# BBH Chapter 34 — Hithpael Strong Verbs (הִתְקַטֵּל)

## Files

### Exercises

Exercise | Description
--- | ---
exercises/ch34-passage-exercise/ | Passage exercise — identify and parse Hithpael verbs in 1 Kgs 8, Gen 20, Jos 3, Exo 19, Gen 22, 2 Sam 10
exercises/ch34-function-sort/ | Semantic function sorting — classify 25 Hithpael forms as R / RC / IT / ES / DN
exercises/ch34-hithpael-paradigm-drill/ | Paradigm drill — write all 29 inflected forms of קדשׁ (Hithpael) from memory
exercises/ch34-qal-piel-hithpael-contrast/ | Qal–Piel–Hithpael contrast drill — three-way stem discrimination (strong roots)
exercises/ch34-stem-id-drill/ | Stem identification drill — Qal/Piel/Hithpael strong roots

### Flashcards

File | Format | Description
--- | --- | ---
ch34-vocab-deck.md | Markdown | 12-word vocabulary deck — 2 verbs + 10 nouns
ch34-vocab-deck.txt | Anki import | Vocabulary deck — tab-separated, ready for Anki File → Import (12 cards)
ch34-vocab-deck-fd.txt | Flashcards Deluxe | Vocabulary deck — tab-separated, ready for Flashcards Deluxe import (12 cards)

### Notebooks

Notebook | What it shows
--- | ---
Hithpael Stem | Hithpael stem: complete morphological profile; reflexive, reciprocal, iterative categories

Basics of Biblical Hebrew, Pratico & Van Pelt, Chapter 34

## 1. Function

The Hithpael (הִתְקַטֵּל) is the reflexive-reciprocal stem of Biblical Hebrew — the stem that turns the Piel's action back on the subject or distributes it among multiple actors. It is the reflexive counterpart to the Piel's intensive-active action.

Function | Description | Example
--- | --- | ---
Reflexive | Subject acts upon or for itself — the most common function | הִתְקַדֵּשׁ — "consecrate oneself, make oneself holy"
Reciprocal | Multiple subjects act on one another | הִתְרָאוּ — "see one another"
Iterative / Frequentative | Action performed repeatedly or habitually | הִתְהַלֵּךְ — "walk about, live continually" (Gen 5:22)
Estimative-Declarative | Act or conduct oneself as though in a certain state | הִתְחַכֵּם — "act wisely, consider oneself wise"
Tolerative | Subject allows or permits the action to happen to itself | הִתְפַּלֵּל — "pray" (allow oneself to be interceded for → intercede)

> Key diagnostic: The הִתְ prefix (He + Taw + Shewa) before the root is the defining Hithpael marker in the Perfect and Imperative. In the Imperfect and Wayyiqtol, the prefix consonant replaces הִ with the standard imperfect prefix (יִתְ, תִּתְ, נִתְ, אֶתְ). In the Participle, מִתְ appears. The Dagesh Forte in R2 (shared with the Piel/Pual) confirms the identification in all conjugations.

## 2. Form — Diagnostic Markers

Conjugation | Hithpael pattern | Key
--- | --- | ---
Perfect 3ms | הִתְ + Hireq under R1 + dagesh in R2 + Tsere under R2 | הִתְקַטֵּל — הִתְ prefix + dagesh + tsere
Imperfect 3ms | יִתְ prefix + Patach under R1 + dagesh + Tsere | יִתְקַטֵּל — imperfect prefix + תְ + dagesh
Wayyiqtol | וַיִּתְ prefix (patach + hireq + dagesh + taw) | וַיִּתְקַטֵּל — contrast Piel וַיְ
Weqatal | וְהִתְ prefix | וְהִתְקַטֵּל — וְ + Perfect form
Imperative 2ms | הִתְ + Patach under R1 + dagesh + Tsere | הִתְקַטֵּל — same תְ prefix, patach under R1
Inf. Construct | הִתְ prefix; identical to Imperative 2ms | Context and prepositions distinguish
Inf. Absolute | הִתְ prefix + Patach under R1 + dagesh + Tsere | Same form as Imperative/Inf. Construct
Participle ms | מִתְ prefix + Patach under R1 + dagesh + Tsere | מִתְקַטֵּל — מ prefix shifts הִ → מִ

