# Chapter 25 — Qal–Niphal Contrast Drill (Weak Roots)

BBH Chapter 25 · Niphal Weak Verbs

For each Niphal form: (1) translate it in context, (2) name the semantic function (Passive / Reflexive / Simple Action / Stative Niphal), (3) explain in one sentence how the Niphal meaning relates to the Qal.

## Part A — I-נ Roots

# | Root | Qal | Niphal Form | Conj | Ref | Translation | Function |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | נפל | to fall | יִפָּל | Imperfect 3ms | Gen 14:10 |  |  |
he fell (into the tar pits) — Simple Action — I-נ Niphal imperfect: root nun assimilates → dagesh forte in פּ. The Niphal is the standard form for "fall" in many OT contexts.
2 | נגש | to approach | נִגַּשׁ | Perfect 3ms | — |  |  |
he approached / drew near — Simple Action — Niphal of נגש often carries the simple intransitive sense of drawing near; the root acts on the subject reflexively.
3 | נגד | to tell, declare | הִגָּד | Inf. Absolute | — |  |  |
to be told / being declared — Passive — הִגָּד is the Niphal inf. absolute of נגד; הִ prefix + dagesh forte in גּ (assimilated root nun).
4 | נגע | to touch | נִגַּע | Perfect 3ms | — |  |  |
he was touched — Passive — Niphal of נגע: the subject receives the touch rather than performs it.
5 | נכה | to strike | יִנָּכֶה | Imperfect 3ms | Exo 21:20 |  |  |
he shall be struck / beaten — Passive — Exo 21:20 legal context. Niphal imperfect with dagesh forte in כּ (assimilated nun) + ֶה (III-ה ending). Qal "to strike" → Niphal "to be struck."

## Part B — III-ה Roots

# | Root | Qal | Niphal Form | Conj | Ref | Translation | Function |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
6 | גלה | to uncover, reveal | נִגְלָה | Perfect 3ms | Gen 35:7 |  |  |
it/God was revealed / revealed himself there — Passive or Reflexive — Gen 35:7 "God revealed himself to him." The Niphal of גלה is typically used for divine revelation; the ambiguity between passive and reflexive is built into the Niphal.
7 | עלה | to go up, ascend | נַעֲלָה | Perfect 3ms | — |  |  |
he went up / ascended — Simple Action — The Niphal of עלה sometimes overlaps with the Qal in meaning. Note the patach-furtive pattern under the ע (guttural + III-ה combination).
8 | ראה | to see | נִרְאָה | Perfect 3ms | Gen 12:7 |  |  |
he appeared / was seen — Passive/Reflexive — Gen 12:7 "The LORD appeared to Abram." The Niphal of ראה is the classic OT formula for divine appearance (theophany).
9 | בנה | to build | יִבָּנֶה | Imperfect 3ms | — |  |  |
it will be built — Passive — Niphal imperfect of בנה; dagesh forte in בּ + ֶה ending (III-ה). Qal "to build" → Niphal "to be built."
10 | עשׂה | to do, make | נַעֲשָׂה | Perfect 3ms | Gen 20:9 |  |  |
what has been done (to me) — Passive — Gen 20:9. The guttural ע takes a composite shewa (chateph-patach); final ה is III-ה. Qal "to do" → Niphal "to be done."

## Part C — Hollow Roots

# | Root | Qal | Niphal Form | Conj | Ref | Translation | Function |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
11 | קום | to rise, stand up | נָקוֹם | Perfect 3ms | — |  |  |
it was established / raised up — Passive — Hollow Niphal perfect; the characteristic long ō vowel (vav) is preserved: נָקוֹם.
12 | כון | to be firm, established | נָכוֹן | Perfect 3ms | Psa 103:19 |  |  |
it is firm / established — Stative Niphal — Psa 103:19 "his throne is established in the heavens." The Niphal of כון nearly always expresses a state of being fixed, ready, or secure.
13 | שׁים | to place, set | יִשָּׂם | Imperfect 3ms | — |  |  |
it will be placed / set — Passive — Niphal imperfect of שׁים; the hollow middle vowel contracts; note the sin-to-sin (שׁ→שׂ) shift and dagesh forte in שּׂ.
14 | בוא | to come, go in | נָבוֹא | Perfect 1cp | Num 32:9 |  |  |
they went / came (up) — Simple Action — Num 32:9. Niphal of בוא often functions as a simple intransitive of movement in poetry and narrative; hollow ō vowel preserved.
15 | שׁוב | to return | נָשׁוּב | Perfect 3ms | — |  |  |
it was brought back / returned — Passive or Simple Action — Hollow Niphal perfect; ū vowel (vav) preserved (נָשׁוּב). Context determines whether this is passive (something brought back) or simple intransitive (he/it returned).