# BBH Chapter 14 — Qal Perfect Weak Verbs

## Files

### Reference Files

File | Description
--- | ---
qal-perfect-paradigm.md | Strong paradigm reference (from Ch13)
qal-perfect-weak-lamed-aleph-paradigms.md | III-א weak paradigms with strong comparison
qal-perfect-weak-lamed-he-paradigms.md | III-ה weak paradigms with strong comparison
qal-perfect-weak-lamed-guttural-paradigms.md | III-ח/ע weak paradigms with strong comparison
qal-perfect-weak-pe-guttural-paradigms.md | I-guttural weak paradigms with strong comparison
qal-perfect-weak-pe-paradigms.md | I-נ and I-י weak paradigms (combined) with strong comparison
qal-perfect-weak-biconsonantal-paradigms.md | Biconsonantal (II-י/ו) paradigms with strong comparison
qal-perfect-weak-geminate-paradigms.md | Geminate (II=III) paradigms with Biconsonantal comparison

### Exercises

Exercise | Description
--- | ---
exercises/ch14-passage-exercise/ | Parse weak-root Qal Perfect verbs from a Torah passage; includes Weak Class column
exercises/ch14-weak-form-id/ | 40 forms across all eight classes — identify class, PGN, and root

### Flashcards

File | Format | Description
--- | --- | ---
ch14-morphology-deck.md | Markdown | 35-card morphology deck — Qal Perfect Weak forms across all eight weak root classes
ch14-morphology-deck.txt | Anki import | Morphology deck — tab-separated, ready for Anki File → Import (35 cards)
ch14-morphology-deck-fd.txt | Flashcards Deluxe | Morphology deck — tab-separated, ready for Flashcards Deluxe import (35 cards)
ch14-vocab-deck.md | Markdown | Vocabulary deck — 18 words (16 verbs, 2 adverbs) with POS tags and frequency
ch14-vocab-deck.txt | Anki import | Vocabulary deck — tab-separated, ready for Anki File → Import (18 cards)
ch14-vocab-deck-fd.txt | Flashcards Deluxe | Vocabulary deck — tab-separated, ready for Flashcards Deluxe import (18 cards)

### Notebooks

Notebook | What it shows
--- | ---
Qal Stem | Qal stem: root×conjugation heatmap showing which weak roots favor the Perfect

Basics of Biblical Hebrew, Pratico & Van Pelt
Builds on Ch13 (Qal Perfect Strong Verbs). Weak forms only — function and usage not repeated.

> Scope: This chapter extends the Qal Perfect paradigm to eight weak-root classes.
> Each class modifies the strong pattern in a predictable, phonologically motivated way.
> No new aspect or function is introduced; the Perfect still expresses completed action or state.

## 1. The Eight Weak Classes: Overview

Class | Label | Representative roots | What changes in the Perfect | Key cells affected
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
III-א (Lamed-Aleph) | lamed-aleph | מָצָא, קָרָא | Aleph quiesces; final vowel of R3 lengthens | 3ms, 3fs, 3cp, inf. cst.
III-ה (Lamed-He) | lamed-he | עָשָׂה, רָאָה | Final He is a vowel letter; paradigm endings differ | All cells
III-ח/ע (Lamed-Guttural) | lamed-guttural | שָׁלַח, שָׁמַע | Patach furtive before word-final guttural | 3ms, 3fs, 3cp, 2ms, 1cs
I-guttural (Pe-Guttural) | pe-guttural | עָמַד, אָמַר | No dagesh in R1; compensatory lengthening or chateph vowel | Prefix cells (Imperfect only; Perfect mostly regular)
I-נ (Pe-Nun) | pe-nun | נָתַן, נָפַל | Perfect is regular; nun assimilates in Imperfect/Wayyiqtol | Perfect mostly unaffected
I-י (Pe-Yod) | pe-yod | יָלַד, יָדַע | Perfect fully regular; yod contracts in Imperfect | Perfect unaffected
Biconsonantal (II-י/ו) | biconsonantal | קוּם, שׁוּב | Middle vowel letter; qamets-only perfect; no R2 consonant | All cells
Geminate (Ayin-Doubled, II=III) | geminate | סָבַב, תָּמַם | R2 = R3; dagesh forte in R2; distinctive vowel patterns | All cells

> Key principle: Every weak pattern follows a phonological rule — quiescence (silent letter),
> assimilation (dagesh), compensatory lengthening, or patach furtive. None requires learning
> a new paradigm from scratch; they are all predictable modifications of the strong paradigm.

