Chapter 33 — Pual Weak-Form Identification Drill

BBH Chapter 33 · Pual Weak Verbs

For each form: (1) identify the weak class, (2) parse (conjugation + PGN), (3) identify the root.

Class	Key diagnostic signal in Pual
III-he	Pual qibbuts + dagesh in R2 preserved; III-he endings: qamets + ה (perfect 3ms); shureq (וּ) in 3mp; ה drops in apocopated forms
I-nun	Nun (R1) assimilates into dagesh forte in R2 in the Pual — contrast Piel where nun stays; the dagesh in R2 serves double duty: Pual stem marker + assimilated nun
I-guttural	Guttural R1 (א/ה/ח/ע) may reject simple shewa; holem (אֹ) or qamets (ָ) can appear through compensatory lengthening; dagesh forte in R2 retained when possible
Geminate	R2=R3; Pual dagesh forte in R2 doubles the already-doubled consonant; pattern mirrors Piel Geminate; composite shewa before vocalic endings

Key distinction: In I-nun roots, the Piel retains the nun (יְנַחֵם — nun visible) but the Pual assimilates the nun into the dagesh in R2 (נֻכָּה — nun gone, dagesh in כ has double duty). The Pual follows the same assimilation rule as Qal/Hiphil.

Part A — By Class

#	Form	Reference
1	יְכֻלּוּ	Gen 2:1
Wayyiqtol · 3mp · כָּלָה — were finished/completed; qibbuts under כ + dagesh forte in ל; III-he Pual 3mp shureq ending; "thus the heavens and earth were completed"
2	יְכֻסּוּ	Gen 7:19
Wayyiqtol · 3mp · כָּסָה — were covered; qibbuts under כ + dagesh forte in ס; III-he Pual 3mp shureq ending; "all the high mountains were covered"
3	כֻּסָּה	Exo 15:5
Perfect · 3ms · כָּסָה — it was covered; qibbuts under כ + dagesh forte in ס; III-he Pual perfect 3ms: qamets + ה ending; Song of the Sea
4	צֻוֵּיתָ	Gen 45:19
Perfect · 2ms · צָוָה — you have been commanded; qibbuts under צ + dagesh forte in ו (R2); III-he Pual perfect 2ms: tsere-yod vowel letter before תָ suffix; Pharaoh to Joseph's brothers
5	כֻּלָּה	Isa 24:10
Perfect · 3fs · כָּלָה — it was devastated/finished; qibbuts under כ + dagesh forte in ל; III-he Pual perfect 3fs: qamets + ה ending (same as 3ms for III-he roots — context/gender of subject determines)

Form

Reference

Conjugation

PGN

Root

יְכֻלּוּ

Gen 2:1

Wayyiqtol · 3mp · כָּלָה — were finished/completed; qibbuts under כ + dagesh forte in ל; III-he Pual 3mp shureq ending; "thus the heavens and earth were completed"

יְכֻסּוּ

Gen 7:19

Wayyiqtol · 3mp · כָּסָה — were covered; qibbuts under כ + dagesh forte in ס; III-he Pual 3mp shureq ending; "all the high mountains were covered"

כֻּסָּה

Exo 15:5

Perfect · 3ms · כָּסָה — it was covered; qibbuts under כ + dagesh forte in ס; III-he Pual perfect 3ms: qamets + ה ending; Song of the Sea

צֻוֵּיתָ

Gen 45:19

Perfect · 2ms · צָוָה — you have been commanded; qibbuts under צ + dagesh forte in ו (R2); III-he Pual perfect 2ms: tsere-yod vowel letter before תָ suffix; Pharaoh to Joseph's brothers

כֻּלָּה

Isa 24:10

Perfect · 3fs · כָּלָה — it was devastated/finished; qibbuts under כ + dagesh forte in ל; III-he Pual perfect 3fs: qamets + ה ending (same as 3ms for III-he roots — context/gender of subject determines)

