# Chapter 35 — Qal / Piel / Hithpael Contrast Drill (Weak Roots)

*BBH Chapter 35 · Hithpael Weak Verbs*

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## Instructions

Each group of three forms shares the same root. The three forms represent the **Qal**, **Piel**, and **Hithpael** Perfect 3ms of a **weak root**.

For each item:
1. Identify the **stem** (Qal / Piel / Hithpael).
2. Identify the **weak class** (III-ה, sibilant metathesis, geminate, etc.).
3. State how the weakness affects the form.
4. Translate the form.

> **Tip:** Weak roots alter the expected pattern. For III-ה roots, the ה ending (with Qamets under R2 in perfect 3ms) is the key marker. Sibilant metathesis changes הִתְ to הִשְׁתְּ / הִצְטְ. Geminate roots have identical R2 and R3.

Write your answers in the blank columns.

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## Weak Root Reference

| Class | Signal | Example |
|---|---|---|
| **III-ה** | Perfect 3ms ends in ָ–ה; wayyiqtol apocopates (ה dropped) | גָּלָה, עָנָה |
| **Sibilant (שׁ/שׂ/ס)** | הִתְ + שׁ → הִשְׁתְּ (ת and שׁ swap) | שָׁמַר → הִשְׁתַּמֵּר |
| **Sibilant (צ)** | הִתְ + צ → הִצְטְ (ת assimilates to ט and swaps with צ) | צָדַק → הִצְטַדֵּק |
| **Geminate** | R2 = R3; compensatory lengthening or doubling | הָלַל → הִתְהַלֵּל |

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## Exercise Table

### Group 1 — Root: גלה (III-ה: to uncover / go into exile)

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Weak Class | Weakness Effect | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | גָּלָה | | | | |
| 2 | גִּלָּה | | | | |
| 3 | הִתְגַּלָּה | | | | |

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### Group 2 — Root: שׁמר (sibilant: to keep / guard)

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Weak Class | Weakness Effect | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | שָׁמַר | | | | |
| 5 | שִׁמֵּר | | | | |
| 6 | הִשְׁתַּמֵּר | | | | |

---

### Group 3 — Root: צדק (sibilant צ: to be righteous)

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Weak Class | Weakness Effect | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | צָדַק | | | | |
| 8 | צִדֵּק | | | | |
| 9 | הִצְטַדֵּק | | | | |

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### Group 4 — Root: הלל (geminate: to shine / praise)

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Weak Class | Weakness Effect | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | הָלַל | | | | |
| 11 | הִלֵּל | | | | |
| 12 | הִתְהַלֵּל | | | | |

---

### Group 5 — Root: ענה (III-ה: to answer / afflict)

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Weak Class | Weakness Effect | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | עָנָה | | | | |
| 14 | עִנָּה | | | | |
| 15 | הִתְעַנָּה | | | | |

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## Stem Identification Summary

| Stem | III-ה Perfect 3ms marker | Sibilant Hithpael prefix | Geminate Hithpael feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qal | Qamets + ה | normal Qal prefix | normal Qal form |
| Piel | Qamets + ה (with Dagesh in R2) | normal Piel prefix | Dagesh in R2 (= R3); Tsere under R2 |
| Hithpael | Qamets + ה (הִתְ prefix) | הִשְׁתַּ– or הִצְטַ– | הִתְ prefix + Dagesh in R2/R3 |

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## Answer Key

### Group 1 — Root: גלה (III-ה)

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Weak Class | Weakness Effect | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | גָּלָה | **Qal** | III-ה | Perfect 3ms ends in Qamets + ה (ָ–ה); ה is the weak R3 | "he went into exile / uncovered" |
| 2 | גִּלָּה | **Piel** | III-ה | Dagesh in R2 (לּ); R3 (ה) appears as Qamets + ה; Piel contracts R3-ה | "he revealed" |
| 3 | הִתְגַּלָּה | **Hithpael** | III-ה | הִתְ prefix + Dagesh in R2 + Qamets + ה at end (R3-ה preserved) | "he revealed himself" |

### Group 2 — Root: שׁמר (sibilant metathesis)

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Weak Class | Weakness Effect | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | שָׁמַר | **Qal** | sibilant (R1 = שׁ) | No effect in Qal; sibilant only affects Hithpael prefix | "he kept / guarded" |
| 5 | שִׁמֵּר | **Piel** | sibilant (R1 = שׁ) | No effect in Piel | "he carefully kept / watched over" |
| 6 | הִשְׁתַּמֵּר | **Hithpael** | sibilant metathesis | הִתְ + שׁ → הִשְׁתְּ (ת and שׁ swap positions); Dagesh in R2 retained | "he kept himself / was on guard" |

### Group 3 — Root: צדק (sibilant צ with assimilation)

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Weak Class | Weakness Effect | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | צָדַק | **Qal** | sibilant (R1 = צ) | No effect in Qal | "he was righteous" |
| 8 | צִדֵּק | **Piel** | sibilant (R1 = צ) | No effect in Piel | "he declared righteous / justified" |
| 9 | הִצְטַדֵּק | **Hithpael** | sibilant metathesis + assimilation | הִתְ + צ → ת assimilates to ט (dental matching) then swaps with צ → הִצְטְ | "he justified himself" |

### Group 4 — Root: הלל (geminate)

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Weak Class | Weakness Effect | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | הָלַל | **Qal** | geminate (R2 = R3 = ל) | Both radicals appear; no contraction in Qal perfect 3ms | "he shone / praised" |
| 11 | הִלֵּל | **Piel** | geminate | Dagesh Forte in R2 = R3 (לּ); Tsere under R1 | "he praised" |
| 12 | הִתְהַלֵּל | **Hithpael** | geminate | הִתְ prefix + Dagesh Forte in R2/R3 (לּ) → הִתְהַלֵּל | "he boasted / praised himself" |

### Group 5 — Root: ענה (III-ה)

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Weak Class | Weakness Effect | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | עָנָה | **Qal** | III-ה | Perfect 3ms ends in Qamets + ה | "he answered" |
| 14 | עִנָּה | **Piel** | III-ה | Dagesh in R2 (נּ) + Qamets + ה | "he afflicted" |
| 15 | הִתְעַנָּה | **Hithpael** | III-ה | הִתְ prefix + Dagesh in R2 + Qamets + ה (R3-ה preserved) | "he afflicted himself / fasted" |

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## Discussion Questions

1. In Group 2, the Qal and Piel forms of שׁמר show no change from the strong pattern, but the Hithpael הִשְׁתַּמֵּר looks dramatically different. Why does the sibilant only affect the Hithpael and not the other stems?
2. Compare the metathesis forms in Groups 2 and 3: הִשְׁתַּמֵּר vs. הִצְטַדֵּק. What additional change occurs with the צ root that does not occur with the שׁ root?
3. In Group 4, the Piel הִלֵּל begins with הִ– which looks like a Hiphil or Hithpael prefix. How do you distinguish Piel הִלֵּל from Hiphil or Hithpael forms of the same root?
4. Both Groups 1 and 5 are III-ה roots. Compare the Piel forms גִּלָּה and עִנָּה. What is the same and what is different? What causes the difference in R2 pointing?