## 3. Paradigm Tables

Conjugation | Hithpael 3ms | BBH § | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
Perfect (Qatal) | הִתְקַטֵּל | 34.3 | הִתְ prefix; Hireq under R1; Dagesh in R2; Tsere under R2
Imperfect (Yiqtol) | יִתְקַטֵּל | 34.4 | יִתְ prefix; Patach under R1; Dagesh in R2; Tsere
Wayyiqtol | וַיִּתְקַטֵּל | — | וַיִּתְ prefix (contrast Piel וַיְ)
Weqatal | וְהִתְקַטֵּל | — | וְ + Perfect form
Imperative 2ms | הִתְקַטֵּל | 34.5 | הִתְ prefix; identical form to Inf. Construct
Inf. Construct | הִתְקַטֵּל | 34.6 | Identical form to Imperative 2ms; context disambiguates
Inf. Absolute | הִתְקַטֵּל | 34.7 | Same form as Imperative/Inf. Construct
Participle ms | מִתְקַטֵּל | 34.8 | מִתְ prefix; Patach under R1; Dagesh in R2; Tsere

## 4. Real Forms — קָדַשׁ and שָׁמַר

Root קדשׁ — "to consecrate oneself, be holy" (Hithpael of קִדֵּשׁ "consecrate") — ~25 Hithpael occurrences

Conjugation | Form | Reference | Morph | Gloss
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Perfect 3ms | הִתְקַדֵּשׁ | Exo 19:22 (base form) | VHt3ms | he consecrated himself
Perfect 3cp | הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ | Jos 3:5 | VHtp3cp | they consecrated themselves
Imperfect 3mp | יִתְקַדְּשׁוּ | Exo 19:22 | VHti3mp | let them consecrate themselves
Imperative 2mp | הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ | Jos 3:5 | VHtv2mp | consecrate yourselves!
Inf. Construct | הִתְקַדֵּשׁ | Num 11:18 | VHtc | to consecrate oneself
Participle ms | מִתְקַדֵּשׁ | 1Sa 16:5 | VHtrmsa | consecrating himself

> Factitive reflexive note: The Piel of קדשׁ is factitive — it makes something holy (קִדֵּשׁ). The Hithpael reflects that action back onto the subject: the people make themselves holy. This Piel-to-Hithpael relationship (active → reflexive) is the most important semantic pattern in Ch34.

Root שׁמר — "to watch oneself, be on guard, beware" (Hithpael) — ~8 Hithpael occurrences

Conjugation | Form | Reference | Morph | Gloss
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Perfect 2ms | הִשְׁתַּמַּרְתָּ | 1Sa 21:5 | VHt2ms | you have kept yourself (from women)
Imperfect 2ms | תִּשָּׁמֵר | Exo 23:21 | — | (Niphal here; contrast Hithpael)
Imperfect 2ms | תִּשְׁתַּמֵּר | Deu 4:9 | VHti2ms | keep yourself, be on guard
Imperative 2ms | הִשָּׁמֶר | Gen 24:6 | — | (Niphal; contrast Hithpael)

> Metathesis note: The Hithpael of שׁמר is הִשְׁתַּמֵּר, not הִתְשַׁמֵּר. Because R1 = שׁ (a sibilant), the תְ and שׁ swap positions (metathesis). This is one of the most critical phonological rules in Ch34 — see §8 below.

## 5. Most Common Hithpael Lemmas — Torah (Genesis–Deuteronomy)

# | Root | Count (Torah) | Hithpael Meaning | Function Type | Notes
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | שׁחה | ~40 | bow down, worship | Estimative / Tolerat. | הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה — metathesis (שׁ → שׁת swap); most frequent Hithpael in Torah
2 | פלל | ~35 | pray, intercede | Tolerative | הִתְפַּלֵּל — allow oneself to be interceded for
3 | הלך | ~20 | walk about, live | Iterative | הִתְהַלֵּךְ — walk continually (Gen 5:22, 17:1)
4 | קדשׁ | ~12 | consecrate oneself | Reflexive | הִתְקַדֵּשׁ — Piel factitive reflexive
5 | חזק | ~8 | strengthen oneself | Reflexive | הִתְחַזֵּק — be strong, take courage
6 | ברך | ~5 | bless oneself | Reflexive | הִתְבָּרֵךְ — Gen 22:18, 26:4
7 | חנן | ~5 | implore, seek favor | Tolerative | הִתְחַנֵּן — allow oneself to be shown grace
8 | שׁמר | ~4 | guard oneself, beware | Reflexive | הִשְׁתַּמֵּר — metathesis (see §8)
9 | נבא | ~3 | prophesy (repeatedly) | Iterative | הִתְנַבֵּא — also in historical books
10 | ענן | ~3 | practice divination | Denominative | הִתְעַנֵּן — Deu 18:10, 14
11 | חזה | ~2 | see visions | Reflexive | הִתְחַזֵּה — less common
12 | אנף | ~1 | be angry | Reflexive | הִתְאַנֵּף — Deu 1:37, 4:21 (God angry with Moses)

