# Chapter 34 — Hithpael Semantic Function Sorting

BBH Chapter 34 · Hithpael Strong Verbs

Classify each Hithpael verb as R (Reflexive), RC (Reciprocal), IT (Iterative), ES (Estimative), or DN (Denominative). Type your answer in the Function column, then click ▶ Answer to check.

Code | Function | Diagnostic question
--- | --- | ---
R | Reflexive | Is the subject doing the action to or for itself? (Subject = object)
RC | Reciprocal | Are multiple subjects acting on one another mutually?
IT | Iterative/Frequentative | Is the action repeated, habitual, or extended through time?
ES | Estimative/Declarative | Is the subject presenting or considering itself as being in a state?
DN | Denominative | Is the verb derived from a noun, with the subject performing the noun's characteristic action?

Tip: Subject acts on itself → Reflexive. Subjects act on one another → Reciprocal. Action repeated/habitual → Iterative. Subject presents itself as X → Estimative. Verb built from a noun → Denominative.

# | Hebrew | Conjugation | Root | Ref | Gloss | Function |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | מִתְהַלֵּךְ | Participle ms | הָלַךְ | Gen 3:8 | "walking about" |  |
IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · Walking back and forth — ongoing, habitual movement, not a single walk
2 | וַיִּתְחַבֵּא | Wayyiqtol 3ms | חָבָא | Gen 3:8 | "he hid himself" |  |
R — Reflexive · Root: חָבָא · Adam hid himself — the subject is both agent and object of the hiding action
3 | וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ | Wayyiqtol 3ms | הָלַךְ | Gen 5:22 | "he walked about" |  |
IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · Enoch walked with God habitually over his lifetime — a pattern of conduct, not a single event
4 | וַיִּתְעַצֵּב | Wayyiqtol 3ms | עָצַב | Gen 6:6 | "he was grieved" |  |
R — Reflexive · Root: עָצַב · God's grief is directed inward — subject experiencing the action within itself
5 | וַיִּתְגַּל | Wayyiqtol 3ms | גָּלָה | Gen 9:21 | "he uncovered himself" |  |
R — Reflexive · Root: גָּלָה · Noah uncovered himself — acted upon his own body (III-he root: apocopated wayyiqtol, ה dropped)
6 | הִתְהַלֵּךְ | Imperative 2ms | הָלַךְ | Gen 13:17 | "walk about!" |  |
IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · Command to traverse the land repeatedly in all directions
7 | הִתְעַנִּי | Imperative 2fs | עָנָה | Gen 16:9 | "humble yourself!" |  |
R — Reflexive · Root: עָנָה · Return and humble yourself — the subject is commanded to submit herself
8 | הִתְהַלֵּךְ | Imperative 2ms | הָלַךְ | Gen 17:1 | "walk about before me" |  |
IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · "Walk before me" — ongoing conduct of life as a pattern of faithfulness
9 | וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ | Wayyiqtol 3ms | שָׁחָה | Gen 18:2 | "he bowed down" |  |
R — Reflexive · Root: שָׁחָה · Abraham prostrated himself — acted upon his own body in obeisance (metathesis + III-he form)
10 | וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ | Wayyiqtol 3ms | שָׁחָה | Gen 19:1 | "he bowed down" |  |
R — Reflexive · Root: שָׁחָה · Same form as #9; Lot bowed himself to the ground before the angelic visitors
11 | וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל | Wayyiqtol 3ms | פָּלַל | Gen 20:17 | "he prayed" |  |
DN — Denominative · Root: פָּלַל · Performing the characteristic act of intercession — "to act as an intercessor/mediator" derived from a judicial/arbitration concept
12 | הִתְבָּרֲכוּ | Weqatal 3cp | בָּרַךְ | Gen 22:18 | "they will bless themselves" |  |
R — Reflexive · Root: בָּרַךְ · Nations enacting blessing for themselves through Abraham's seed; the reflexive reading of this debated formula
13 | הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי | Qatal 1cs | הָלַךְ | Gen 24:40 | "I have walked about" |  |
IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · Abraham's report of a lifetime pattern of walking before the LORD
14 | וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ | Wayyiqtol 3ms | שָׁחָה | Gen 24:26 | "he bowed down" |  |
R — Reflexive · Root: שָׁחָה · Abraham's servant bowed himself down in gratitude to the LORD
15 | הִתְעַשְּׂקוּ | Qatal 3cp | עָשַׂק | Gen 26:20 | "they quarreled" |  |
RC — Reciprocal · Root: עָשַׂק · Isaac's herdsmen and the local herdsmen quarreled with one another — mutual strife between two parties
16 | מִתְנַחֵם | Participle ms | נָחַם | Gen 27:42 | "is comforting himself" |  |
R — Reflexive · Root: נָחַם · Esau is consoling himself with plans of revenge — inward reflexive state
17 | וַיִּתְנַכְּלוּ | Wayyiqtol 3mp | נָכַל | Gen 37:18 | "they plotted against" |  |
RC — Reciprocal · Root: נָכַל · Joseph's brothers conspired together against him — the plotting involves mutual coordination among multiple agents
18 | וַיִּתְאַבֵּל | Wayyiqtol 3ms | אָבַל | Gen 37:34 | "he mourned" |  |
R — Reflexive · Root: אָבַל · Jacob mourned — inward grief directed toward himself, expressed outwardly through mourning rites
19 | וַתִּתְכַּסֶּה | Wayyiqtol 3fs | כָּסָה | Gen 24:65 | "she covered herself" |  |
R — Reflexive · Root: כָּסָה · Rebekah veiled herself — performed the action upon her own person at the approach of Isaac
20 | וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ | Wayyiqtol 3mp | שָׁחָה | Gen 33:7 | "they bowed down" |  |
R — Reflexive · Root: שָׁחָה · Leah and her children each prostrated themselves — each one performed the action upon his/her own body
21 | אֶתְנַהֲלָה | Cohortative 1cs | נָהַל | Gen 33:14 | "I will journey on slowly" |  |
IT — Iterative · Root: נָהַל · "I will lead along slowly" — gradual, ongoing movement at a measured pace through the journey
22 | הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ | Imperative 2mp | קָדַשׁ | Exo 19:22 | "consecrate yourselves!" |  |
R — Reflexive · Root: קָדַשׁ · The priests are commanded to prepare/purify their own persons — they apply holiness to themselves
23 | וַיִּתְחַזֵּק | Wayyiqtol 3ms | חָזַק | Exo 7:13 | "and his heart was strengthened" |  |
R — Reflexive · Root: חָזַק · Pharaoh's heart strengthened itself — the heart is simultaneously agent and object of the hardening
24 | יִתְהַלְּלוּ | Imperfect 3mp | הָלַל | Ps 97:7 | "they glory in idols" |  |
ES — Estimative · Root: הָלַל · They present themselves as glorious/praiseworthy before idols — the subject is performing/displaying a posture of glory
25 | הִתְחַזְּקוּ | Imperative 2mp | חָזַק | Jos 1:6 | "be strong!" |  |
ES — Estimative · Root: חָזַק · Present yourself as strong = show yourself to be strong; the Hithpael adds a performative/volitional nuance absent from Qal חָזַק

## Discussion Questions

1. The Hithpael of הָלַךְ appears five times (items 1, 3, 6, 8, 13). Why is this classified as Iterative rather than Reflexive? What does the "walking about" context add that a single walk would not?
2. Item 12 (הִתְבָּרֲכוּ, Gen 22:18): this form can be translated "bless themselves" (Reflexive) or "be blessed" (passive-like). The same tension appears in Gen 12:3. What grammatical evidence would help decide between these interpretations?
3. Items 15 (הִתְעַשְּׂקוּ, quarreled) and 17 (וַיִּתְנַכְּלוּ, plotted): both involve conflict between parties. What makes one Reciprocal and the other more Reflexive/Collective? Does the context of Gen 26:20 vs. Gen 37:18 help?
4. Items 24–25 (Estimative): the ES function is the rarest Hithpael class. In what way does הִתְחַזֵּק ("present yourself as strong" → "be strong") differ from a plain Qal חָזַק ("be strong")? What does the Hithpael add pragmatically?