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

BBH Chapter 31 · Piel Weak Verbs

For each Piel form below, (1) translate it and (2) classify its function as I, F, D, SA, or DN. Compare with the Qal gloss to see what the Piel adds. Click ▶ Answer to check.

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 — Piel R2 dagesh becomes virtual doubling (vowel lengthens instead). III-ה — Piel perfect 3ms ends in ָּה (qamets + dagesh-he). I-י / Hollow — R1 may assimilate; watch vowel patterns carefully.

## Part A — I-Guttural Roots

# | Hebrew | Root | Qal Gloss | Reference | Translation | Function |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | בֵּרַךְ | ברך | to kneel / bless | Gen 1:28 |  |  |
he blessed · I — Intensive · Qal "to bless" is rare; Piel = formal, powerful bestowal of divine favor. The ב takes virtual dagesh (no actual doubling possible). Most common form for blessing in OT.
2 | אֵהֵב | אהב | to love | — |  |  |
he loved (intensively) · I — Intensive · Qal also means "to love"; Piel = love fervently or devotedly. The א (R1 guttural) shows virtual doubling — tsere lengthened rather than dagesh added.
3 | חִזֵּק | חזק | to be strong | Exo 4:21 |  |  |
he hardened / made strong · F — Factitive · Qal = stative "be strong/hard." Piel = cause to enter the state of hardness. Classic Factitive: "he hardened [Pharaoh's heart]" (Exo 4:21). The ח guttural takes virtual dagesh.
4 | עִזֵּב | עזב | to forsake | — |  |  |
he utterly forsook · I — Intensive · Qal = forsake/leave. Piel = abandon completely and definitively. The ע (R1 guttural) rejects dagesh; virtual doubling compensates.
5 | עִנָּה | ענה | to answer / respond | — |  |  |
he afflicted / humbled · F — Factitive · This root ענה II (distinct from ענה I "answer") = stative "be bowed down/afflicted." Piel = cause to be in that state. ע guttural + III-ה contraction: note the ּה at the end.

## Part B — III-ה Roots

# | Hebrew | Root | Qal Gloss | Reference | Translation | Function |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
6 | גִּלָּה | גלה | to uncover / go into exile | Gen 35:7 |  |  |
he revealed · I — Intensive · Qal = uncover. Piel = disclose, reveal completely. III-ה root: the ה contracts to ָּה in Piel perfect 3ms. Dagesh in ל (R2).
7 | בִּנָּה | בנה | to build | 1 Kgs 6:2 |  |  |
he built / built thoroughly · I — Intensive · Qal = build. Piel = build completely, comprehensively. Used of Solomon's thorough construction of the temple. Dagesh in נ (R2) + III-ה contraction.
8 | צִוָּה | צוה | (no common Qal) | Gen 2:16 |  |  |
he commanded · SA — Simple Action · No Qal "command." Commanding is the Piel's own primary function. III-ה root: the ו (waw) in the root appears as part of the vowel pattern; the ה contracts in the perfect.
9 | קִנָּה | קנה | to acquire / buy | — |  |  |
he acquired thoroughly · I — Intensive · Qal = acquire/buy. Piel = formal or thorough acquisition. Dagesh in נ (R2); III-ה contraction at end.
10 | כִּלָּה | כלה | to be finished / complete | Gen 2:2 |  |  |
he finished / completed · I (or F) — Intensive / Factitive · Qal = stative "be finished." Piel = bring to completion. Can be analyzed as Factitive (cause to be complete) or Intensive (finish thoroughly). Either analysis is acceptable.

## Part C — I-י / Hollow Roots

# | Hebrew | Root | Qal Gloss | Reference | Translation | Function |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
11 | יִדֵּעַ | ידע | to know | — |  |  |
he made known / declared · D or I — Declarative / Intensive · Qal = to know. Piel = cause to know = declare, make known (D); or know thoroughly/intimately (I). Both analyses appear in scholarship. Context determines which is primary.
12 | חִיָּה | חיה | to live / be alive | Gen 47:25 |  |  |
he kept alive / preserved · F — Factitive · Qal = stative "live/be alive." Piel = cause to live = preserve, save alive. Classic Factitive from a stative root. III-ה root (the י is R1, ה is R3); dagesh in י (R2) with compensatory lengthening.
13 | שִׁנָּה | שׁנה | to change / repeat | — |  |  |
he changed / altered · I — Intensive · Qal = change, repeat. Piel = change thoroughly, alter completely. III-ה root; dagesh in נ (R2).
14 | שִׁלֵּם | שׁלם | to be complete / at peace | Exo 22:2 |  |  |
he made restitution / paid fully · I or F — Intensive / Factitive · Qal = stative "be complete/whole." Piel = cause to be complete = pay in full, make restitution (F); or pay thoroughly/fully (I). Legal contexts (Exo 22:2) favor "make full restitution."
15 | כִּנָּה | כנה | (noun: כִּנּוּי "title/name") | Isa 45:4 |  |  |
he gave a title / assigned an honorific name · DN — Denominative · Derived from the noun כִּנּוּי ("title, surname, honorific"). The Piel performs the noun's characteristic action: to give or assign a name/title. God says to Cyrus: "I gave you a title though you did not know me."