Hiphil Weak Verbs — Geminate (Ayin-Doubled, II=III) Paradigms

Full conjugation tables for Geminate (Ayin-Doubled) roots in the Hiphil stem.
Representative roots: סָבַב (to go around → Hiphil: cause to go around, surround) and שָׁלַל (to plunder → Hiphil: cause to plunder, despoil).
Each section shows the strong root (קטל) alongside the weak paradigm for direct comparison.
Attested forms drawn from MACULA Hebrew WLC.

Overview of the Class

Geminate roots (R2 = R3) in the Hiphil produce forms that closely resemble the Biconsonantal (Hollow) Hiphil paradigm. This is the most important confusable pair for this class.

Key parallels and distinctions:

The Geminate Hiphil is phonologically nearly identical to the Biconsonantal Hiphil. The root itself (three consonants with R2=R3) is the only reliable way to distinguish the two classes once you know the root. In practice, if you know the root, you know the class; the forms themselves cannot always be distinguished.

Perfect (Qatal)

The Pattern

Strong Hiphil perfect 3ms: הִקְטִיל. Geminate Hiphil perfect 3ms: הֵסֵב — the הֵ prefix (tsere under הֵ) and a contracted root with tsere under R1. This is the same הֵ prefix as the Biconsonantal Hiphil perfect (הֵקִים).

Key: 3ms has הֵ prefix (tsere) — same as Biconsonantal הֵקִים. Suffixed forms reduce to shewa under הֲ + doubled R2.

Attested passages:
- הֵסֵב (1 Kgs 21:4) — "he turned his face toward the wall" — perfect 3ms from סָבַב; הֵ prefix (tsere) is unmistakable
- הֵסֵב (Lam 3:11) — "he turned me aside and tore me to pieces" — Hiphil causative meaning clearly active
- וְהֵסֵב (1 Sam 5:8) — "and let them move the ark of the God of Israel" — weqatal 3mp; the הֵ prefix is retained

Imperfect (Yiqtol)

The Pattern

Strong Hiphil imperfect: יַקְטִיל. Geminate Hiphil imperfect: יָסֵב — qamets under the prefix consonant (יָ), contracted doubled root. Again, this matches the Biconsonantal imperfect pattern (יָקִים).

Key: Qamets under the prefix consonant (יָ / תָּ / אָ / נָ) — same as Biconsonantal יָקִים. If you know it is from סָבַב rather than קוּם, you know the class.

Attested passages:
- יָסֵב (Isa 44:20) — "a deluded heart has led him astray" — imperfect 3ms Hiphil from סָבַב (causative: "turns away")
- תָּסֵב (Num 36:9) — "no inheritance shall be transferred from one tribe to another" — imperfect 3fs; qamets prefix

Wayyiqtol

The Pattern

Geminate Hiphil wayyiqtol: וַיָּסֶב — qamets + seghol in the short form. Matches the Biconsonantal wayyiqtol (וַיָּקֶם).

Key: וַיָּ prefix (qamets) + contracted root + seghol final. Same visual pattern as וַיָּקֶם (Biconsonantal).

Attested passages:
- וַיָּסֶב (Josh 6:14) — "and they marched around the city" — wayyiqtol 3ms from סָבַב; narrative chain in the Jericho account
- וַיָּסֶב (1 Sam 18:11) — "and David turned aside from his presence" — wayyiqtol; causative/reflexive Hiphil

Weqatal

The Pattern

Weqatal of Geminate Hiphil uses the same base as the perfect.

Note: The weqatal maintains the הֵ prefix (tsere) of the perfect. The doubled R2 may take dagesh forte when a suffix follows.

Imperative

The Pattern

Strong Hiphil imperative 2ms: הַקְטֵל. Geminate Hiphil imperative: הָסֵב — qamets under הָ, matching the Biconsonantal imperative (הָקֵם).

Key: הָ prefix (qamets) — same as Biconsonantal הָקֵם. Contrast with the strong Hiphil הַקְטֵל (patach).

Attested passages:
- הָסֵב (2 Sam 2:22) — "turn aside from following me" — imperative 2ms from סָבַב; the qamets prefix distinguishes it from strong הַקְטֵל
- הָסֵבּוּ (Num 21:4) — "they traveled around the land of Edom" — imperative used with circumambulatory sense

Infinitive Construct

The Pattern

Strong Hiphil inf. construct: הַקְטִיל. Geminate Hiphil inf. construct: הָסֵב — qamets under הָ + contracted root. Same form as the imperative.

Note: The inf. construct is identical to the 2ms imperative (הָסֵב). Verbal prepositions (לְ/בְּ) typically accompany the inf. construct, distinguishing it from the imperative.

Infinitive Absolute

The Pattern

Strong Hiphil inf. absolute: הַקְטֵל. Geminate Hiphil inf. absolute: הָסֵב or הַסֵּב — the inf. absolute is attested in both short and long forms; theoretically expected form follows the imperative pattern.

Participle

The Pattern

Strong Hiphil participle ms: מַקְטִיל. Geminate Hiphil participle ms: מֵסֵב — מֵ prefix (tsere). This matches the Biconsonantal Hiphil participle (מֵקִים).

Key: מֵ prefix (tsere) — same as Biconsonantal מֵקִים. Contrast with the strong Hiphil מַ prefix (patach).

Attested passages:
- מֵסֵב (†) — expected form; the root סָבַב does not appear in attested Hiphil participle ms in the OT, but the form is theoretically regular
- מְסַבִּים (1 Kgs 10:19) — "the throne had six steps and a back" (related noun); the root's circular meaning underlies the term

Summary — Geminate (II=III) Hiphil at a Glance

Critical confusable pair: Geminate Hiphil (הֵסֵב, יָסֵב, וַיָּסֶב) vs. Biconsonantal Hiphil (הֵקִים, יָקִים, וַיָּקֶם). The vowel patterns are nearly identical. The root is the only reliable distinguisher: Biconsonantal roots contain a hollow vowel letter (ו/י) as the medial; Geminate roots have an identical R2 and R3 (repeated consonant).