Chapter 31 — "Spot the Piel Weak" Passage Exercise

Stem: Piel (פִּעֵל) — Weak Verbs  |  Passages: Gen 2–3, 6, 16, 18 · Deu 8:1–3 · Amos 3:7 · Gen 50:16

Instructions: For each numbered verb, fill in: (1) Is it Piel? (Yes/No) (2) Conjugation (3) PGN (4) Root (5) Stem/Function. Three verbs in this exercise are not Piel — drawn from Hiphil and Hophal already studied. Click ▶ Answer to reveal the key for that row.

Key diagnostic for III-ה Piel: The Piel of III-ה roots retains the i-class vowel under R1 and dagesh forte in R2 (where possible), but the ה ending behaves like other III-ה verbs. Pf. 3ms ends in ָּה (e.g., צִוָּה, חִיָּה, גִּלָּה). Impf. 3ms ends in ֶּה (e.g., יְצַוֶּה, יְעַנֶּה). Wayyiqtol 3ms apocopates: וַיְצַו, וַיְגַל.

Passage A — Genesis 2:16; 3:11, 17

Context: The LORD commands and questions in the garden.

וַיְצַו [1] יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים עַל־הָאָדָם לֵאמֹר מִכֹּל עֵץ הַגָּן אָכֹל תֹּאכֵל

"And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'You may freely eat from every tree of the garden…'" (Gen 2:16)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
1וַיְצַו
✓ Yes — Piel | Wayyiqtol | 3ms | צוה | Denominative — "and he commanded." III-ה root צוה: Piel Wayyiqtol 3ms apocopates (final ה drops): וַיְצַו. The וַיְ prefix + patach under צ = Piel Wayyiqtol pattern. Full Impf. would be יְצַוֶּה (see verb 5).
הֲמִן הָעֵץ אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיךָ [2] לְבִלְתִּי אֲכָל מִמֶּנּוּ אָכָלְתָּ

"'…Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?'" (Gen 3:11)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
2צִוִּיתִיךָ
✓ Yes — Piel | Perfect | 1cs + 2ms obj. suffix | צוה | Denominative — "I commanded you." III-ה: Hireq under צ (R1) + dagesh forte in וּ (R2) + Pf. 1cs suffix תִּי + 2ms obj. suffix ךָ. The ו of the root contracts with the vowel pattern in the Perfect.
כִּי שָׁמַעְתָּ לְקוֹל אִשְׁתֶּךָ וַתֹּאכַל מִן הָעֵץ אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיךָ [3] לֵאמֹר לֹא תֹאכַל מִמֶּנּוּ

"'…because you listened to the voice of your wife and ate of the tree about which I commanded you…'" (Gen 3:17)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
3צִוִּיתִיךָ
✓ Yes — Piel | Perfect | 1cs + 2ms obj. suffix | צוה | Denominative — Same form as #2. God repeats the command formula in his verdict speech. Piel Pf. 1cs of צוה III-ה + 2ms suffix.

Passage B — Genesis 6:18–20 + 18:19 + Exodus 1:17

Context: God commands Noah; Abraham is chosen to command his household; the midwives keep alive.

Hiphil vs. Piel of חיה: Both can mean "keep alive," but Hiphil (4) is causative (make to live) while Piel is factitive/intensive. The key diagnostic: Hiphil Inf. Const. takes לְהַ- prefix; Piel Inf. Const. takes לְחַ- (no הַ-).
וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת בְּרִיתִי אִתָּךְ לְהַחֲיוֹת [4] אִתָּךְ

"…and I will establish my covenant with you, to keep alive with you…" (Gen 6:18–19)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
4לְהַחֲיוֹת
✗ No — Hiphil | Inf. Construct | — | חיה | NOT Piel — Hiphil Inf. Const.: "to keep alive" (causative). The לְהַ- prefix (preposition + הַ) marks Hiphil Inf. Construct. Piel Inf. Const. of same root would be לְחַיּוֹת (no הַ-). The Hiphil emphasizes causative agency.
חִיָּה [5] אֶת אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ

"Keep alive what is on the earth." (Gen 6:19 context)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
5חִיָּה
✓ Yes — Piel | Perfect | 3ms | חיה | Factitive — "kept alive." III-ה root חיה: Hireq under ח (R1) + dagesh forte in יּ (R2) + ָה (III-ה Pf. 3ms ending). The Piel of חיה = to preserve/keep alive (intensive/factitive of "to live").
כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה [6] אֶת בָּנָיו וְאֶת בֵּיתוֹ אַחֲרָיו

