# Chapter 25 — Niphal Weak-Form Identification Drill

BBH Chapter 25 · Niphal Weak Verbs

For each form: (1) identify the weak class, (2) parse (conjugation + PGN), (3) identify the root.

Class | Key diagnostic signal
--- | ---
III-א | Silent final א; form looks nearly identical to the strong root
III-ה | Final ָה (perfect) / ֶה (imperfect/participle) / וֹת (inf. construct) / apocopated wayyiqtol
III-ח/ע | Patach furtive before final ח/ע in open syllables (perfect/imperfect/participle); patach replaces tsere in short forms (wayyiqtol/imperative)
I-guttural | נֶ prefix (perfect/participle); יֵ / הֵ prefix (imperfect/wayyiqtol/imperative/inf.); no dagesh in R1
I-נ | Dagesh forte in R2; root's own נ invisible throughout the paradigm
I-י | נוֹ prefix (perfect/weqatal/participle); יִוָּ / הִוָּ prefix (imperfect/wayyiqtol/imperative/inf.)
Biconsonantal | נָ prefix (qamets) in perfect and participle ms; dagesh forte in R1 + contracted root in imperfect/wayyiqtol/imperative/inf.
Geminate | נָ prefix (qamets) in perfect and participle ms (same as Biconsonantal!); dagesh forte in R2/R3 + holem in imperfect/wayyiqtol/imperative; perfect = participle

## Part A — By Class

Group 1 — III-א

# | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | נִמְצָא | Gen 44:12 | silent final א; identical in pointing to participle ms |  |  |  |  |
III-א · Perfect · 3ms · מָצָא — it was found; the silent א at the end is the only difference from a strong-root נִקְטַל
2 | יִמָּצֵא | Gen 44:10 | final tsere + silent א |  |  |  |  |
III-א · Imperfect · 3ms · מָצָא — "let it be found"; the tsere ends the syllable but the א following is silent
3 | וַיִּמָּצֵא | Gen 44:12 | wayyiqtol prefix + dagesh in R1 + final silent א |  |  |  |  |
III-א · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · מָצָא — "and it was found"; narrative climax of the cup-in-the-sack scene
4 | הִמָּצֵא | Exo 22:3 | הִ prefix + dagesh in R1 + final silent א; imperative or inf. construct |  |  |  |  |
III-א · Inf. Absolute (also = Inf. Construct) · — · מָצָא — used here as inf. absolute in the emphatic construction הִמָּצֵא יִמָּצֵא; "is actually found"
5 | הַנִּמְצָא | Gen 47:14 | article (הַ) + נִ prefix; final silent א — substantival participle |  |  |  |  |
III-א · Participle · ms · מָצָא — "that which was found [in the land of Egypt]"; article + Niphal participle functioning as a noun

Group 2 — III-ה

# | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
6 | נִגְלָה | Isa 40:5 | final ָה — it is the root ending, not the 3fs suffix |  |  |  |  |
III-ה · Perfect · 3ms · גָּלָה — "the glory of the LORD will be revealed"
7 | יִגָּלֶה | Isa 53:1 | final ֶה instead of tsere + consonant — III-ה imperfect marker |  |  |  |  |
III-ה · Imperfect · 3ms · גָּלָה — "to whom has it been revealed?"
8 | וַיִּגָּל | Num 24:4 | apocopated wayyiqtol — the ה is completely dropped; form ends abruptly |  |  |  |  |
III-ה · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · גָּלָה — "whose eyes are unveiled"; Balaam's oracle — the apocopated form is the signature III-ה wayyiqtol signal
9 | לְהִגָּלוֹת | Isa 49:9 | הִ + dagesh + וֹת suffix — the ת distinguishes inf. construct from imperative |  |  |  |  |
III-ה · Inf. Construct · — · גָּלָה — "to show themselves" (the prisoners appearing); inf. construct with לְ preposition
10 | וַיֵּרָא | Gen 12:7 | apocopated + וַיֵּ (not וַיִּ) — ר rejects dagesh; compensatory tsere; ה dropped |  |  |  |  |
III-ה · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · רָאָה — "and the LORD appeared to Abram"; doubly weak: III-ה + ר compensatory lengthening