## 2. III-א (Lamed-Aleph)

### Pattern

The aleph (א) at R3 is a guttural but tends to quiesce (lose its consonantal value) in
word-final position. When aleph quiesces, the preceding vowel lengthens compensatorily:
patach (a) → qamets (ā); tsere (e) → tsere retained or lengthened. The 3ms form ends in
ָ×א (qamets before silent aleph).

### Diagnostic Markers

- 3ms: ends in א (silent), preceded by qamets: מָצָא, קָרָא
- 3fs: ָאָה- ending (qamets + aleph + he): מָצְאָה
- 3cp: ָאוּ- ending: מָצְאוּ
- Other persons: forms resemble the strong paradigm closely; aleph is written but silent

### Paradigm Summary — Qal Perfect

Person | Strong (קָטַל) | III-א (מָצָא) | III-א (קָרָא)
--- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | קָטַל | מָצָא | קָרָא
3fs | קָטְלָה | מָצְאָה | קָרְאָה
2ms | קָטַלְתָּ | מָצָאתָ | קָרָאתָ
2fs | קָטַלְתְּ | מָצָאת | קָרָאת
1cs | קָטַלְתִּי | מָצָאתִי | קָרָאתִי
3cp | קָטְלוּ | מָצְאוּ | קָרְאוּ
2mp | קְטַלְתֶּם | מְצָאתֶם | קְרָאתֶם

→ Full paradigm: qal-perfect-weak-lamed-aleph-paradigms.md

### Corpus Examples

- Gen 8:9 — וְלֹא־מָצְאָה הַיֹּונָה מָנֹוחַ לְכַף־רַגְלָהּ — "the dove found no resting place for its foot" (3fs)
- Gen 4:9 — לֹא יָדַ֔עְתִּי — (I-י weak for contrast) note how aleph forms end in א
- Gen 1:5 — וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹהִים לָאֹור יֹום — (wayyiqtol of קרא; III-א pattern in imperfect)
- Exo 2:15 — וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב מֹשֶׁה֙ … וּמָצָ֥א — Qal Perfect 3ms of מצא

## 3. III-ה (Lamed-He)

### Pattern

The final He (ה) at R3 is a vowel letter (mater lectionis), not a true consonant. In the
Perfect, the paradigm endings differ significantly from the strong root because the vowel letter
interacts with the suffixes:

- 3ms: ends in ָה-: עָשָׂה, רָאָה (qamets + mappiq-less he)
- 3fs: ends in ְתָה- (not ָה- like the strong): עָשְׂתָה, רָאֲתָה
- 3cp: ends in וּ-: עָשׂוּ, רָאוּ (the he drops entirely)
- 2ms suffix תָּ- preceded by qamets: עָשִׂיתָ, רָאִיתָ

### Diagnostic Markers

- 3ms: root ends in ָה-; no true consonant at R3 (contrast 3fs suffix ָה- on strong roots)
- 3fs: תָה- ending (not the plain ָה- of strong 3fs)
- 3cp: final ה drops; just vowel + וּ
- 2ms/1cs: hireq-yod before suffix: עָשִׂיתָ, רָאִיתִי

### Paradigm Summary — Qal Perfect

Person | Strong (קָטַל) | III-ה (עָשָׂה) | III-ה (רָאָה)
--- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | קָטַל | עָשָׂה | רָאָה
3fs | קָטְלָה | עָשְׂתָה | רָאֲתָה
2ms | קָטַלְתָּ | עָשִׂיתָ | רָאִיתָ
2fs | קָטַלְתְּ | עָשִׂית | רָאִית
1cs | קָטַלְתִּי | עָשִׂיתִי | רָאִיתִי
3cp | קָטְלוּ | עָשׂוּ | רָאוּ
2mp | קְטַלְתֶּם | עֲשִׂיתֶם | רְאִיתֶם

