# Chapter 33 — "Spot the Pual" Passage Exercise

**Stem:** Pual (פֻּעַל) — Weak Verbs
**Passages:** Gen 4:18, 4:26; 46:22 · Lev 7:36; Num 3:9 · Lev 8:35; Num 22:6; Psa 72:17

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## Instructions

For each bolded verb, indicate:

1. **Pual?** (Yes / No — is it the Pual stem?)
2. **Conjugation** (Perfect, Imperfect, Wayyiqtol, Weqatal, Imperative, Inf. Const., Inf. Abs., Participle)
3. **PGN** (Person–Gender–Number, e.g., 3ms, 2mp, 1cs)
4. **Root** (3-letter root, unvoweled)
5. **Stem / Function** (if Pual: Passive — identify the weak-root type and what the Piel means; if not: name the stem)

*Distractors include Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hophal forms. For each Pual form, identify the weak-root type: I-י (ילד), I-נ (נתן), or III-ה (צוה). The key Pual diagnostic remains: Qibbuts (ֻ) under R1 + Dagesh Forte in R2.*

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## Passage A — Genesis Genealogies (Gen 4:18; 4:26; 46:22)

*Context: Birth notices in the genealogical lists — the Pual passive of ילד (I-י root) appears repeatedly for "was born/begotten."*

> וַיִּוָּלֵ֤ד **לַחֲנוֹךְ֙** אֶת־עִירָ֔ד וְעִירָ֕ד **יָלַ֖ד (1)** אֶת־מְחוּיָאֵ֑ל

"And to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad **fathered (1)** Mehujael." (Gen 4:18)

| # | Verb | Pual? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | יָלַד | | | | | |

---

> אָ֣ז **הוּחַ֔ל (2)** לִקְרֹ֖א בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָֽה׃

"At that time people **began (2)** to call upon the name of the LORD." (Gen 4:26)

| # | Verb | Pual? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | הוּחַל | | | | | |

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> אֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י רָחֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֖ר **יֻלַּ֥ד (3)** לְיַעֲקֹֽב׃

"These are the sons of Rachel who **were born (3)** to Jacob." (Gen 46:22)

| # | Verb | Pual? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | יֻלַּד | | | | | |

---

> **וַיִּוָּלְד֥וּ (4)** לָהֶ֖ם בָנִ֑ים

"And sons **were born (4)** to them." (Gen 6:1 / cf. 46:20)

| # | Verb | Pual? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | וַיִּוָּלְדוּ | | | | | |

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## Passage B — Leviticus 7:36; Numbers 3:9

*Context: Priestly legislation — the Pual passive of נתן (I-נ root) expressing what "was given/commanded."*

> אֲשֶׁ֣ר **צִוָּ֤ה (5)** יְהוָה֙ לָתֵ֣ת לָהֶ֔ם בְּי֛וֹם מָשְׁח֥וֹ אֹתָ֖ם

"…which the LORD **commanded (5)** to give to them on the day he anointed them." (Lev 7:36)

| # | Verb | Pual? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | צִוָּה | | | | | |

---

> **וְנָתַתָּ֥ (6)** אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֖ם לְאַהֲרֹ֣ן וּלְבָנָ֑יו **נְתֻנִ֤ים (7)** נְתֻנִים֙ הֵ֔מָּה

"And you shall **give (6)** the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are **given (7)**, given." (Num 3:9)

| # | Verb | Pual? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | וְנָתַתָּ | | | | | |
| 7 | נְתֻנִים | | | | | |

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> **נֻתְּנ֧וּ (8)** לִ֛י הֵ֖מָּה מִתּ֥וֹךְ בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

"They **were given (8)** to me from among the people of Israel." (Num 3:9, continuation)

| # | Verb | Pual? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | נֻתְּנוּ | | | | | |

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## Passage C — Leviticus 8:35; Numbers 22:6; Psalm 72:17

*Context: The Pual of צוה (III-ה root) and the Pual of ברך (compensatory lengthening for ר).*

> וּפֶ֜תַח אֹ֤הֶל מוֹעֵד֙ תֵּֽשְׁב֔וּ יוֹמָ֖ם וָלַ֑יְלָה כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר **צֻוֵּ֧יתִי (9)** אֲנִ֛י כֵּ֥ן **צֻוֵּיתֶ֖ם (10)**

"At the entrance of the tent of meeting you shall remain day and night, as I **was commanded (9)**, so you **were commanded (10)**." (Lev 8:35)

| # | Verb | Pual? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | צֻוֵּיתִי | | | | | |
| 10 | צֻוֵּיתֶם | | | | | |

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> כִּ֣י יָדַ֗עְתִּי אֵ֤ת אֲשֶׁר־**תְּבָרֵךְ (11)** **מְבֹרָ֔ךְ (12)** וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּאֹ֖ר **יוּאָֽר (13)**

"…for I know that he whom you **bless (11)** is **blessed (12)**, and he whom you curse is **cursed (13)**." (Num 22:6)

| # | Verb | Pual? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | תְּבָרֵךְ | | | | | |
| 12 | מְבֹרָךְ | | | | | |
| 13 | יוּאָר | | | | | |

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> **יְבֹרַ֥ךְ (14)** שְׁמ֑וֹ לְעוֹלָ֑ם **יִתְנַהֵ֥ל (15)** לִפְנֵי־שֶׁ֗מֶשׁ שְׁמ֑וֹ

"May his name **be blessed (14)** forever; may his name endure before the sun." (Psa 72:17)

| # | Verb | Pual? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | יְבֹרַךְ | | | | | |
| 15 | יִתְנַהֵל | | | | | |

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## Reflection Questions

1. In Passage A, verb 3 (יֻלַּד, I-י Pual) and verb 4 (וַיִּוָּלְדוּ) both come from the same root ילד. Verb 3 is a Pual Perfect while verb 4 has a Wayyiqtol prefix pattern. Compare the vowel pattern of יֻלַּד (Pual) with a Niphal imperfect from the same root (יִוָּלֵד). How do the two passive forms differ in appearance and function?

