# Chapter 34 — Qal / Piel / Hithpael Contrast Drill (Strong Roots)

*BBH Chapter 34 · Hithpael Strong Verbs*

---

## Instructions

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

For each item:
1. Identify the **stem** (Qal / Piel / Hithpael).
2. State the **semantic function** the stem adds: basic action, factitive/causative-declarative, or reflexive/reciprocal.
3. Translate the form.

> **Tip:** The Hithpael is recognizable by its **הִתְ–** prefix (before R1) plus **Dagesh Forte** in R2. The Piel has Dagesh Forte in R2 without the prefix. The Qal has neither.

Write your answers in the blank Stem and Function columns.

---

## Exercise Table

### Group 1 — Root: קדשׁ (to be holy)

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | קָדַשׁ | | | |
| 2 | קִדֵּשׁ | | | |
| 3 | הִתְקַדֵּשׁ | | | |

---

### Group 2 — Root: כבד (to be heavy / honored)

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | כָּבֵד | | | |
| 5 | כִּבֵּד | | | |
| 6 | הִתְכַּבֵּד | | | |

---

### Group 3 — Root: שׁמר (to keep / guard) — **Note sibilant metathesis**

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | שָׁמַר | | | |
| 8 | שִׁמֵּר | | | |
| 9 | הִשְׁתַּמֵּר | | | |

> **Note:** Root שׁמר has a sibilant (שׁ) as R1. The Hithpael prefix הִתְ undergoes **metathesis**: the ת swaps with שׁ, giving הִשְׁתְּ instead of the expected *הִתְשְׁ.

---

### Group 4 — Root: פלל (to judge / intervene)

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | פָּלַל | | | |
| 11 | פִּלֵּל | | | |
| 12 | הִתְפַּלֵּל | | | |

---

### Group 5 — Root: ברך (to kneel / bless)

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | בָּרַךְ | | | |
| 14 | בֵּרַךְ | | | |
| 15 | הִתְבָּרֵךְ | | | |

---

## Stem Identification Summary

| Stem | Prefix | R2 Feature | Characteristic Vowel | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qal | none | none | Patakh/Tsere/Holem under R1 | Basic action / stative |
| Piel | none | Dagesh Forte | Tsere under R1 (perfect) | Factitive / intensive |
| Hithpael | הִתְ– | Dagesh Forte | Patakh under R1 (perfect) | Reflexive / reciprocal |

---

## Answer Key

### Group 1 — Root: קדשׁ

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | קָדַשׁ | **Qal** | Basic (stative): the subject is in the state | "he was holy / became holy" |
| 2 | קִדֵּשׁ | **Piel** | Factitive: subject causes the object to become holy | "he consecrated / made holy" |
| 3 | הִתְקַדֵּשׁ | **Hithpael** | Reflexive: subject acts on itself | "he consecrated himself / made himself holy" |

### Group 2 — Root: כבד

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | כָּבֵד | **Qal** | Basic (stative): subject is in the state of being heavy/honored | "he was heavy / was honored" |
| 5 | כִּבֵּד | **Piel** | Factitive: subject causes another to be honored | "he honored" |
| 6 | הִתְכַּבֵּד | **Hithpael** | Reflexive: subject honors or glorifies itself | "he honored himself / gloried" |

### Group 3 — Root: שׁמר *(sibilant metathesis)*

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | שָׁמַר | **Qal** | Basic: subject guards/keeps the object | "he kept / guarded" |
| 8 | שִׁמֵּר | **Piel** | Intensive: subject keeps/watches carefully | "he kept carefully / watched over" |
| 9 | הִשְׁתַּמֵּר | **Hithpael** | Reflexive: subject guards itself | "he kept himself / was on guard" *(הִתְ + שׁ → הִשְׁתְּ by sibilant metathesis)* |

### Group 4 — Root: פלל

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | פָּלַל | **Qal** | Basic: subject judges / intervenes | "he judged / intervened" |
| 11 | פִּלֵּל | **Piel** | Intensive: subject actively intercedes | "he judged / interceded" |
| 12 | הִתְפַּלֵּל | **Hithpael** | Reflexive/Denominative: subject pleads its own case before God | "he prayed" *(reflexive: pleaded his case before God)* |

### Group 5 — Root: ברך

| # | Hebrew | Stem | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | בָּרַךְ | **Qal** | Basic: subject kneels | "he knelt" |
| 14 | בֵּרַךְ | **Piel** | Factitive: subject conveys blessing to another | "he blessed" |
| 15 | הִתְבָּרֵךְ | **Hithpael** | Reflexive: subject receives or enacts blessing for itself | "he blessed himself / was blessed" |

---

## Discussion Questions

1. The Piel and Hithpael of קדשׁ look very similar: קִדֵּשׁ vs. הִתְקַדֵּשׁ. What two visual markers distinguish the Hithpael from the Piel in every strong-root form?
2. In Group 4, the Hithpael of פלל is commonly translated "to pray." How does the reflexive meaning ("to plead one's own case") illuminate the theology of prayer in the OT?
3. The Hithpael of ברך (הִתְבָּרֵךְ) is sometimes translated passively: "be blessed." What does this tell us about the overlap between the Hithpael's reflexive and passive functions?
4. Look at Groups 3 and note the metathesis form הִשְׁתַּמֵּר. Without the metathesis note, how would you have identified this as a Hithpael rather than a Hiphil or Niphal?