→ Full paradigm: qal-perfect-weak-lamed-he-paradigms.md

### Corpus Examples

- Gen 1:31 — וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה — "God saw all that he had made" (3ms)
- Gen 3:13 — מַה־זֹּאת עָשִׂית — "What is this you have done?" (2fs, addressed to woman)
- Gen 6:22 — וַיַּעַשׂ נֹחַ — wayyiqtol 3ms (compare to perfect 3ms עָשָׂה)
- Gen 44:5 — אֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם — "what you have done" (2mp)

## 4. III-ח/ע (Lamed-Guttural)

### Pattern

Gutturals (ח, ע) at R3 cannot close a syllable without their characteristic vowel. When R3
is a guttural and the syllable is open (before a pause or word boundary), a patach
furtive (פַּתַח גְּנוּבָה) appears below and to the right of the preceding vowel. It is
pronounced before the guttural: שָׁמַ֫עַ is read [sha-ˈma-aʕ].

### Diagnostic Markers

- 3ms: patach furtive under R3 guttural: שָׁמַ֫עַ, שָׁלַ֫חַ
- Other persons: patach furtive only in forms with open final syllable (3ms, 3fs-variant, inf. cst.)
- Closed syllables (e.g., suffixed forms): guttural takes chateph-patach instead of vocal shewa where needed

### Paradigm Summary — Qal Perfect

Person | Strong (קָטַל) | III-ח (שָׁלַח) | III-ע (שָׁמַע)
--- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | קָטַל | שָׁלַ֫חַ | שָׁמַ֫עַ
3fs | קָטְלָה | שָׁלְחָה | שָׁמְעָה
2ms | קָטַלְתָּ | שָׁלַחְתָּ | שָׁמַעְתָּ
2fs | קָטַלְתְּ | שָׁלַחְתְּ | שָׁמַעְתְּ
1cs | קָטַלְתִּי | שָׁלַחְתִּי | שָׁמַעְתִּי
3cp | קָטְלוּ | שָׁלְחוּ | שָׁמְעוּ
2mp | קְטַלְתֶּם | שְׁלַחְתֶּם | שְׁמַעְתֶּם

→ Full paradigm: qal-perfect-weak-lamed-guttural-paradigms.md

### Corpus Examples

- Exo 19:5 — אִם־שָׁמֹ֤עַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ — "if you will indeed listen" (inf. abs. + imperfect; contrast with perfect)
- Gen 3:17 — כִּֽי שָׁמַ֙עְתָּ֙ לְקֹ֣ול אִשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ — "because you listened to the voice of your wife" (2ms perfect)
- Exo 4:1 — הֵן לֹֽא־יַאֲמִ֥ינוּ לִי — (imperfect for contrast; note patach furtive in perfect 3ms שָׁמַ֫עַ)

## 5. I-guttural (Pe-Guttural)

### Pattern

In the Qal Perfect, I-guttural verbs are nearly identical to the strong paradigm.
The guttural at R1 cannot take a dagesh forte (no doubling), and prefers composite
shewa (chateph-patach or chateph-qamets) over vocal shewa where shewa would otherwise
appear. However, in the Perfect, the key effects are mild:

- All perfect forms: essentially regular; the guttural simply takes chateph-patach
  where a short vocal shewa would be expected in reduced syllables
- The main I-guttural weak effects appear in the Imperfect (Ch16) and Hiphil (Ch26)

### Diagnostic Markers

- 3ms: qamets under guttural + patach under R2 — e.g., עָמַד, אָמַר (virtually identical
  to strong קָטַל with גuttural at R1)
- Reduced forms (3cp, 2mp): chateph-patach replaces vocal shewa under guttural:
  עָמְדוּ → chateph under ע in some forms