2. Verbs 7–8 (נְתֻנִים / נֻתְּנוּ, I-נ Pual) show different inflections of the same root נתן. In the Pual, the נ of I-נ roots keeps its position as R1 and takes Qibbuts (נֻ). How does this differ from the behavior of נ in Qal Imperfect of I-נ roots (where נ typically assimilates into R2)?

3. Verbs 9–10 (צֻוֵּיתִי / צֻוֵּיתֶם, III-ה Pual) show that III-ה roots in the Pual Perfect replace the expected final ה with the consonant י before suffixes. Compare how the Piel active (צִוָּה, verb 5) and the Pual passive (צֻוֵּיתִי) differ: what vowel under R1 distinguishes Piel from Pual in this root class?

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## Answer Key

| # | Verb | Pual? | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Stem / Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | יָלַד | No | Perfect | 3ms | ילד | Qal — "fathered/begat" (active; Qal Perf 3ms vowel pattern) |
| 2 | הוּחַל | No | Perfect | 3ms | חלל | Hophal — "was begun" (הוּ prefix = Hophal Perfect; biconsonantal geminate) |
| 3 | יֻלַּד | Yes | Perfect | 3ms | ילד | Pual — Passive: "was born/begotten" (I-י root; Qibbuts under יֻ = R1 + Dagesh in לּ = R2) |
| 4 | וַיִּוָּלְדוּ | No | Wayyiqtol | 3mp | ילד | Niphal — Passive: "were born" (Niphal Wayyiqtol 3mp; יִוָּ = Niphal with I-י assimilation; no Qibbuts under R1) |
| 5 | צִוָּה | No | Perfect | 3ms | צוה | Piel — "commanded" (active; Hireq/i-class under R1 צִ = Piel; Dagesh in וּ = R2; III-ה ending) |
| 6 | וְנָתַתָּ | No | Weqatal | 2ms | נתן | Qal — "and you shall give" (Qal Weqatal; no u-class vowel under R1) |
| 7 | נְתֻנִים | Yes | Participle | mp | נתן | Pual — Passive: "given" (substantival; I-נ root; Qibbuts under תֻ = R2 of I-נ root; mp plural form; נ retained as R1) |
| 8 | נֻתְּנוּ | Yes | Perfect | 3cp | נתן | Pual — Passive: "were given" (I-נ root; Qibbuts under נֻ = R1 + Dagesh in תּ = R2 + plural suffix וּ) |
| 9 | צֻוֵּיתִי | Yes | Perfect | 1cs | צוה | Pual — Passive: "I was commanded" (III-ה root; Qibbuts under צֻ = R1 + Dagesh in וּ = R2; III-ה Perfect 1cs uses יתִי suffix) |
| 10 | צֻוֵּיתֶם | Yes | Perfect | 2mp | צוה | Pual — Passive: "you were commanded" (III-ה root; same Pual diagnostic; 2mp suffix יתֶם) |
| 11 | תְּבָרֵךְ | No | Imperfect | 2ms | ברך | Piel — Intensive: "you bless" (R2=ר; Piel identified by tsere under R2; active not passive) |
| 12 | מְבֹרָךְ | Yes | Participle | ms | ברך | Pual — Passive: "blessed" (R2=ר rejects Dagesh; compensatory Qamets under R1; Pual Ptc. prefix מְ) |
| 13 | יוּאָר | No | Imperfect | 3ms | ארר | Hophal — Passive: "shall be cursed" (יוּ prefix = u-class on preformative = Hophal Impf. marker; no Qibbuts under R1 + Dagesh R2) |
| 14 | יְבֹרַךְ | Yes | Imperfect | 3ms | ברך | Pual — Passive: "may his name be blessed" (R2=ר rejects Dagesh; compensatory Qamets; יְ + Qamets under R1 = Pual Impf.) |
| 15 | יִתְנַהֵל | No | Imperfect | 3ms | נהל | Hithpael — Reflexive: "may his name continue/endure" (יִתְ prefix = Hithpael marker) |

> **Notes on distractors:**
> - **#1 יָלַד** is Qal Perfect 3ms (active "fathered") — no Qibbuts under R1.
> - **#2 הוּחַל** is Hophal Perfect (הוּ prefix) of חלל — note the u-class vowel is on the prefix consonant, not R1.
> - **#4 וַיִּוָּלְדוּ** is Niphal Wayyiqtol 3mp — יִוָּ shows the I-י Niphal pattern (yod assimilates with Dagesh in ו).
> - **#5 צִוָּה** is Piel Perfect 3ms (active "commanded") — Hireq under R1 (צִ) is the i-class Piel marker.
> - **#13 יוּאָר** is Hophal Imperfect — the יוּ prefix (Shureq) is the Hophal marker; compare Pual Imperfect יְקֻטַּל pattern.
> - **#15 יִתְנַהֵל** is Hithpael — the יִתְ prefix is the Hithpael marker, not a Pual form.