"For I know him, so that he will command his sons and his household after him…" (Gen 18:19)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
6יְצַוֶּה
✓ Yes — Piel | Imperfect | 3ms | צוה | Denominative — "will command." III-ה Impf. 3ms: יְ prefix (shewa) + patach under צ + dagesh forte in וּ (R2) + tsere-He (ֶּה) ending. This is the full (non-apocopated) Piel Impf. 3ms of צוה.
וַיְחַיּוּ [7] אֶת יַלְדֵי הַנָּשִׁים הָעִבְרִיּוֹת

"…and they kept alive the male children of the Hebrew women." (Exo 1:17)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
7וַיְחַיּוּ
✓ Yes — Piel | Wayyiqtol | 3mp | חיה | Factitive — "they kept alive." III-ה Wayyiqtol 3mp: וַיְ + חַ + יּ (dagesh forte in yod = R2 doubled) + וּ (3mp suffix). The midwives' courageous act. Compare: Piel Wayyiqtol 3ms of same root would be וַיְחַי.

Passage C — Genesis 16:6 + Deuteronomy 8:2–3

Context: Hagar is afflicted; Israel is humbled in the wilderness.

עִנָּה [8] אֹתָהּ שָׂרַי

"Sarai afflicted / humbled her." (Gen 16:6)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
8עִנָּה
✓ Yes — Piel | Perfect | 3ms | ענה | Factitive — "she afflicted/humbled." III-ה root ענה: Hireq under ע (R1) + dagesh forte in נּ (R2) + ָה (Pf. 3ms ending). The Piel of ענה = to afflict, humble, oppress (factitive).
וְזָכַרְתָּ אֶת כָּל הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר הֹלִיכְךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְמַעַן עַנֹּתְךָ [9] לְנַסֹּתְךָ

"…to humble you and to test you…" (Deu 8:2)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
9עַנֹּתְךָ
✓ Yes — Piel | Inf. Construct | — + 2ms suffix | ענה | Factitive — "to humble you." Piel Inf. Const. of III-ה root ענה: לְעַנֹּתְךָ → עַנֹּתְךָ (with preposition לְ). Patach under ע + dagesh forte in נּ. The III-ה ending appears as ת in Inf. Const. with suffix.
וַיְעַנְּךָ וַיַּרְעִבֶךָ וַיַּאֲכִלְךָ אֶת הַמָּן לְמַעַן הוֹדִיעֲךָ [10] כִּי לֹא עַל הַלֶּחֶם לְבַדּוֹ יִחְיֶה הָאָדָם

"…and he fed you manna in order to make you know that man does not live by bread alone." (Deu 8:3)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
10הוֹדִיעֲךָ
✗ No — Hiphil | Inf. Construct | — + 2ms suffix | ידע | NOT Piel — Hiphil Inf. Const.: "to make known / to cause you to know." The הוֹ- prefix (Holem-Vav) identifies Hiphil of I-י root ידע. Piel of ידע is extremely rare; Hiphil הוֹדִיעַ = to inform, make known (causative).
יְעַנֶּה [11] יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֹתְךָ בַּמִּדְבָּר

"The LORD your God will humble you in the wilderness." (Deu 8:2 parallel)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
11יְעַנֶּה
✓ Yes — Piel | Imperfect | 3ms | ענה | Factitive — "will humble." III-ה Impf. 3ms: יְ prefix (shewa) + patach under ע + dagesh forte in נּ (R2) + tsere-He (ֶּה) ending. Same root as verbs 8 and 9; the imperfect continuation of the same theological theme (wilderness humbling).

Passage D — Amos 3:7 + Genesis 50:16 + Deuteronomy 8:1 + Genesis 39:1

Context: God reveals his secrets; Joseph's brothers send a command; Moses commands Israel.

כִּי לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה דָּבָר כִּי אִם גִּלָּה [12] סוֹדוֹ אֶל עֲבָדָיו הַנְּבִיאִים

"For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
12גִּלָּה
✓ Yes — Piel | Perfect | 3ms | גלה | Declarative/Intensive — "revealed." III-ה root גלה: Hireq under ג (R1) + dagesh forte in לּ (R2) + ָה (Pf. 3ms ending). The Piel of גלה = to reveal, uncover, disclose (intensive of "to be revealed / go into exile").
וַיְצַוּוּ [13] אֶל יוֹסֵף לֵאמֹר אָבִיךָ צִוָּה לִפְנֵי מוֹתוֹ לֵאמֹר