### Paradigm Summary — Qal Perfect

Person | Strong (קָטַל) | I-gutt. (עָמַד) | I-gutt. (אָמַר)
--- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | קָטַל | עָמַד | אָמַר
3fs | קָטְלָה | עָמְדָה | אָמְרָה
2ms | קָטַלְתָּ | עָמַדְתָּ | אָמַרְתָּ
1cs | קָטַלְתִּי | עָמַדְתִּי | אָמַרְתִּי
3cp | קָטְלוּ | עָמְדוּ | אָמְרוּ
2mp | קְטַלְתֶּם | עֲמַדְתֶּם | אֲמַרְתֶּם

→ Full paradigm: qal-perfect-weak-pe-guttural-paradigms.md

### Corpus Examples

- Gen 18:22 — וְאַבְרָהָ֕ם עֹודֶ֥נּוּ עֹמֵ֖ד לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה — (participle for contrast; עמד)
- Gen 3:9 — וַיִּקְרָ֛א יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־הָֽאָדָ֑ם — (I-א wayyiqtol; note silent aleph behavior)
- Gen 12:4 — כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֤ר אֵלָיו֙ יְהוָ֔ה — "as the LORD had spoken to him" (Piel perfect 3ms of דבר)

## 6. I-נ (Pe-Nun)

### Pattern

In the Qal Perfect, I-נ verbs are completely regular. The nun at R1 is fully
pronounced and takes no special treatment. The assimilation of nun into the following
consonant (via dagesh forte) is a feature of the Imperfect and Wayyiqtol only,
not the Perfect.

### Diagnostic Markers (Perfect)

- All perfect forms: identical to strong paradigm with nun as R1
- 3ms: נָפַל, נָתַן — qamets + patach, nun fully consonantal
- The assimilation pattern (נ + dagesh) will be seen in Ch15–16 for the Imperfect

### Paradigm Summary — Qal Perfect

Person | Strong (קָטַל) | I-נ (נָתַן) | I-נ (נָפַל)
--- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | קָטַל | נָתַן | נָפַל
3fs | קָטְלָה | נָתְנָה | נָפְלָה
2ms | קָטַלְתָּ | נָתַ֫תָּה | נָפַלְתָּ
1cs | קָטַלְתִּי | נָתַ֫תִּי | נָפַלְתִּי
3cp | קָטְלוּ | נָתְנוּ | נָפְלוּ

> Note: In the 2ms and 1cs of נָתַן, the final nun of the root appears before the
> suffix, resulting in double-nun: נָתַ֫תָּה (nun + tav suffix). This is regular.

→ Full paradigm: qal-perfect-weak-pe-paradigms.md (Part 1)

### Corpus Examples

- Gen 1:29 — הִנֵּה נָתַ֫תִּי לָכֶם — "Behold, I have given you…" (1cs)
- Gen 4:11 — אֲשֶׁ֚ר פָּצְתָ֣ה אֶת־פִּ֔יהָ — note how נפל perfect is fully regular
- Gen 3:12 — הִ֛וא נָֽתְנָה-לִּ֥י — "she gave to me" (3fs)

## 7. I-י (Pe-Yod)

### Pattern

In the Qal Perfect, I-י verbs are completely regular. The yod at R1 is fully
preserved and takes the standard qamets + patach vowel pattern. The yod contracts
with the imperfect prefix only (covered in Ch16).

### Diagnostic Markers (Perfect)

- All perfect forms: identical to strong paradigm with yod as R1
- 3ms: יָלַד, יָדַע — recognizable as Pe-Yod by the yod, but vowels are standard

### Paradigm Summary — Qal Perfect

Person | Strong (קָטַל) | I-י (יָלַד) | I-י (יָדַע)
--- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | קָטַל | יָלַד | יָדַע
3fs | קָטְלָה | יָלְדָה | יָדְעָה
2ms | קָטַלְתָּ | יָלַדְתָּ | יָדַעְתָּ
1cs | קָטַלְתִּי | יָלַדְתִּי | יָדַעְתִּי
3cp | קָטְלוּ | יָלְדוּ | יָדְעוּ

→ Full paradigm: qal-perfect-weak-pe-paradigms.md (Part 2)