Group 3 — I-guttural

# | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
11 | נֶאֱמַר | Exo 5:13 | נֶ prefix + composite shewa (hateph-seghol) under א |  |  |  |  |
I-guttural · Perfect · 3ms · אָמַר — "it was said to you [finish your daily quota]"; passive of אָמַר
12 | יֵאָמֵר | Num 21:14 | יֵ prefix (not יִ); no dagesh in א |  |  |  |  |
I-guttural · Imperfect · 3ms · אָמַר — "as it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD"; impersonal passive
13 | וַיֵּאָמֵר | Gen 10:9 | וַיֵּ prefix (not וַיִּ); no dagesh in א — the most common I-guttural Niphal wayyiqtol in the OT |  |  |  |  |
I-guttural · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · אָמַר — "it was said of him: a mighty hunter before the LORD"; impersonal passive in a proverbial formula
14 | הֵעָמֵד | Exo 9:16 | הֵ prefix (not הִ); no dagesh in ע |  |  |  |  |
I-guttural · Inf. Construct · — · עָמַד — "for this purpose I have let you stand"; inf. construct with לְ in the plague speech
15 | נֶאֱמָן | Deu 7:9 | נֶ prefix + composite shewa; qamets under R2 — participle shape |  |  |  |  |
I-guttural · Participle · ms · אָמַן — "he is the faithful God who keeps covenant"; used here as a predicate adjective

Group 4 — I-נ

# | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
16 | נִגַּשׁ | Gen 44:18 | נִ prefix; dagesh forte in ג (R2); נ of root invisible |  |  |  |  |
I-נ · Perfect · 3ms · נָגַשׁ — "then Judah drew near to him"; reflexive Niphal of approach
17 | וַיִּגַּשׁ | Gen 44:18 | wayyiqtol + dagesh forte in ג (R2) — no dagesh in prefix letter |  |  |  |  |
I-נ · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · נָגַשׁ — "and Judah drew near"; the wayyiqtol follows the perfect within the same verse
18 | נִצַּלְתֶּם | Exo 12:27 | נִ prefix; dagesh forte in צ (R2); 2mp suffix תֶּם |  |  |  |  |
I-נ · Perfect · 2mp · נָצַל — "your houses you spared / you were delivered"; the Passover institution speech
19 | הִנָּצֵל | Prov 6:3 | הִ prefix; dagesh forte in נּ (the root's own נ assimilates into R2); tsere |  |  |  |  |
I-נ · Imperative · 2ms · נָצַל — "deliver yourself! — go, humble yourself"; reflexive Niphal imperative; root נָצַל has נ as R1
20 | וַיִּנָּצֵל | Gen 32:31 | wayyiqtol prefix + dagesh forte in נּ (R2 of נָצַל); tsere |  |  |  |  |
I-נ · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · נָצַל — "and Jacob was delivered / passed over [Peniel]"; the Peniel narrative; passive Niphal of נָצַל

Group 5 — I-י

# | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
21 | נוֹלַד | Gen 21:3 | נוֹ prefix + patach under R2 — perfect/weqatal pattern |  |  |  |  |
I-י · Perfect · 3ms · יָלַד — "for a son has been born to him"; Isaac's birth announcement
22 | וַיִּוָּלֵד | Gen 4:18 | וַיִּוָּ cluster — the visually distinctive genealogical form |  |  |  |  |
I-י · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · יָלַד — "and to Enoch was born Irad"; antediluvian genealogy; וַיִּוָּ is unmistakable
23 | יִוָּלֵד | Gen 17:17 | יִוָּ cluster; tsere under R2 |  |  |  |  |
I-י · Imperfect · 3ms · יָלַד — "shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old?" — Abraham's astonished question
24 | בְּהִוָּלֶד | Gen 21:5 | הִוָּ prefix + בְּ preposition; inf. construct of I-י |  |  |  |  |
I-י · Inf. Construct · — · יָלַד — "when Isaac was born to him"; temporal clause with בְּ + inf. construct
25 | נוֹלָד | 1 Kgs 13:2 | נוֹ prefix + qamets under R2 (vs. patach in perfect) |  |  |  |  |
I-י · Participle · ms · יָלַד — "a son shall be born to the house of David"; prophetic oracle; נוֹלָד (qamets) = participle; cf. נוֹלַד (patach) = perfect

