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

BBH Chapter 31 · Piel Weak Verbs

Classify each Piel verb as I (Intensive), F (Factitive), D (Declarative), SA (Simple Action), or DN (Denominative). All roots are weak. Type your answer in the Function column, then click ▶ Answer to check.

Code | Function | Key diagnostic question
--- | --- | ---
I | Intensive | Does the subject do the Qal action more forcefully, completely, or repeatedly?
F | Factitive | Does the subject cause an object to enter a state? (Stative Qal root.)
D | Declarative | Does the subject pronounce or treat something as being in a state?
SA | Simple Action | Is the Piel the standard form with no common Qal equivalent?
DN | Denominative | Is the Piel verb built on a noun and performs that noun's characteristic action?

Tip: Stative root (to be X) + Piel = Piel causes X → Factitive. Active root (to do X) + Piel = Piel does X more intensely → Intensive. No common Qal → Simple Action. Built on a noun → Denominative.

# | Hebrew Form | Conjugation | Root | Ref | Contextual Gloss | Function |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | בֵּרַךְ | Perfect 3ms | ברך | Gen 1:28 | "God blessed them" |  |
I — Intensive · Root: ברך (Qal: to kneel/bless — rare) · Piel = formal, intensive bestowal of divine favor; the standard OT word for blessing
2 | גִּלָּה | Perfect 3ms | גלה | Gen 35:7 | "God revealed himself to him" |  |
I — Intensive · Root: גלה (Qal: to uncover / go into exile) · Piel = reveal completely, disclose thoroughly. III-ה root; dagesh in ל
3 | חִזֵּק | Perfect 3ms | חזק | Exo 4:21 | "I will harden his heart" |  |
F — Factitive · Root: חזק (Qal: to be strong/hard — stative) · Piel = cause to enter the state of hardness; "he hardened [Pharaoh's heart]." Classic Factitive
4 | כִּלָּה | Perfect 3ms | כלה | Gen 2:2 | "God finished his work" |  |
I or F — Intensive / Factitive · Root: כלה (Qal: to be complete/finished — stative) · Factitive: cause to reach completion; Intensive: finish thoroughly. Either analysis is acceptable
5 | צִוָּה | Perfect 3ms | צוה | Gen 2:16 | "the LORD commanded the man" |  |
SA — Simple Action · Root: צוה (no common Qal) · Commanding is the Piel's own basic function. III-ה root
6 | בֵּרֲכוּ | Perfect 3cp | ברך | — | "they blessed" |  |
I — Intensive · Root: ברך (same as #1) · Note hateph-patach under ר in 3cp form — I-guttural effect in conjugation. Function identical to #1
7 | יְבָרֵךְ | Imperfect 3ms | ברך | Psa 115:12 | "the LORD will bless" |  |
I — Intensive · Root: ברך · Piel imperfect 3ms; shewa under יְ + qamets + tsere = Piel imperfect marker. Blessing = intensive/formal divine action
8 | יְצַוֶּה | Imperfect 3ms | צוה | — | "he will command" |  |
SA — Simple Action · Root: צוה (no common Qal) · Piel imperfect 3ms; note III-ה contraction with tsere-yod pattern. Function identical to #5
9 | וַיְבָרֶךְ | Wayyiqtol 3ms | ברך | Gen 1:22 | "God blessed them" |  |
I — Intensive · Root: ברך · Waw-consecutive + Piel imperfect; same function as #1 and #7
10 | וַיְצַו | Wayyiqtol 3ms | צוה | Gen 3:11 | "which I commanded you" |  |
SA — Simple Action · Root: צוה · Wayyiqtol 3ms; III-ה root contracts (ה drops in wayyiqtol). No Qal; commanding = Piel primary
11 | חִיָּה | Perfect 3ms | חיה | Gen 47:25 | "you have kept us alive" |  |
F — Factitive · Root: חיה (Qal: to live/be alive — stative) · Piel = cause to be alive = preserve, keep alive. Classic Factitive
12 | שִׁלֵּם | Perfect 3ms | שׁלם | Exo 22:2 | "he shall make full restitution" |  |
I or F — Intensive / Factitive · Root: שׁלם (Qal: to be complete/at peace — stative) · Factitive: cause completion (pay in full); Intensive: pay thoroughly. Legal "make restitution" = both analyses are valid
13 | עִנָּה | Perfect 3ms | ענה | Gen 15:13 | "they will afflict them" |  |
F — Factitive · Root: ענה II (Qal: to be afflicted/humbled — stative; distinct from ענה I "answer") · Piel = cause to be in a state of affliction. I-guttural (ע) + III-ה
14 | כִּנָּה | Perfect 3ms | כנה | Isa 45:4 | "I gave you a title" |  |
DN — Denominative · Root: כנה (noun: כִּנּוּי "title/surname/honorific") · To give someone a title or name. God assigns an honorific to Cyrus. Denominative = verb performs the noun's characteristic action
15 | בִּקֵּשׁ | Perfect 3ms | בקש | Gen 37:15 | "what are you seeking?" |  |
SA — Simple Action · Root: בקש (no common Qal) · Seeking/searching is the Piel's primary function; strong root but no Qal counterpart in standard use
16 | יְבַקֵּשׁ | Imperfect 3ms | בקש | — | "he will seek" |  |
SA — Simple Action · Root: בקש · Piel imperfect 3ms; same analysis as #15
17 | גִּלָּה | Perfect 3ms | גלה | Amo 3:7 | "he reveals his secret to his servants" |  |
I — Intensive · Root: גלה (same form as #2) · Different context: God discloses prophetic secrets to his prophets. Thorough, intentional revelation. Same analysis as #2
18 | שִׁנָּה | Perfect 3ms | שׁנה | — | "he changed / altered" |  |
I — Intensive · Root: שׁנה (Qal: to change/repeat) · Piel = alter thoroughly, change completely. III-ה root; dagesh in נ
19 | חִזְּקוּ | Perfect 3cp | חזק | — | "they strengthened / encouraged" |  |
F — Factitive · Root: חזק (Qal: to be strong — stative) · Piel 3cp = they caused [others] to be strong = they strengthened/encouraged. Same analysis as #3
20 | בִּנָּה | Perfect 3ms | בנה | 1 Kgs 6:2 | "Solomon built the house" |  |
I — Intensive · Root: בנה (Qal: to build) · Piel = build thoroughly, construct comprehensively. Used of Solomon's comprehensive temple-building program. III-ה root; dagesh in נ