#	Form	Reference
6	נֻכָּה	Exo 9:31
Perfect · 3fs · נָכָה — it was struck; nun assimilated → dagesh forte in כ (R2); qibbuts under נ position visible; III-he: qamets + ה ending; "the flax and barley were struck" (plague of hail)
7	נֻכּוּ	Exo 9:32
Perfect · 3cp · נָכָה — they were not struck; nun assimilated → dagesh forte in כ; III-he Pual 3cp: shureq ending; "but the wheat and spelt were not struck"
8	נֻתַּץ	Jdg 6:28
Perfect · 3ms · נָתַץ — was torn down/demolished; nun assimilated → dagesh forte in ת (R2); qibbuts under נ position; patach final — Pual perfect 3ms; Gideon's father's altar was demolished
9	יֻכַּה	2 Sam 11:15
Imperfect · 3ms · נָכָה — let him be struck down; nun assimilated → dagesh forte in כ; qibbuts under יּ prefix; III-he Pual imperfect; David's command to expose Uriah in battle

Form

Reference

Conjugation

PGN

Root

נֻכָּה

Exo 9:31

Perfect · 3fs · נָכָה — it was struck; nun assimilated → dagesh forte in כ (R2); qibbuts under נ position visible; III-he: qamets + ה ending; "the flax and barley were struck" (plague of hail)

נֻכּוּ

Exo 9:32

Perfect · 3cp · נָכָה — they were not struck; nun assimilated → dagesh forte in כ; III-he Pual 3cp: shureq ending; "but the wheat and spelt were not struck"

נֻתַּץ

Jdg 6:28

Perfect · 3ms · נָתַץ — was torn down/demolished; nun assimilated → dagesh forte in ת (R2); qibbuts under נ position; patach final — Pual perfect 3ms; Gideon's father's altar was demolished

יֻכַּה

2 Sam 11:15

Imperfect · 3ms · נָכָה — let him be struck down; nun assimilated → dagesh forte in כ; qibbuts under יּ prefix; III-he Pual imperfect; David's command to expose Uriah in battle

#	Form	Reference
10	עֻבַּד	Dan 3:12
Perfect · 3ms · עָבַד — it was served/worshipped; qibbuts under ע (I-guttural: ע accepts qibbuts); dagesh forte in ב (R2); patach final; the accusation: the idol was not served by these men
11	אֹרָשָׂה	Exo 22:15
Perfect · 3fs · אָרַשׂ — she was betrothed; I-aleph + ר (both reject dagesh forte): chain compensatory lengthening produces holem (אֹ) under א; qamets under ר; III-he: qamets + ה fs ending
12	הֻמַּת	Jdg 6:30
Hophal · Perfect · 3ms · מוּת — he must be put to death; qibbuts under הֻ (Hophal prefix); I-nun/biconsonantal: מ of מוּת is not standard R1 in Hophal; Hophal (not Pual): הֻ prefix identifies it as Hophal passive; compare Pual which has qibbuts under root R1 directly

Form

Reference

Conjugation

PGN

Root

עֻבַּד

Dan 3:12

Perfect · 3ms · עָבַד — it was served/worshipped; qibbuts under ע (I-guttural: ע accepts qibbuts); dagesh forte in ב (R2); patach final; the accusation: the idol was not served by these men

אֹרָשָׂה

Exo 22:15

Perfect · 3fs · אָרַשׂ — she was betrothed; I-aleph + ר (both reject dagesh forte): chain compensatory lengthening produces holem (אֹ) under א; qamets under ר; III-he: qamets + ה fs ending

הֻמַּת

Jdg 6:30

Hophal · Perfect · 3ms · מוּת — he must be put to death; qibbuts under הֻ (Hophal prefix); I-nun/biconsonantal: מ of מוּת is not standard R1 in Hophal; Hophal (not Pual): הֻ prefix identifies it as Hophal passive; compare Pual which has qibbuts under root R1 directly

#	Form	Reference
13	מְהֻלָּל	Ps 18:4
Participle · ms · הָלַל — worthy of praise; Pual passive participle: מְ + qibbuts under הֻ (R1) + dagesh forte in ל (R2=R3 Geminate) + tsere; "The LORD is worthy of praise"
14	גֻּנַּב	Gen 40:15
Perfect · 3ms · גָּנַב — was stolen; qibbuts under ג + dagesh forte in נ (R2); patach final — Pual perfect 3ms; Joseph to the cupbearer: "I was indeed stolen from the land of the Hebrews"
15	יְאֻשַּׁר	Ps 41:3
Imperfect · 3ms · אָשַׁר — he will be called blessed/happy; qibbuts under א (I-aleph accepts qibbuts); dagesh forte in שׁ (R2); patach final — Pual imperfect; "Happy is he who considers the poor"