High-frequency Hithpael roots OT-wide (all books):

# | Root | OT-Wide Count | Hithpael Meaning | Key Passage
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | שׁחה | ~170 | bow down, worship | Gen 22:5; Exo 20:5
2 | פלל | ~80 | pray | 1 Kgs 8:28–30; Gen 20:7
3 | הלך | ~60 | walk about, live continually | Gen 5:22, 24; 17:1
4 | חזק | ~50 | strengthen oneself, be strong | 2 Sam 10:12; 1 Chr 11:10
5 | נבא | ~30 | prophesy | 1 Sam 10:10–11; Jer 26:20
6 | קדשׁ | ~25 | consecrate oneself | Jos 3:5; Exo 19:22
7 | חנן | ~25 | implore, seek favor | 2 Sam 12:16; Ps 30:9
8 | הלל | ~20 | boast, glory | Ps 63:12; Jer 4:2
9 | חכם | ~10 | act wisely, claim wisdom | Exo 1:10; Prov 30:24
10 | ברך | ~8 | bless oneself | Gen 22:18; Deu 29:19

## 6. Example Passages

### Reflexive

Perfect 3cp — Jos 3:5
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ אֶל־הָעָ֔ם הִתְקַדְּשׁ֖וּ כִּ֣י מָחָ֔ר יַעֲשֶׂ֧ה יְהוָ֛ה בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֖ם נִפְלָאֽוֹת׃
"And Joshua said to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.'"
→ קדשׁ Hithpael+Imperative+2mp; הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ = הִתְ prefix + קדשׁ root + 2mp ending. The people make themselves holy — the action is reflexive. The Piel of קדשׁ (factitive: "make holy") reflects back onto the subject in the Hithpael.

Imperfect 3mp — Exo 19:22
וְגַ֛ם הַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים הַנִּגָּשִׁ֖ים אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה יִתְקַדָּשׁ֔וּ פֶּן־יִפְרֹ֥ץ בָּהֶ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃
"And also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out against them."
→ קדשׁ Hithpael+Imperfect+3mp; יִתְקַדָּשׁוּ = יִתְ prefix + קדשׁ + 3mp ending. The יִתְ prefix is the Imperfect replacement for הִתְ. Jussive force ("let them consecrate themselves").

Perfect 1cs — 2 Sam 10:12
חֲזַ֣ק וְנִתְחַזַּ֣ק בְּעַ֣ד עַמֵּ֗נוּ וּבְעַ֛ד עָרֵ֥י אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ
"Be strong, and let us be strong on behalf of our people and for the cities of our God."
→ חזק Hithpael+Imperfect+1cp (נִתְחַזַּק) preceded by Qal Imperative חֲזַק; "let us strengthen ourselves / be strong." The 1cp prefix נִ replaces הִ; the תְ marker of the Hithpael remains visible.

### Reciprocal

Perfect 3cp — Gen 26:31
וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣מוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיִּשָּׁ֣בְע֔וּ אִ֖ישׁ לְאָחִ֑יו
"And they rose early in the morning and swore to one another."
→ The reciprocal sense arises from context: multiple parties acting toward one another. Compare הִתְרָאָה "see one another" (reciprocal), which is a classic Hithpael reciprocal pattern where the action passes back and forth between subjects.

Perfect 3cp — Est 9:17–18 (הִתְקַבֵּץ)
וְנֹ֛חַ בְּאַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר ב֑וֹ וְנ֖וֹחַ בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר
→ הִתְקַבֵּץ "assemble together, gather to one another" (Est 9:2) — a classic Hithpael reciprocal: the people gather with one another, not merely gathering themselves.

