# Niphal (נִפְעַל) — Full Conjugation Paradigms

Model root: קטל (Qal: קָטַל). All forms are strong-root paradigms.
Qal column is included for direct comparison at each conjugation.
Source: Basics of Biblical Hebrew, Pratico & Van Pelt, Ch. 24

## Perfect (Qatal)

BBH §24.4 — Niphal prefix: נִ; characteristic vowel: patach under first root letter

Person | Qal | Niphal
--- | --- | ---
3ms | קָטַל | נִקְטַל
3fs | קָטְלָה | נִקְטְלָה
3cp | קָטְלוּ | נִקְטְלוּ
2ms | קָטַלְתָּ | נִקְטַלְתָּ
2mp | קְטַלְתֶּם | נִקְטַלְתֶּם
2fs | קָטַלְתְּ | נִקְטַלְתְּ
2fp | קְטַלְתֶּן | נִקְטַלְתֶּן
1cs | קָטַלְתִּי | נִקְטַלְתִּי
1cp | קָטַלְנוּ | נִקְטַלְנוּ

> Key marker: נִ prefix + patach under first root consonant. Distinguished from Hiphil perfect (הִקְטִיל) by נִ vs. הִ and the absence of the characteristic chiriq in the second syllable.

## Imperfect (Yiqtol)

BBH §24.6 — Niphal: dagesh forte in first root letter (assimilated נ) + tsere in final syllable

Person | Qal | Niphal
--- | --- | ---
3ms | יִקְטֹל | יִקָּטֵל
3fs | תִּקְטֹל | תִּקָּטֵל
3mp | יִקְטְלוּ | יִקָּטְלוּ
3fp | תִּקְטֹלְנָה | תִּקָּטַלְנָה
2ms | תִּקְטֹל | תִּקָּטֵל
2fs | תִּקְטְלִי | תִּקָּטְלִי
2mp | תִּקְטְלוּ | תִּקָּטְלוּ
2fp | תִּקְטֹלְנָה | תִּקָּטַלְנָה
1cs | אֶקְטֹל | אֶקָּטֵל
1cp | נִקְטֹל | נִקָּטֵל

> Key marker: Doubled (dagesh forte) first root consonant + tsere in final syllable. The doubling reflects assimilation of the נ prefix. Qal has hiriq prefix + holem final (יִקְטֹל); Niphal has same prefix vowel but dagesh in R1 and tsere final.

## Wayyiqtol

Sequential narrative form of the imperfect. Same dagesh + tsere pattern as the yiqtol.

Person | Qal | Niphal
--- | --- | ---
3ms | וַיִּקְטֹל | וַיִּקָּטֵל
3fs | וַתִּקְטֹל | וַתִּקָּטֵל
3mp | וַיִּקְטְלוּ | וַיִּקָּטְלוּ
3fp | וַתִּקְטֹלְנָה | וַתִּקָּטַלְנָה
2ms | וַתִּקְטֹל | וַתִּקָּטֵל
2mp | וַתִּקְטְלוּ | וַתִּקָּטְלוּ
1cs | וָאֶקְטֹל | וָאֶקָּטֵל
1cp | וַנִּקְטֹל | וַנִּקָּטֵל

> Key marker: Both Qal and Niphal use וַיִּ prefix — the distinguishing feature is the dagesh forte in R1 in the Niphal (וַיִּקָּטֵל) vs. its absence in the Qal (וַיִּקְטֹל).

## Weqatal

Sequential future/consequential form of the perfect. וְ + perfect form.

Person | Qal | Niphal
--- | --- | ---
3ms | וְקָטַל | וְנִקְטַל
3fs | וְקָטְלָה | וְנִקְטְלָה
3cp | וְקָטְלוּ | וְנִקְטְלוּ
2ms | וְקָטַלְתָּ | וְנִקְטַלְתָּ
2mp | וּקְטַלְתֶּם | וְנִקְטַלְתֶּם
1cs | וְקָטַלְתִּי | וְנִקְטַלְתִּי
1cp | וְקָטַלְנוּ | וְנִקְטַלְנוּ

> Key marker: וְ + identical to the perfect paradigm. Context distinguishes it from a simple perfect with vav-conjunction.

## Imperative

BBH §24.8 — Niphal prefix: הִ; tsere in final syllable

Form | Qal | Niphal
--- | --- | ---
2ms | קְטֹל | הִקָּטֵל
2fs | קִטְלִי | הִקָּטְלִי
2mp | קִטְלוּ | הִקָּטְלוּ
2fp | קְטֹלְנָה | הִקָּטַלְנָה

> Key marker: Niphal imperative has הִ prefix (hiriq) + dagesh in R1 + tsere. Qal has no prefix. Distinguish from Hiphil imperative (הַקְטֵל — patach under הַ, no dagesh in R1).

## Infinitive Construct

BBH §24.10 — Niphal prefix: הִ; tsere in final syllable

Form | Qal | Niphal
--- | --- | ---
Base | קְטֹל | הִקָּטֵל
With לְ | לִקְטֹל | לְהִקָּטֵל
With בְּ | בִּקְטֹל | בְּהִקָּטֵל
With כְּ | כִּקְטֹל | כְּהִקָּטֵל

> Key marker: הִ prefix + dagesh in R1 + tsere. Identical in form to the Niphal imperative 2ms; context and prepositions clarify function.

## Infinitive Absolute

BBH §24.12 — Niphal prefix: נִ; holem in final syllable

Form | Qal | Niphal
--- | --- | ---
Standard | קָטוֹל | נִקְטֹל

> Usage: Appears before or after a finite Niphal verb for emphasis (הִמָּצֵא יִמָּצֵא "he will certainly be found," Exo 22:3). Qal inf. absolute uses qamets-holem (קָטוֹל); Niphal uses נִ prefix + holem (נִקְטֹל).

## Participle (Passive)

BBH §24.13 — Niphal prefix: נִ; qamets under second root consonant

Form | Qal | Niphal
--- | --- | ---
ms | קֹטֵל | נִקְטָל
fs | קֹטֶלֶת | נִקְטֶלֶת
mp | קֹטְלִים | נִקְטָלִים
fp | קֹטְלוֹת | נִקְטָלוֹת

> Key marker: נִ prefix + qamets under R2 (ms). Distinguish from the perfect 3ms (נִקְטַל — patach under R2 vs. qamets in the participle).

## Summary: Qal vs. Niphal at a Glance

Conjugation | Qal marker | Niphal marker
--- | --- | ---
Perfect | קָ / patach-patach | נִ + patach
Imperfect | יִקְטֹל / holem final | dagesh in R1 + tsere
Wayyiqtol | וַיִּקְטֹל / no dagesh in R1 | וַיִּקָּטֵל / dagesh in R1
Weqatal | וְקָ | וְנִ
Imperative | no prefix | הִ + dagesh in R1 + tsere
Inf. Construct | קְטֹל | הִקָּטֵל
Inf. Absolute | קָטוֹל | נִקְטֹל
Participle ms | קֹטֵל / no prefix | נִקְטָל / נִ prefix + qamets