מ; Tsere
- Participle ms: מְקוֹמֵם — מְ prefix; Holem-Vav; Dagesh in מ

### Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Conjugation | Strong (דבר) | Biconsonantal Polel (קום → קומם)
--- | --- | ---
Perfect | דִּבֵּר | קוֹמֵם
Imperfect | יְדַבֵּר | יְקוֹמֵם
Wayyiqtol | וַיְדַבֵּר | וַיְקוֹמֵם
Weqatal | וְדִבֵּר | וְקוֹמֵם
Imperative | דַּבֵּר | קוֹמֵם
Inf. Construct | דַּבֵּר | קוֹמֵם
Inf. Absolute | דַּבֵּר | קוֹמֵם
Participle | מְדַבֵּר | מְקוֹמֵם

### Key Corpus Examples

- קוֹמֵם (Ezr 9:9) — "to restore (set upright) our God's house" — perfect 3ms Polel/Piel of קוּם; Holem-Vav + Dagesh in מ + Tsere; "to set up, restore" a structure
- יְקוֹמֵם (Psa 107:25) — "he raised up a stormy wind" — imperfect 3ms; Shewa under prefix + Holem-Vav + Dagesh in מ
- מְקוֹמֵם (Psa 113:7) — "he raises the poor from the dust" — participle ms; מְ prefix; parallel to מֵקִים (Hiphil of the same root); Holem-Vav + Dagesh in מ

## 9. Geminate (Ayin-Doubled, II=III) Verbs

### Pattern

Geminate roots (R2 = R3) are among the most natural Piel roots because the Piel's defining feature — Dagesh Forte in R2 — coincides perfectly with the geminate's doubled R2/R3. The Piel geminate pattern is essentially identical to the Piel strong in most forms: the Dagesh in R2 represents both the Piel stem marker and the geminate doubling of the root consonant.

- The forms look exactly like strong Piel except that R2 and R3 are the same letter (and the Dagesh in R2 does double duty)
- Most geminate Piel roots are common, high-frequency verbs: הִלֵּל, חִלֵּל, קִלֵּל, גִּלֵּל, שִׁכֵּל

Diagnostic markers:
- Perfect 3ms: הִלֵּל — Hireq under R1 (ה); Dagesh in ל (R2 = R3); Tsere; appears identical to a Piel strong root
- Imperfect 3ms: יְהַלֵּל — Shewa under prefix; Patach under R1; Dagesh in R2; Tsere
- Wayyiqtol 3ms: וַיְהַלֵּל — standard Piel Wayyiqtol pattern with doubled ל
- Participle ms: מְהַלֵּל — מְ prefix; Patach under R1; Dagesh in doubled R2; Tsere

> Identification tip: Once you know the root, identification is simple. The form הִלֵּל with the root הלל (not a three-letter root with three distinct consonants but a geminate) shows R2 = R3 = ל. The Piel Dagesh Forte in ל is exactly what you would expect of any Piel perfect 3ms.

### Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Conjugation | Strong (דבר) | Geminate (הלל — praise) | Geminate (קלל — curse/revile)
--- | --- | --- | ---
Perfect | דִּבֵּר | הִלֵּל | קִלֵּל
Imperfect | יְדַבֵּר | יְהַלֵּל | יְקַלֵּל
Wayyiqtol | וַיְדַבֵּר | וַיְהַלֵּל | וַיְקַלֵּל
Weqatal | וְדִבֵּר | וְהִלֵּל | וְקִלֵּל
Imperative | דַּבֵּר | הַלֵּל | קַלֵּל
Inf. Construct | דַּבֵּר | הַלֵּל | קַלֵּל
Inf. Absolute | דַּבֵּר | הַלֵּל | קַלֵּל
Participle | מְדַבֵּר | מְהַלֵּל | מְקַלֵּל

### Key Corpus Examples

- הִלֵּל (Psa 22:24[23]) — "he has not despised... but has praised" (כִּי לֹא שָׁזַף... כִּי הִלֵּלוֹ) — perfect 3ms Piel of הלל; "praised"; Hireq + doubled ל with Dagesh + Tsere
- וַיְהַלֲלוּ (1 Chr 23:5) — "and they praised the LORD with instruments" — wayyiqtol 3mp; וַיְ Piel prefix; Patach + doubled ל; Dagesh in ל
- חִלֵּל (Gen 49:4) — "you defiled my couch" — perfect 2ms Piel of חלל; "profaned, desecrated"; Hireq + Dagesh in ל + Tsere; geminate root חלל appearing identical in form to strong Piel
- וַיְקַלֵּל (2 Sam 16:7) — "and Shimei cursed David" — wayyiqtol 3ms Piel of קלל; "cursed/reviled"; Dagesh in doubled ל; standard Piel Wayyiqtol pattern
- מְהַלֵּל (Psa 113:3) — "the name of the LORD is to be praised" — participle ms Piel of הלל; מְ prefix + Patach + Dagesh in ל + Tsere; predicate use

## 10. High-Frequency Weak Piel Lemmas

The following weak-root Piel verbs are among the most common in the OT. All carry the Piel Dagesh Forte in R2 as their diagnostic marker, modified by the phonological behavior of the weak radical.

# | Root | Weak Class | OT Piel tokens (approx.) | Piel Meaning | Function Type
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | צוה | III-ה | 485 | to command | Simple action / Denominative
2 | כסה | III-ה | 131 | to cover | Intensive
3 | גלה | III-ה | 110 | to uncover, reveal, exile | Intensive
4 | שלח | III-ח/ע | 106 | to send away, release, divorce | Intensive
5 | כלה | III-ה | 105 | to finish, complete, destroy | Intensive
6 | הלל | Geminate | 100 | to praise | Intensive / Denominative
7 | ענה | I-guttural + III-ה | 75 | to afflict, humble, oppress | Factitive
8 | מלא | III-א | 68 | to fill | Factitive
9 | נחם | I-נ | 51 | to comfort, console | Intensive / Factitive
10 | חלל | Geminate | 47 | to profane, desecrate | Factitive
11 | קלל | Geminate | 43 | to curse, revile | Intensive
12 | יסר | I-י | 42 | to discipline, chasten, instruct | Factitive / Simple action
13 | כסה | III-ה | — | (see #2) | —
14 | נצל | I-נ | 36 | to rescue, deliver | Intensive
15 | קומם | Biconsonantal (Polel) | 9 | to set up, restore, raise | Factitive

> Observation: The III-ה class dominates the high-frequency weak Piel list. Roots like צוה, כסה, גלה, כלה, and ענה account for hundreds of Torah and OT occurrences. The Dagesh Forte in R2 + ה mater ending is therefore the single most productive weak Piel pattern to master.

Sources: MACULA Hebrew WLC (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · BBH = Pratico & Van Pelt, Basics of Biblical Hebrew, 3rd ed.