# Chapter 34 — Hithpael Semantic Function Sorting

*BBH Chapter 34 · Hithpael Strong Verbs*

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## Instructions

Below are 25 Hithpael verb forms drawn from the OT. Each item gives you the Hebrew form, its conjugation, root, reference, and a contextual gloss.

**For each item, classify the Hithpael as one of the five semantic functions:**

| Code | Function | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| **R** | Reflexive | Subject acts on or for itself; the subject is also the object |
| **RC** | Reciprocal | Subjects act on one another mutually |
| **IT** | Iterative/Frequentative | Action is repeated, habitual, or extended through time |
| **ES** | Estimative/Declarative | Subject presents or considers itself as being in a state |
| **DN** | Denominative | Derived from a noun; subject performs the noun's action |

> **Tip:** Ask: Is the subject doing the action *to itself* (Reflexive)? *To one another* (Reciprocal)? *Repeatedly/continuously* (Iterative)? *Presenting itself as X* (Estimative)? *Performing a noun's characteristic action* (Denominative)?

Write your answer (R / RC / IT / ES / DN) in the blank column.

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## Exercise Table

| # | Hebrew | Conjugation | Root | Ref | Gloss | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | מִתְהַלֵּךְ | Participle ms | הָלַךְ | Gen 3:8 | walking about | |
| 2 | וַיִּתְחַבֵּא | Wayyiqtol 3ms | חָבָא | Gen 3:8 | he hid himself | |
| 3 | וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ | Wayyiqtol 3ms | הָלַךְ | Gen 5:22 | he walked about | |
| 4 | וַיִּתְעַצֵּב | Wayyiqtol 3ms | עָצַב | Gen 6:6 | he was grieved | |
| 5 | וַיִּתְגַּל | Wayyiqtol 3ms | גָּלָה | Gen 9:21 | he uncovered himself | |
| 6 | הִתְהַלֵּךְ | Imperative 2ms | הָלַךְ | Gen 13:17 | walk about! | |
| 7 | הִתְעַנִּי | Imperative 2fs | עָנָה | Gen 16:9 | humble yourself! | |
| 8 | הִתְהַלֵּךְ | Imperative 2ms | הָלַךְ | Gen 17:1 | walk about before me | |
| 9 | וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ | Wayyiqtol 3ms | שָׁחָה | Gen 18:2 | he bowed down | |
| 10 | וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ | Wayyiqtol 3ms | שָׁחָה | Gen 19:1 | he bowed down | |
| 11 | וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל | Wayyiqtol 3ms | פָּלַל | Gen 20:17 | he prayed | |
| 12 | הִתְבָּרֲכוּ | Weqatal 3cp | בָּרַךְ | Gen 22:18 | they will bless themselves | |
| 13 | הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי | Qatal 1cs | הָלַךְ | Gen 24:40 | I have walked about | |
| 14 | וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ | Wayyiqtol 3ms | שָׁחָה | Gen 24:26 | he bowed down | |
| 15 | הִתְעַשְּׂקוּ | Qatal 3cp | עָשַׂק | Gen 26:20 | they quarreled | |
| 16 | מִתְנַחֵם | Participle ms | נָחַם | Gen 27:42 | is comforting himself | |
| 17 | וַיִּתְנַכְּלוּ | Wayyiqtol 3mp | נָכַל | Gen 37:18 | they plotted against | |
| 18 | וַיִּתְאַבֵּל | Wayyiqtol 3ms | אָבַל | Gen 37:34 | he mourned | |
| 19 | וַתִּתְכַּסֶּה | Wayyiqtol 3fs | כָּסָה | Gen 24:65 | she covered herself | |
| 20 | וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ | Wayyiqtol 3mp | שָׁחָה | Gen 33:7 | they bowed down | |
| 21 | אֶתְנַהֲלָה | Cohortative 1cs | נָהַל | Gen 33:14 | I will journey on slowly | |
| 22 | הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ | Imperative 2mp | קָדַשׁ | Exo 19:22 | consecrate yourselves! | |
| 23 | וַיִּתְחַזֵּק | Wayyiqtol 3ms | חָזַק | Exo 7:13 | and his heart was strengthened | |
| 24 | יִתְהַלְּלוּ | Imperfect 3mp | הָלַל | Ps 97:7 | they glory in idols | |
| 25 | הִתְחַזְּקוּ | Imperative 2mp | חָזַק | Jos 1:6 | be strong! | |

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## 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?

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## Answer Key

| # | Root | Function | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | הָלַךְ | **IT** | Walking back and forth — ongoing, habitual movement (not a single walk) |
| 2 | חָבָא | **R** | Adam hid himself — the subject performed the action on himself |
| 3 | הָלַךְ | **IT** | Enoch walked with God habitually over his lifetime |
| 4 | עָצַב | **R** | God's inner grief directed inward — subject in reflexive/internal state |
| 5 | גָּלָה | **R** | Noah uncovered himself — acted upon his own body (III-he root: apocopated wayyiqtol) |
| 6 | הָלַךְ | **IT** | Command to traverse the land repeatedly |
| 7 | עָנָה | **R** | Return and humble yourself — subject submits herself |
| 8 | הָלַךְ | **IT** | "Walk about before me" — ongoing conduct of life |
| 9 | שָׁחָה | **R** | Prostrated himself — acted upon his own body in obeisance |
| 10 | שָׁחָה | **R** | Same root; Lot bowed himself to the ground |
| 11 | פָּלַל | **DN** | From intercession concept — performing the characteristic act of the go-between/intercessor |
| 12 | בָּרַךְ | **R** | "Bless themselves" — nations enacting blessing for/upon themselves (reflexive reading of the Hithpael formula) |
| 13 | הָלַךְ | **IT** | "I have walked" — a pattern of conduct over time |
| 14 | שָׁחָה | **R** | Bowed himself down in gratitude |
| 15 | עָשַׂק | **RC** | They quarreled with one another — mutual strife between two parties (Gen 26:20) |
| 16 | נָחַם | **R** | Comforting himself — reflexive inner state |
| 17 | נָכַל | **RC** | They plotted together against Joseph — conspiracy involves mutuality of action |
| 18 | אָבַל | **R** | Jacob mourned — inward grief expressed outwardly; subject in a self-directed state |
| 19 | כָּסָה | **R** | She covered herself — veiled herself at the approach of Isaac |
| 20 | שָׁחָה | **R** | They bowed themselves down — each prostrating his own body |
| 21 | נָהַל | **IT** | "I will journey along slowly" — gradual, ongoing movement at a measured pace |
| 22 | קָדַשׁ | **R** | Consecrate yourselves — prepare/purify your own persons |
| 23 | חָזַק | **R** | His heart strengthened itself — the heart is both agent and object |
| 24 | הָלַל | **ES** | They present themselves as glorious/praiseworthy before idols — estimative display |
| 25 | חָזַק | **ES** | Present yourself as strong = be strong; Hithpael adds the performative/volitional nuance absent from Qal |

### Function summary

| Function | Items | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Reflexive | 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23 | 13 |
| Iterative | 1, 3, 6, 8, 13, 21 | 6 |
| Reciprocal | 15, 17 | 2 |
| Estimative | 24, 25 | 2 |
| Denominative | 11 | 1 |
| **Total** | | **25** |