Group 6 — III-ח/ע

# | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
26 | נִשְׁמַע | Est 1:20 | patach furtive beneath final ע in open stressed syllable |  |  |  |  |
III-ח/ע · Perfect · 3ms · שָׁמַע — "the decree will be heard throughout all his kingdom"; the patach furtive before final ע is the class marker
27 | יִשָּׁמַע | Exo 28:35 | patach under R3 (not tsere as in strong root); dagesh forte in שׁ (R1) |  |  |  |  |
III-ח/ע · Imperfect · 3ms · שָׁמַע — "its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place"; the guttural forces patach instead of tsere
28 | וַיִּשָּׁמַע | Gen 45:2 | wayyiqtol + patach before final ע; no patach furtive (short form) |  |  |  |  |
III-ח/ע · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · שָׁמַע — "and the sound was heard in Pharaoh's house"; Joseph's weeping when he revealed himself; patach before ע, no furtive
29 | הִשָּׁמַע | Deu 4:32 | הִ prefix + dagesh in שׁ + patach before final ע |  |  |  |  |
III-ח/ע · Imperative / Inf. Construct · 2ms / — · שָׁמַע — "has anything like this great thing been heard?"; Niphal of שמע used here as a reflexive/passive; same form for imperative and inf. construct
30 | נִשְׁמָע | Ecc 12:13 | נִ prefix + qamets + patach furtive before ע |  |  |  |  |
III-ח/ע · Participle · ms · שָׁמַע — "the end of the matter; all has been heard"; substantival participle closing Ecclesiastes; qamets under R2 + furtive before ע

Group 7 — Biconsonantal

# | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
31 | נָכוֹן | Gen 41:32 | נָ prefix (qamets under נ) + medial וֹ — perfect 3ms of biconsonantal |  |  |  |  |
Biconsonantal · Perfect · 3ms · כּוּן — "the thing is fixed (established) by God"; from כּוּן; the נָ prefix is the class marker
32 | יִכּוֹן | Psa 93:2 | dagesh forte in כּ (R1); contracted root כּוֹ; Niphal assimilation marker |  |  |  |  |
Biconsonantal · Imperfect · 3ms · כּוּן — "your throne is established from of old"; the dagesh forte in כּ (R1) marks the Niphal imperfect assimilation
33 | נָכוֹן | Psa 57:8 | same form as perfect 3ms; context (predicate to "my heart") reveals it as participial |  |  |  |  |
Biconsonantal · Participle · ms · כּוּן — "my heart is steadfast, O God"; נָ prefix + vocalic structure identical to perfect — only context distinguishes participle from perfect in biconsonantal Niphal
34 | וַיִּקּוֹם | (expected form) | וַיִּ + dagesh forte in ק (R1); contracted root קוֹ |  |  |  |  |
Biconsonantal · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · קוּם — "and it was established / raised up"; וַיִּ prefix + dagesh forte in R1 (Niphal assimilation) + contracted root
35 | הִקּוֹם | (expected form) | הִ prefix + dagesh forte in ק (R1) + contracted root |  |  |  |  |
Biconsonantal · Imperative · 2ms · קוּם — "be established! / rise up!"; הִ + dagesh forte in R1 + contracted root; same shape as inf. construct — context identifies

Group 8 — Geminate (Ayin-Doubled)

# | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
36 | נָסַב | Josh 15:3 | נָ prefix (qamets) — same as Biconsonantal; root is ס-ב-ב (three consonants, R2=R3) not hollow |  |  |  |  |
Geminate · Perfect · 3ms · סָבַב — "the border went around toward Azmon"; נָ prefix (qamets) is identical to Biconsonantal — only the root structure reveals the class
37 | וַיִּסֹּב | 1 Sam 7:16 | וַיִּ prefix + dagesh forte in ב (R2=R3 doubled) + holem |  |  |  |  |
Geminate · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · סָבַב — "he went on circuit year by year"; Samuel's judicial rounds; dagesh forte in ב marks the doubled consonant
38 | יִסֹּב | Josh 19:34 | dagesh forte in ב; holem in contracted root |  |  |  |  |
Geminate · Imperfect · 3ms · סָבַב — "the border turns toward the west"; the dagesh forte in ב signals the doubled root consonant
39 | הִסֹּב | 2 Sam 18:30 | הִ prefix + dagesh forte in ב (R2=R3); holem |  |  |  |  |
Geminate · Imperative · 2ms · סָבַב — "turn aside, stand here"; Joab commands; הִ + dagesh forte in R2 + holem
40 | נָסַב | Psa 26:6 | same form as perfect 3ms — context (parallel with "I go around") reveals participial use |  |  |  |  |
Geminate · Participle · ms · סָבַב — "I go around your altar, O LORD"; נָ prefix identical to perfect 3ms — the perfect/participle ambiguity is the same challenge as the Biconsonantal class

## Part B — Mixed (All Eight Classes)

No diagnostic hints — identify the class first, then parse.

