# Chapter 24 — Semantic Function Sorting

BBH Chapter 24 · Niphal Strong Verbs

Classify each Niphal form by its semantic function using the legend below.

Code | Function
--- | ---
P | Passive — subject receives the action
R | Reflexive — subject acts on or for itself
RC | Reciprocal — subjects act on one another
SA | Simple Action — Niphal-only root; no distinct Qal meaning

Tip: Ask "Is the subject receiving the action, doing it to itself, doing it mutually, or is this simply what the root means in the Niphal?" When in doubt, check whether the Qal of the same root expresses an action that could logically be applied to the Niphal subject.

# | Hebrew Form | Conjugation | Reference | Gloss | Function |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | וַיִּמָּכֵר | Wayyiqtol 3ms | Gen 37:36 | "and Joseph was sold into Egypt" |  |
P — Joseph receives the action of being sold
2 | נִצָּבָה | Perfect 3fs | Gen 37:7 | "my sheaf stood upright" |  |
R — The sheaf stations itself upright (acts on itself)
3 | וַיִּנָּחֶם | Wayyiqtol 3ms | Gen 6:6 | "the LORD regretted" |  |
SA — נָחַם Niphal-only: no standard Qal; "to regret/relent" is the base meaning
4 | יֵאָכֵל | Imperfect 3ms | Exo 12:46 | "it shall be eaten" |  |
P — The Passover lamb receives the action of eating
5 | הִשָּׁמְרוּ | Imperative 2mp | Exo 19:12 | "take heed for yourselves!" |  |
R — Guard yourselves — the subject directs the keeping action back on itself
6 | נִשְׁמַע | Perfect 3ms | Gen 45:16 | "the report was heard" |  |
P — The report receives the action of hearing — it becomes audible
7 | הִשָּׁבְעָה | Imperative 2ms | Gen 47:31 | "swear to me!" |  |
R — Bind yourself by oath (reflexive oath-taking)
8 | הַנִּמְצָא | Participle ms | Gen 47:14 | "that which was found" |  |
P — The silver was found (discovered by Joseph's collectors)
9 | וְנִכְרְתָה | Weqatal 3fs | Exo 12:15 | "that person will be cut off" |  |
P — The person receives the covenant-exclusion penalty
10 | נִצָּבִים | Participle mp | Exo 5:20 | "standing before Pharaoh" |  |
R — The overseers have stationed themselves before Pharaoh
11 | אִוָּעֵד | Imperfect 1cs | Exo 29:42 | "I will meet with you there" |  |
RC — God and Israel meet one another at the tent of meeting
12 | וַיִּשָּׁבַע | Wayyiqtol 3ms | Gen 47:31 | "and he swore to him" |  |
R — Jacob binds himself by oath at Joseph's request
13 | וַיֵּאָסֶף | Wayyiqtol 3ms | Gen 49:33 | "and he was gathered to his people" |  |
P — Jacob is gathered in (brought to his ancestors — die)
14 | יִלָּחֵם | Imperfect 3ms | Exo 14:14 | "the LORD will fight for you" |  |
SA — לָחַם Niphal-only: "to fight" is the base meaning
15 | נִשְׁבְּעוּ | Weqatal 3mp | Gen 21:31 | "both of them swore" |  |
R — Abraham and Abimelech each bind themselves — reflexive, not quite reciprocal since each takes the oath individually
16 | תִּכָּרֵת | Imperfect 3fs | Gen 41:36 | "the land will not be cut off" |  |
P — The land would be cut off (suffer the action of deprivation)
17 | נִלְחָם | Participle ms | Exo 14:25 | "the LORD is fighting for them" |  |
SA — לָחַם Niphal-only: the LORD is fighting (no Qal to contrast)
18 | הֵאָסְפוּ | Imperative 2mp | Gen 49:1 | "gather yourselves!" |  |
P — Gather yourselves (be gathered) — passive-like imperative of assembly
19 | וְנוֹעֲדוּ | Weqatal 3mp | Num 10:3 | "all the congregation shall assemble" |  |
RC — The congregation assembles mutually, gathering together
20 | נִחַמְתִּי | Weqatal 1cs | Gen 6:7 | "I regret that I made them" |  |
SA — נָחַם Niphal-only: "I regret" is the base meaning
21 | נְמַלְתֶּם | Weqatal 2mp | Gen 17:11 | "you shall be circumcised" |  |
P — The males receive the action of circumcision
22 | נִצַּבְתָּ | Perfect 2ms | Exo 7:15 | "station yourself to meet him" |  |
R — Moses stations himself (positions himself) at the Nile
23 | לְהִלָּחֵם | Inf. Construct | Exo 17:10 | "to fight against Amalek" |  |
SA — לָחַם Niphal-only: "to fight" — the inf. construct form
24 | יִמָּצֵא | Imperfect 3ms | Gen 44:9 | "whoever is found [with the cup]" |  |
P — Whoever is discovered (the cup is found on him)
25 | הִמָּצֵא יִמָּצֵא | Inf. Abs. + Imperfect | Exo 22:3 | "if it is actually found in his possession" |  |
P — Emphatic passive — the stolen item is certainly found; the doubling stresses the discovery

## Discussion Questions

1. Items 3, 14, 17, 20, and 23 all involve "Simple Action" Niphal-only roots (נָחַם and לָחַם). What is the practical difference between a Niphal-only root and a root that simply lacks a Qal in the OT corpus? How would a lexicon help you distinguish them?
2. Compare items 7 and 12 (both שָׁבַע Niphal). The imperative (item 7) and the wayyiqtol (item 12) appear in the same verse (Gen 47:31). How does the sequential narrative create a scene of formal oath-taking? What does each form contribute?
3. Item 11 (אִוָּעֵד — Reciprocal) differs subtly from item 19 (וְנוֹעֲדוּ — Reciprocal). In Exo 29:42 God promises to meet with Israel; in Num 10:3 the congregation assembles. Is the "reciprocal" label equally apt for both? Who initiates the meeting in each case?
4. Item 18 (הֵאָסְפוּ) is listed as Passive, yet it is an imperative addressed to Jacob's sons. Explain how a Niphal imperative can be both a command and passive in force.