"They sent a command to Joseph, saying, 'Your father gave orders before his death…'" (Gen 50:16)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
13וַיְצַוּוּ
✓ Yes — Piel | Wayyiqtol | 3mp | צוה | Denominative — "they commanded/sent word." Piel Wayyiqtol 3mp of III-ה root צוה: וַיְ + צַ + וּ (3mp ending with ו retained from root before the plural suffix). Same root as verbs 1, 2, 3, 6, 14.
כָּל הַמִּצְוָה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ [14] הַיּוֹם תִּשְׁמְרוּן לַעֲשׂוֹת

"All the commandment that I am commanding you today, you shall be careful to do." (Deu 8:1)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
14מְצַוְּךָ
✓ Yes — Piel | Participle | ms + 2ms obj. suffix | צוה | Denominative — "commanding you." Piel Ptc. ms of III-ה root צוה: מְ prefix + patach under צ + dagesh forte in וּ (R2) + 2ms suffix ךָ. The Participle here carries present/durative force: "I am (hereby) commanding you."
Cross-stem review — Hophal distractor: The next verb appeared in the Ch29 exercise. Here it serves as a reminder that הוּ prefix = Hophal (passive), not Piel (active/intensive).
הוּבָא [15] יוֹסֵף מִצְרָיְמָה

"Joseph was brought to Egypt." (Gen 39:1)

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
15הוּבָא
✗ No — Hophal | Perfect | 3ms | בוא | NOT Piel — Hophal passive causative: "was brought." The הוּ prefix (u-class Shureq) is the Hophal marker. Piel would require i-class vowel under R1 (בִּ-) + dagesh forte in R2 — impossible here since בוא is a I-י root not typically conjugated in the Piel.

Reflection Questions

  1. All target-stem verbs in this exercise come from III-ה roots. In the Piel Perfect 3ms (verbs 7 and 10), the final ה appears as the long vowel pattern ָה (Qamets-He). In the Imperfect 3ms (verbs 5 and 9), the pattern ends in ֶּה (tsere-He, with dagesh in R2). What form-rule governs this alternation? How does the Piel pattern differ from the Qal for the same root classes?
  2. Verbs 2 and 3 are both forms of צוה (Piel Perf. 1cs + 2ms object suffix). How does the object suffix affect the form, and what rule about R2 (ו of III-ה roots) applies in the Piel Perfect? Can you spot where the vowel contraction occurs?
  3. 4 (לְהַחֲיוֹת) is Hiphil Inf. Construct of חיה, while verbs 5 and 7 are Piel of the same root. Compare: Hiphil לְהַחֲיוֹת ("to keep alive" — causative) vs. Piel חִיָּה ("kept alive" — intensive/factitive). What is the diagnostic morphological difference that tells you one is Hiphil and the other is Piel?

Answer Key

#VerbPiel?ConjugationPGNRootStem / Function
1וַיְצַוYesWayyiqtol3msצוהPiel — Denominative; III-ה apocopated: וַיְצַו
2צִוִּיתִיךָYesPerfect1cs + 2ms obj.צוהPiel — Denominative; "I commanded you"
3צִוִּיתִיךָYesPerfect1cs + 2ms obj.צוהPiel — Denominative; same form, different literary context
4לְהַחֲיוֹתNoInf. Construct—חיהNOT Piel — Hiphil Inf. Const. (לְהַ- prefix); "to keep alive" (causative)
5חִיָּהYesPerfect3msחיהPiel — Factitive; "kept alive"
6יְצַוֶּהYesImperfect3msצוהPiel — Denominative; III-ה Impf. 3ms full form
7וַיְחַיּוּYesWayyiqtol3mpחיהPiel — Factitive; "they kept alive" (the midwives)
8עִנָּהYesPerfect3msענהPiel — Factitive; "she afflicted/humbled"
9עַנֹּתְךָYesInf. Construct— + 2ms suffixענהPiel — Factitive; "to humble you"
10הוֹדִיעֲךָNoInf. Construct— + 2ms suffixידעNOT Piel — Hiphil Inf. Const. (הוֹ- prefix); "to make you know"
11יְעַנֶּהYesImperfect3msענהPiel — Factitive; "will humble"
12גִּלָּהYesPerfect3msגלהPiel — Declarative/Intensive; "revealed"
13וַיְצַוּוּYesWayyiqtol3mpצוהPiel — Denominative; "they commanded/sent word"
14מְצַוְּךָYesParticiplems + 2ms obj.צוהPiel — Denominative; "commanding you"
15הוּבָאNoPerfect3msבואNOT Piel — Hophal Pf. 3ms; "was brought" (הוּ prefix = u-class = Hophal)