# | Form | Reference | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
41 | תֵרָאֶה | Gen 1:9 |  |  |  |  |
III-ה · Imperfect/Jussive · 3fs · רָאָה — "let the dry land appear"; ר causes compensatory lengthening (תֵ not תִ); final ֶה = III-ה imperfect
42 | וַיִּוָּדַע | Est 2:22 |  |  |  |  |
I-י · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · יָדַע — "and the matter became known to Mordecai"; וַיִּוָּ cluster; patach under R2 (יָדַע class vs. tsere in יָלַד class)
43 | נֶעֱמַד | 1 Sam 17:16 |  |  |  |  |
I-guttural · Perfect · 3ms · עָמַד — "the Philistine took his stand"; נֶ prefix + composite shewa under ע
44 | וַיִּמָּצְאוּ | Gen 47:14 |  |  |  |  |
III-א · Wayyiqtol · 3mp · מָצָא — "and all the silver was gathered"; 3mp ending + final silent א
45 | נוֹדַע | Gen 41:21 |  |  |  |  |
I-י · Perfect · 3ms · יָדַע — "it was not known that they had entered"; נוֹ prefix + patach under R2 = perfect 3ms of I-י
46 | וַיִּגַּשׁ יְהוּדָה | Gen 44:18 |  |  |  |  |
I-נ · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · נָגַשׁ — "then Judah drew near to him"; dagesh forte in ג (R2) signals I-נ; root's own נ is completely invisible
47 | הֵרָאֵה | 1 Kgs 18:1 |  |  |  |  |
III-ה · Imperative · 2ms · רָאָה — "go, show yourself to Ahab"; הֵ prefix (ר compensatory) + final ֵה = III-ה imperative; contrast with inf. construct הֵרָאוֹת
48 | נִשְׁלַח | Est 3:13 |  |  |  |  |
III-ח/ע · Perfect · 3ms · שָׁלַח — "letters were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces"; נִ prefix + patach furtive before final ח
49 | נָכוֹן | Exo 34:2 |  |  |  |  |
Biconsonantal · Perfect/Participle · 3ms/ms · כּוּן — "be ready by morning"; נָ prefix (qamets) + medial וֹ vowel letter = Biconsonantal (not Geminate which lacks the hollow vowel)
50 | וַיִּסֹּב | 2 Sam 5:23 |  |  |  |  |
Geminate · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · סָבַב — "circle around behind them"; וַיִּ + dagesh forte in ב (R2=R3); root ס-ב-ב has identical R2 and R3 = Geminate class
51 | נִמְצְאוּ | Exo 12:19 |  |  |  |  |
III-א · Perfect · 3cp · מָצָא — "whoever is found eating leaven"; 3cp ending + final silent א
52 | יֵעָמְדוּ | Num 27:22 |  |  |  |  |
I-guttural · Imperfect · 3mp · עָמַד — "they shall stand before Eleazar the priest"; יֵ prefix (no dagesh in ע) + 3mp ending

## Discussion Questions

1. Items 1 and 5 (III-א) are both pointed נִמְצָא — the perfect 3ms and the participle ms are identical. What contextual or syntactic clues allow you to distinguish them in a real text?
2. Compare items 8 (וַיִּגָּל, III-ה wayyiqtol) and 17 (וַיִּגַּשׁ, I-נ wayyiqtol). Both show a short form after וַיִּ with a dagesh. How do you tell them apart? What does each dagesh signal in each form?
3. Items 10 (וַיֵּרָא, III-ה) and 13 (וַיֵּאָמֵר, I-guttural) both have the prefix וַיֵּ instead of the expected וַיִּ. Is this the same phonological rule producing the lengthening in both cases? Explain.
4. Items 21 (נוֹלַד) and 25 (נוֹלָד) differ only in the vowel under R2 (patach vs. qamets). One is a perfect 3ms and the other is a participle ms. Which is which, and what grammatical behavior would each show in a clause?
5. Items 26 (נִשְׁמַע, III-ח/ע perfect) and item 1 (נִמְצָא, III-א perfect) both begin with the Niphal נִ prefix. What distinguishes them visually, and what is the phonological reason the patach furtive appears before שָׁמַע but not before מָצָא?
6. Items 31 and 33 both show the form נָכוֹן (Biconsonantal, root כּוּן). One is a perfect 3ms and the other is a participle ms — yet both are pointed identically. How does this parallel the challenge in question 1 (III-א), and what does this tell you about the general problem of distinguishing Niphal perfect 3ms from participle ms in weak-root classes?
7. Items 36 and 40 (Geminate) are both pointed נָסַב — perfect 3ms and participle ms are identical, just like the Biconsonantal class in question 6. Both Geminate and Biconsonantal Niphal use the נָ prefix. Given the form נָסַב, what information outside the vocalization must you use to decide whether the root is Geminate (ס-ב-ב) or Biconsonantal? Why does this matter for parsing in a real OT text?