# Chapter 34 — Qal / Piel / Hithpael Contrast Drill (Strong Roots)

BBH Chapter 34 · Hithpael Strong Verbs

Each group of three shares the same root. For each form: (1) identify the stem, (2) describe the semantic function, (3) provide an English translation. Type your answers in the fields, then click ▶ Answer to check.

Stem | Prefix | R2 Feature | Function
--- | --- | --- | ---
Qal | none | none | Basic action / stative
Piel | none | Dagesh Forte | Factitive / intensive
Hithpael | הִתְ– | Dagesh Forte | Reflexive / reciprocal

Tip: Hithpael = הִתְ prefix + Dagesh in R2 + Patakh under R1 (perfect). Piel = Dagesh in R2, no prefix, Tsere under R1. Qal = neither Dagesh nor הִתְ prefix.

# | Hebrew | Stem | Function | Translation |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Group 1 — Root: קדשׁ (to be holy)
1 | קָדַשׁ |  |  |  |
Qal Perfect 3ms · Stative: subject is in the state of holiness · "he was holy / became holy"
2 | קִדֵּשׁ |  |  |  |
Piel Perfect 3ms · Factitive: subject causes the object to become holy · "he consecrated / made holy"
3 | הִתְקַדֵּשׁ |  |  |  |
Hithpael Perfect 3ms · Reflexive: subject consecrates itself · "he consecrated himself / made himself holy"
Group 2 — Root: כבד (to be heavy / honored)
4 | כָּבֵד |  |  |  |
Qal Perfect 3ms · Stative: subject is in the state of being heavy or honored · "he was heavy / was honored"
5 | כִּבֵּד |  |  |  |
Piel Perfect 3ms · Factitive: subject treats another as weighty / causes another to be honored · "he honored"
6 | הִתְכַּבֵּד |  |  |  |
Hithpael Perfect 3ms · Reflexive: subject honors or glorifies itself · "he honored himself / gloried"
Group 3 — Root: שׁמר (to keep / guard) — sibilant metathesis: הִתְ + שׁ → הִשְׁתְּ
7 | שָׁמַר |  |  |  |
Qal Perfect 3ms · Basic: subject keeps / guards an object · "he kept / guarded"
8 | שִׁמֵּר |  |  |  |
Piel Perfect 3ms · Intensive: subject keeps carefully / watches over diligently · "he kept carefully / watched over"
9 | הִשְׁתַּמֵּר |  |  |  |
Hithpael Perfect 3ms · Reflexive: subject guards itself · "he kept himself / was on guard" · Note: sibilant metathesis — הִתְ + שׁ → הִשְׁתְּ (ת and שׁ swap positions)
Group 4 — Root: פלל (to judge / intervene)
10 | פָּלַל |  |  |  |
Qal Perfect 3ms · Basic: subject judges or intervenes · "he judged / intervened"
11 | פִּלֵּל |  |  |  |
Piel Perfect 3ms · Intensive: subject actively intercedes / judges · "he judged / interceded"
12 | הִתְפַּלֵּל |  |  |  |
Hithpael Perfect 3ms · Reflexive/Denominative: subject pleads its own case before God · "he prayed" · The Hithpael of פלל became the standard OT word for prayer
Group 5 — Root: ברך (to kneel / bless)
13 | בָּרַךְ |  |  |  |
Qal Perfect 3ms · Basic: subject kneels · "he knelt"
14 | בֵּרַךְ |  |  |  |
Piel Perfect 3ms · Factitive: subject conveys blessing to another · "he blessed"
15 | הִתְבָּרֵךְ |  |  |  |
Hithpael Perfect 3ms · Reflexive: subject receives or enacts blessing for/upon itself · "he blessed himself / was blessed" · This form appears in the Abrahamic promise formula (Gen 22:18); it can carry a passive nuance

## Discussion Questions

1. The Piel and Hithpael of קדשׁ look similar: קִדֵּשׁ vs. הִתְקַדֵּשׁ. What two visual markers distinguish the Hithpael from the Piel in every strong-root form?
2. In Group 4, the Hithpael of פלל is commonly translated "to pray." How does the reflexive meaning ("to plead one's own case") illuminate the theology of prayer in the OT?
3. The Hithpael of ברך (הִתְבָּרֵךְ) is sometimes translated passively: "be blessed." What does this tell us about the overlap between the Hithpael's reflexive and passive functions?
4. Look at Group 3 and the metathesis form הִשְׁתַּמֵּר. Without the metathesis note, how would you have identified this as a Hithpael rather than a Hiphil or Niphal?