### Iterative / Frequentative

Wayyiqtol 3ms — Gen 5:22
וַיִּתְהַלֵּ֨ךְ חֲנ֜וֹךְ אֶֽת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֗ים אַחֲרֵ֤י הוֹלִידוֹ֙ אֶת־מְתוּשֶׁ֔לַח שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה
"Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years."
→ הלך Hithpael+Wayyiqtol+3ms; וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ = וַיִּתְ + הלך root. The Hithpael conveys ongoing, habitual walking — Enoch's 300-year continual walk with God. The iterative nuance captures a lifestyle, not a single act. Also Gen 5:24: וַיִּתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ חֲנ֖וֹךְ אֶֽת־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים.

Imperfect — Gen 17:1
הִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ לְפָנַ֖י וֶהְיֵ֥ה תָמִֽים׃
"Walk before me, and be blameless."
→ הלך Hithpael+Imperative+2ms; God's command to Abraham to walk continually/habitually before him. The Hithpael of הלך always carries this iterative force — a life-pattern, not a single step.

### Estimative-Declarative

Wayyiqtol 3ms — Exo 1:10
הָ֥בָה נִֽתְחַכְּמָ֖ה ל֑וֹ
"Come, let us deal wisely with him."
→ חכם Hithpael+Imperfect+1cp cohortative (נִתְחַכְּמָה); Pharaoh's council proposes to conduct themselves cleverly — "act as though wise" against Israel. The Hithpael of חכם captures the estimative sense: behaving in a way that presents as wisdom.

Wayyiqtol 3ms — הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה (Gen 22:5)
וְנִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה וְנָשׁ֥וּבָה אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃
"…and we will worship and return to you."
→ שׁחה Hithpael+Imperfect+1cp with metathesis (הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה); the act of bowing down so completely that one presents oneself as a worshiper. The metathesis of שׁ + תְ → שְׁתַּ is on full display here. This is the most frequent Hithpael form in the entire OT (~170×).

### Tolerative

Perfect 3ms — Gen 20:7
וְעַתָּ֗ה הָשֵׁ֤ב אֵֽשֶׁת־הָאִישׁ֙ כִּֽי־נָבִ֣יא ה֔וּא וְיִתְפַּלֵּ֥ל בַּעַדְךָ֖ וֶחְיֵ֑ה
"Now then, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet; and he will pray for you and you shall live."
→ פלל Hithpael+Imperfect+3ms; יִתְפַּלֵּל = יִתְ + פלל + 3ms. The Hithpael tolerative: "allow himself to be interceded [for you]" → pray on your behalf. Genesis 20 is the first occurrence of this verb in the OT.

Wayyiqtol 3ms — 1 Kgs 8:28–30
לִשְׁמֹ֗עַ אֶל־הָֽרִנָּה֙ וְאֶל־הַתְּפִלָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַבְדְּךָ֖ מִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל לְפָנֶ֑יךָ
"…to hear the cry and the prayer that your servant prays before you."
→ פלל Hithpael+Participle+ms; מִתְפַּלֵּל = מִתְ prefix + פלל root. The Participle has מִתְ (not מִ alone). Solomon's temple dedication prayer — the Hithpael of פלל is the standard OT word for prayer throughout 1 Kings 8.

## 7. Conjugation Distribution (OT-Wide)

### Hithpael (~1,100 total tokens)

Conjugation | Count | %
--- | --- | ---
Perfect (Qatal) | 286 | 26.0%
Imperfect (Yiqtol) | 242 | 22.0%
Wayyiqtol | 209 | 19.0%
Participle | 165 | 15.0%
Inf. Construct | 99 | 9.0%
Weqatal | 55 | 5.0%
Imperative | 33 | 3.0%
Inf. Absolute | 11 | 1.0%

> Teaching note: The Hithpael Perfect (26%) and Imperfect (22%) lead the distribution, similar to the Piel — reflecting the Hithpael's wide use in both narrative (wayyiqtol: 19%) and discourse. The Participle (15%) is especially prominent because הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה/מִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה (bow down, worship) and מִתְפַּלֵּל (praying) appear frequently in participial form in narrative and prayer texts. The Hithpael Imperative is comparatively rare (3%) — reflexive actions are more naturally reported or commanded from a distance than directly ordered.

## 8. Hithpael Phonological Peculiarities

Two phonological rules alter the expected הִתְ prefix when certain consonants begin the root. Both are extremely common and must be memorized.