Form

Reference

Conjugation

PGN

Root

מְהֻלָּל

Ps 18:4

Participle · ms · הָלַל — worthy of praise; Pual passive participle: מְ + qibbuts under הֻ (R1) + dagesh forte in ל (R2=R3 Geminate) + tsere; "The LORD is worthy of praise"

גֻּנַּב

Gen 40:15

Perfect · 3ms · גָּנַב — was stolen; qibbuts under ג + dagesh forte in נ (R2); patach final — Pual perfect 3ms; Joseph to the cupbearer: "I was indeed stolen from the land of the Hebrews"

יְאֻשַּׁר

Ps 41:3

Imperfect · 3ms · אָשַׁר — he will be called blessed/happy; qibbuts under א (I-aleph accepts qibbuts); dagesh forte in שׁ (R2); patach final — Pual imperfect; "Happy is he who considers the poor"

Part B — Mixed

Form

Reference

Weak class

Conjugation

PGN

Root

נֻכָּה

Exo 9:31

I-nun + III-he · Perfect · 3fs · נָכָה — it was struck; nun assimilated → dagesh in כ; qibbuts under נ position; III-he qamets + ה fs ending

יְכֻסּוּ

Gen 7:20

III-he · Wayyiqtol · 3mp · כָּסָה — they were covered; qibbuts under כ; dagesh forte in ס; III-he Pual 3mp shureq ending

כֻּלָּה

Isa 24:10

III-he · Perfect · 3fs · כָּלָה — it was devastated; qibbuts under כ; dagesh forte in ל; III-he qamets + ה ending

גֻּנַּב

Gen 40:15

Strong · Perfect · 3ms · גָּנַב — was stolen; qibbuts under ג + dagesh forte in נ; standard strong Pual perfect 3ms

יֻכַּה

2 Sam 11:15

I-nun + III-he · Imperfect · 3ms · נָכָה — let him be struck; nun assimilated → dagesh in כ; qibbuts under prefix יּ; III-he Pual imperfect

צֻוֵּיתָ

Gen 45:19

III-he · Perfect · 2ms · צָוָה — you have been commanded; qibbuts under צ + dagesh forte in ו; III-he Pual perfect 2ms with tsere-yod before suffix

מְהֻלָּל

Ps 18:4

Geminate · Participle · ms · הָלַל — worthy of praise; Pual passive participle; מְ + qibbuts under ה (R1) + dagesh forte in ל (R2=R3); tsere final

עֻבַּד

Dan 3:12

I-guttural · Perfect · 3ms · עָבַד — was served/worshipped; qibbuts under ע (guttural accepts qibbuts); dagesh forte in ב; patach final

נֻתַּץ

Jdg 6:28

I-nun · Perfect · 3ms · נָתַץ — was torn down; nun assimilated → dagesh forte in ת; qibbuts under נ position; patach final

כֻּסָּה

Exo 15:5

III-he · Perfect · 3ms · כָּסָה — it was covered; qibbuts under כ + dagesh forte in ס; III-he qamets + ה ending

Discussion Questions

Items 1–2 (כָּלָה and כָּסָה, both III-he Pual wayyiqtol 3mp) end in the shureq (וּ) plural ending. Compare these to the Piel wayyiqtol 3mp of the same roots. Does the Pual 3mp ending differ from the Piel 3mp ending? What changes between Piel and Pual in these III-he forms, and what stays the same?
Items 6–9 (I-nun Pual) show nun assimilating into a dagesh forte in R2. In the Piel of the same I-nun roots (e.g., יְנַחֵם from נָחַם), the nun does NOT assimilate. Explain the difference in behavior. What is the structural reason the Piel retains the nun while the Pual allows assimilation?
Item 11 (אֹרָשָׂה, I-aleph Pual): the expected Pual qibbuts under R1 does not appear in the expected place. Instead there is a holem (אֹ). Explain the chain of compensatory lengthening that produces this unusual vowel. Consider: what normally happens under R1 in the Pual, and then what happens when both R1 (aleph) and R2 (resh) reject the dagesh forte?
How would you distinguish a Pual perfect 3ms (e.g., כֻּסָּה from כָּסָה) from a Niphal perfect 3ms (e.g., נִגְלָה from גָּלָה)? List two features that differentiate them, independent of root identification.