### Corpus Examples

- Gen 4:1 — וְהָ֣אָדָ֔ם יָדַ֖ע אֶת־חַוָּ֑ה — "the man knew Eve" (3ms perfect)
- Gen 4:17 — וַיֵּ֤דַע קַ֙יִן֙ — wayyiqtol for contrast (yod contracts in impf./wayyiqtol)
- Gen 4:18 — וַיִּוָּלֵד לַחֲנֹוךְ — Niphal wayyiqtol; note Qal perfect יָלַד is regular

## 8. Biconsonantal (II-י/ו)

### Pattern

Biconsonantal (hollow) roots have only two true consonants (R1 and R3); the middle
letter (R2) is a vowel letter — either ו (vav) or י (yod). In the Perfect:

- 3ms: short form with qamets: קָם, בָּא, שָׁב, מֵת (some use tsere)
- 3fs: ָה- suffix: קָ֫מָה, בָּ֫אָה, שָׁ֫בָה
- Suffixed persons (2ms, 1cs, 3cp etc.): the middle vowel letter appears: קַ֫מְתָּ, בָּ֫אתִי, שַׁ֫בְנוּ
- Important: Perfect 3ms = Participle ms (identical form) — context distinguishes them

### Diagnostic Markers

- 3ms: only two consonants + qamets (or tsere): קָם, שָׁב, בָּא
- 3fs/3cp: the two-consonant root + ָה-/וּ-
- Suffixed forms: medial vowel letter (ו/י) reappears: קַמְתָּ, בָּאתָ

### Paradigm Summary — Qal Perfect

Person | Strong (קָטַל) | Bicons. (קוּם) | Bicons. (שׁוּב) | Bicons. (בּוֹא)
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | קָטַל | קָם | שָׁב | בָּא
3fs | קָטְלָה | קָ֫מָה | שָׁ֫בָה | בָּ֫אָה
2ms | קָטַלְתָּ | קַ֫מְתָּ | שַׁ֫בְתָּ | בָּ֫אתָ
2fs | קָטַלְתְּ | קַ֫מְתְּ | שַׁ֫בְתְּ | בָּ֫את
1cs | קָטַלְתִּי | קַ֫מְתִּי | שַׁ֫בְתִּי | בָּ֫אתִי
3cp | קָטְלוּ | קָ֫מוּ | שָׁ֫בוּ | בָּ֫אוּ
2mp | קְטַלְתֶּם | קַמְתֶּם | שַׁבְתֶּם | בָּאתֶם

> Ambiguity note: The Qal Perfect 3ms (קָם) and the Qal Participle ms (also קָם) are
> identical in form. Context (syntactic position, presence of אֶת direct object marker,
> aspectual meaning) disambiguates them.

→ Full paradigm: qal-perfect-weak-biconsonantal-paradigms.md

### Corpus Examples

- Gen 19:1 — וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ שְׁנֵ֣י הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים — wayyiqtol 3mp (contrast with Perfect 3cp בָּ֫אוּ)
- Gen 22:19 — וַיָּ֣קׇם אַבְרָהָ֗ם — wayyiqtol 3ms; Perfect 3ms would be קָם
- Gen 3:24 — וַיְגָ֖רֶשׁ אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֑ם — "he drove out the man"; contrast with שׁוּב perfect
- Exo 14:8 — וּבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יֹצְאִ֥ים בְּיָ֥ד רָמָֽה — participle (contrast with בָּא perfect)

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

### Pattern

Geminate roots have R2 = R3 (e.g., ס-ב-ב, ת-מ-מ). In the Qal Perfect:

- 3ms: the doubled radical is written with dagesh forte in R2 when the root is
  "uncontracted": סָבַב, תָּמַם — or in contracted form with lengthening: סָ֫ב, תָּ֫ם
- Contracted 3ms: some Geminate roots use a short contracted form (R1 + long vowel):
  e.g., תָּ֫ם (from תָּמַם) — visually similar to Biconsonantal
- Suffixed forms: the doubled consonant appears: סַ֫בֹּתָ, תַּ֫מַּמְתִּי
- Critical confusable: Geminate and Biconsonantal 3ms forms can be nearly identical;
  only root knowledge (R2 = R3 for Geminate vs. middle vowel letter for Biconsonantal)
  reliably distinguishes them