### Rule 1 — Sibilant Metathesis (most important)

When R1 is a sibilant (שׁ, שׂ, or ס), the תְ of the Hithpael prefix and R1 swap positions. The assimilation then often also adds a Dagesh or adjusts vowels.

R1 consonant | Expected form | Metathesized form | Example | Gloss
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
שׁ | הִתְשַׁמֵּר | הִשְׁתַּמֵּר | הִשְׁתַּמֵּר (Deu 4:9) | watch oneself, beware
שׁ | הִתְשַׁחֲוָה | הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה | הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה (Gen 22:5) | bow down, worship
שׂ | הִתְשַׂכֵּל | הִשְׂתַּכֵּל | הִשְׂתַּכֵּל (Isa 52:13) | act prudently, succeed
ס | הִתְסַכֵּל | הִסְתַּכֵּל | הִסְתַּכֵּל (Num 21:9) | look carefully at

> Recognition rule: When you see הִשְׁתַּ / הִסְתַּ / הִזְדַּ as a prefix cluster, immediately consider Hithpael with metathesis before assuming a different stem or root.

The most critical form to memorize is הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה (bow down, worship). It looks nothing like a Hithpael at first glance, yet it is the most common Hithpael form in the entire OT (~170 occurrences). The root is שׁחה (pe-shin root), and the metathesis produces הִ + שְׁ + תַּ + חֲוָה.

### Rule 2 — Assimilation of ת Before Emphatic / Voiced Consonants

When R1 is an emphatic or related consonant, the תְ of the Hithpael prefix sometimes assimilates to match:

R1 consonant | תְ shifts to | Expected form | Actual form | Example | Gloss
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
צ (tsade — emphatic) | תְ → טְ | הִתְצַדֵּק | הִצְטַדֵּק | הִצְטַדֵּק (Gen 44:16) | justify oneself
ז (zayin — voiced) | תְ → דְ | הִתְזַרֵּז | הִזְדַּרֵּז | הִזְדַּרֵּז (rare) | hasten, be quick
ד (dalet — voiced) | occasionally תְ → דְ | הִתְדַּמֵּה | הִדַּמֵּה | (rare) | liken oneself

> Teaching note: The tsade assimilation (הִצְטַ) is the most common of the emphatic assimilations. Gen 44:16 — וּמַה־נִּצְטַדָּ֑ק — "how can we justify ourselves?" — is a clear OT example. The צ causes תְ to shift to the emphatic partner ט, producing צְט rather than צְתְ.

### Summary of Phonological Rules

Trigger | Rule | Before | After
--- | --- | --- | ---
R1 = שׁ, שׂ, ס | Metathesis | הִתְשׁ / הִתְשׂ / הִתְס | הִשְׁתּ / הִשְׂתּ / הִסְתּ
R1 = צ | Assimilation | הִתְצ | הִצְטּ
R1 = ז | Assimilation | הִתְז | הִזְדּ

## 9. Summary: Identifying the Hithpael

Question | Answer
--- | ---
What is the one universal Hithpael marker? | הִתְ / יִתְ / מִתְ prefix — the תְ (taw + shewa) always appears before the root
What confirms the identification? | Dagesh Forte in R2 (shared with Piel/Pual)
Hithpael Perfect prefix | הִתְ (he + taw + shewa)
Hithpael Imperfect prefix | יִתְ / תִּתְ / נִתְ / אֶתְ (standard imperfect prefix + תְ)
Hithpael Wayyiqtol prefix | וַיִּתְ
Hithpael Participle prefix | מִתְ
How does Hithpael differ from Piel in the Perfect? | Piel: no תְ — דִּבֵּר; Hithpael: הִתְ prefix — הִתְקַטֵּל
How does Hithpael differ from Niphal? | Niphal: הִנְ prefix + Dagesh in R1; Hithpael: הִתְ prefix + Dagesh in R2
What is sibilant metathesis? | When R1 = שׁ/שׂ/ס, the תְ and R1 swap — הִתְשׁ → הִשְׁתּ
Most common Hithpael form in OT? | הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה "bow down, worship" (~170×) — metathesis from שׁחה
Second most common? | הִתְפַּלֵּל "pray" (~80×) — tolerative Hithpael
What stem is the Hithpael the reflexive of? | Piel (intensive-active)
Where is the Piel covered? | Chapter 30 (strong); Chapter 31 (weak)
Where is Hithpael Weak covered? | Chapter 35