# Chapter 31 — Piel Semantic Function Sort (Weak Roots)

*BBH Chapter 31 · Piel Weak Verbs*

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## Instructions

Below are 20 Piel verb forms, all from weak roots. Each item gives you the Hebrew form, its conjugation, root, reference, and a contextual gloss.

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

| Code | Function | Description |
|---|---|---|
| **I** | Intensive | Intensified form of the Qal action — more forceful, thorough, or repeated |
| **F** | Factitive | Causes an object to enter a state (typically from a stative Qal root) |
| **D** | Declarative | Declares or treats something as being in a state |
| **DN** | Denominative | Derived from a noun; performs the noun's characteristic action |
| **SA** | Simple Action | No productive Qal; Piel is the primary form of the root |

> **Tip:** Ask: *Does the Qal root describe a state (be X)?* + Piel causes entry into that state → **Factitive**. *Does the Qal root describe an action (do X)?* + Piel does it more intensely → **Intensive**. *Is this a formal pronouncement treating something as X?* → **Declarative**. *Is there no common Qal?* → **Simple Action**. *Is the verb built from a noun?* → **Denominative**.

Write your answer (I / F / D / DN / SA) in the blank column.

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## Exercise Table

| # | Hebrew Form | Conjugation | Root | Reference | Contextual Gloss | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | בֵּרַךְ | Perfect 3ms | ברך | Gen 1:28 | "God blessed them" | |
| 2 | גִּלָּה | Perfect 3ms | גלה | Gen 35:7 | "God revealed himself to him" | |
| 3 | חִזֵּק | Perfect 3ms | חזק | Exo 4:21 | "I will harden his heart" | |
| 4 | כִּלָּה | Perfect 3ms | כלה | Gen 2:2 | "God finished his work" | |
| 5 | צִוָּה | Perfect 3ms | צוה | Gen 2:16 | "the LORD commanded the man" | |
| 6 | בֵּרֲכוּ | Perfect 3cp | ברך | — | "they blessed" | |
| 7 | יְבָרֵךְ | Imperfect 3ms | ברך | Psa 115:12 | "the LORD will bless" | |
| 8 | יְצַוֶּה | Imperfect 3ms | צוה | — | "he will command" | |
| 9 | וַיְבָרֶךְ | Wayyiqtol 3ms | ברך | Gen 1:22 | "God blessed them" | |
| 10 | וַיְצַו | Wayyiqtol 3ms | צוה | Gen 3:11 | "which I commanded you" | |
| 11 | חִיָּה | Perfect 3ms | חיה | Gen 47:25 | "you have kept us alive" | |
| 12 | שִׁלֵּם | Perfect 3ms | שׁלם | Exo 22:2 | "he shall make full restitution" | |
| 13 | עִנָּה | Perfect 3ms | ענה | Gen 15:13 | "they will afflict them" | |
| 14 | כִּנָּה | Perfect 3ms | כנה | Isa 45:4 | "I gave you a title" | |
| 15 | בִּקֵּשׁ | Perfect 3ms | בקש | Gen 37:15 | "what are you seeking?" | |
| 16 | יְבַקֵּשׁ | Imperfect 3ms | בקש | — | "he will seek" | |
| 17 | גִּלָּה | Perfect 3ms | גלה | Amo 3:7 | "he reveals his secret to his servants" | |
| 18 | שִׁנָּה | Perfect 3ms | שׁנה | — | "he changed / altered" | |
| 19 | חִזְּקוּ | Perfect 3cp | חזק | — | "they strengthened / encouraged" | |
| 20 | בִּנָּה | Perfect 3ms | בנה | 1 Kgs 6:2 | "Solomon built the house" | |

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## Answer Key

| # | Form | Root | Function | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | בֵּרַךְ | ברך | **I** | Qal "to bless" is rare; Piel = formal, intensive bestowal of divine favor. I-guttural ב takes virtual dagesh. |
| 2 | גִּלָּה | גלה | **I** | Qal = uncover; Piel = reveal completely, disclose thoroughly. III-ה root; dagesh in ל. |
| 3 | חִזֵּק | חזק | **F** | Qal = stative "be strong/hard"; Piel = cause to be in that state = harden. Classic Factitive. ח guttural = virtual dagesh. |
| 4 | כִּלָּה | כלה | **I or F** | Qal = stative "be complete"; Piel = bring to completion (F) or finish thoroughly (I). Both analyses are defensible. |
| 5 | צִוָּה | צוה | **SA** | No common Qal; commanding is the Piel's primary function. III-ה root. |
| 6 | בֵּרֲכוּ | ברך | **I** | Same root as #1; 3cp perfect. Note hateph-patach under ר (I-guttural effect in conjugation). |
| 7 | יְבָרֵךְ | ברך | **I** | Piel imperfect 3ms; shewa under בְ + tsere = Piel imperfect pattern. Blessing = intensified/formal. |
| 8 | יְצַוֶּה | צוה | **SA** | Piel imperfect 3ms of צוה; note the III-ה contraction with tsere-yod. No Qal; commanding is always Piel. |
| 9 | וַיְבָרֶךְ | ברך | **I** | Wayyiqtol 3ms; Piel wayyiqtol = waw + Piel imperfect. Same function as #1. |
| 10 | וַיְצַו | צוה | **SA** | Wayyiqtol 3ms of צוה; the III-ה root contracts in wayyiqtol (ה drops). No Qal; commanding = Piel primary. |
| 11 | חִיָּה | חיה | **F** | Qal = stative "be alive"; Piel = cause to live = preserve alive. Classic Factitive. |
| 12 | שִׁלֵּם | שׁלם | **I or F** | Qal = stative "be complete/whole"; Piel = pay in full (F) or pay thoroughly (I). Legal "make restitution" context favors F or I/F. |
| 13 | עִנָּה | ענה | **F** | Qal ענה II = stative "be afflicted/humbled"; Piel = cause affliction. I-guttural + III-ה root. Classic Factitive. |
| 14 | כִּנָּה | כנה | **DN** | Built on noun כִּנּוּי ("title"); to give an honorific name or title. Denominative. |
| 15 | בִּקֵּשׁ | בקש | **SA** | No common Qal; seeking/searching is the Piel's primary function. Strong root (paradigm verb for Piel). |
| 16 | יְבַקֵּשׁ | בקש | **SA** | Piel imperfect 3ms; same analysis as #15. |
| 17 | גִּלָּה | גלה | **I** | Same root/form as #2; context (Amos 3:7) = God reveals prophetic secrets = thorough, intentional disclosure. |
| 18 | שִׁנָּה | שׁנה | **I** | Qal = change/repeat; Piel = alter thoroughly, change completely. III-ה root; dagesh in נ. |
| 19 | חִזְּקוּ | חזק | **F** | Qal = stative "be strong"; Piel 3cp = they caused [others] to be strong = they strengthened/encouraged. Same analysis as #3. |
| 20 | בִּנָּה | בנה | **I** | Qal = build; Piel = build thoroughly, construct comprehensively. III-ה root; dagesh in נ. |

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### Function Summary

| Function | Items | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Intensive (I) | 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 17, 18, 20 | 8 |
| Factitive (F) | 3, 11, 13, 19 | 4 |
| Simple Action (SA) | 5, 8, 10, 15, 16 | 5 |
| Denominative (DN) | 14 | 1 |
| I or F (dual) | 4, 12 | 2 |