### Diagnostic Markers

- Uncontracted 3ms: dagesh forte in R2 + patach: סָבַב (note: same two consonants for R2 and R3)
- Contracted 3ms: qamets + final repeated consonant marker (or just the root-letter): תָּ֫ם
- Suffixed forms: double-letter cluster: תַּ֫מַּמְתָּ, סַ֫בֹּתִי

### Paradigm Summary — Qal Perfect

Person | Strong (קָטַל) | Geminate (סָבַב) | Geminate (תָּמַם) | Biconsonantal (compare)
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | קָטַל | סָ֫בַב / סָ֫ב | תָּ֫מַם / תָּ֫ם | קָם
3fs | קָטְלָה | סָבְבָה / סָ֫בָּה | תַּ֫מָּה | קָ֫מָה
2ms | קָטַלְתָּ | סַ֫בֹּתָ | תַּ֫מּוֹתָ | קַ֫מְתָּ
1cs | קָטַלְתִּי | סַ֫בֹּתִי | תַּ֫מּוֹתִי | קַ֫מְתִּי
3cp | קָטְלוּ | סָ֫בְבוּ / סָ֫בּוּ | תַּ֫מּוּ | קָ֫מוּ

> Key: The dagesh forte in R2 (the doubled consonant) is the primary Geminate marker.
> When the doubled consonant is at the end of a word (3ms), look for two identical
> consonants — or a short contracted form with a qamets that may resemble Biconsonantal.
> Root knowledge is the only reliable final check.

→ Full paradigm: qal-perfect-weak-geminate-paradigms.md

### Corpus Examples

- Num 32:13 — וַיַּ֤נַּע אֹתָם֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר — (Hiphil wayyiqtol of נוע; Geminate for context)
- Deut 2:14 — עַ֠ד אֲשֶׁר תַּ֣מּוּ — "until they had all died" (3cp Geminate perfect of תמם)
- Psa 77:20 (Eng 77:19) — סָבְבוּ מֵימֶ֣יךָ — "your waters swirled" (3cp perfect of סבב)

## 10. High-Frequency Weak Lemmas — Torah Qal Perfect

Source: MACULA Hebrew WLC, Genesis–Deuteronomy, Qal Perfect (qatal) tokens. Weak roots only.

Root | Class | Torah tokens | OT tokens | Gloss
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
עָשָׂה | III-ה | 171 | 2,627 | do, make
הָיָה | III-ה | 143 | 3,576 | be, become
נָתַן | I-נ | 112 | 2,014 | give, set
אָמַר | I-gutt. | 98 | 5,308 | say
יָדַע | I-י | 83 | 944 | know
בּוֹא | Biconsonantal | 64 | 2,575 | come, go
שָׁמַע | III-gutt. | 52 | 1,159 | hear, listen
רָאָה | III-ה | 47 | 1,311 | see
מָצָא | III-א | 43 | 457 | find
יָלַד | I-י | 42 | 499 | bear, beget
לָקַח | I-gutt. | 40 | 967 | take
שָׁלַח | III-gutt. | 29 | 847 | send
קָרָא | III-א | 28 | 739 | call, read
מוּת | Biconsonantal | 22 | 837 | die
הָלַך | I-gutt.? / II-ל | 18 | 1,547 | walk, go
עָלָה | III-ה | 19 | 891 | go up
אָכַל | I-gutt. | 18 | 817 | eat

> Notice that essentially all of the highest-frequency Torah Qal Perfect verbs are weak.
> Mastering the eight weak classes in this chapter is not academic — it is essential for
> reading any page of the Torah.

## 11. Practice

Resource | Description
--- | ---
Morphology Flashcard Deck | ~40 cards across all eight weak classes; 1–2 roots per class.
Passage Exercise | Parse weak-root Qal Perfect verbs from a Torah passage; includes Weak Class column.
Weak-Form ID Drill | 40 forms across all eight classes — identify class, PGN, and root.