BBH Chapter 35 — Hithpael Weak Verbs (הִתְקַטֵּל)

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Basics of Biblical Hebrew, Pratico & Van Pelt, Chapter 35
Builds on Ch34 (Hithpael Strong Verbs). Weak forms only — semantic functions not repeated.

Scope: This chapter extends the Hithpael paradigm to eight weak-root classes. Each class modifies
the strong pattern in a predictable, phonologically motivated way. Functions (Reflexive, Reciprocal,
Iterative, Estimative, Denominative) were covered in Ch34 and are not repeated here.

1. The Eight Weak Classes — Overview

Metathesis rules (not a weak class but co-occurring with any I-sibilant root):
- I-שׁ / I-שׂ / I-ס: The הִתְ prefix swaps with the sibilant — הִתְ + שׁ → הִשְׁתַּ (e.g., הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה)
- I-צ / I-ז: The הִתְ prefix swaps AND the ת voices or changes — הִתְ + צ → הִצְתַּ → הִצְטַּ (e.g., הִצְטַדֵּק)

Key principle: None of these classes requires learning a new stem. Every change follows from
a standard phonological rule — quiescence, compensatory lengthening, composite shewa, or
metathesis — applied to the strong Hithpael pattern (הִתְקַטֵּל). Recognize the rule; the form follows.

2. I-guttural (Pe-Guttural) Verbs

Pattern

The strong Hithpael perfect has a simple shewa under R1 after the הִתְ prefix: הִתְקַטֵּל. When R1 is a
guttural (א, ה, ח, ע), the guttural refuses the simple shewa and takes a composite shewa instead —
typically hateph-patach (under ע, ח) or hateph-seghol (under א). The preceding vowel adjusts
accordingly: the patach (ַ) of the הִתְ prefix may lengthen toward qamets before ה/ח/ע. In the
imperfect and wayyiqtol, the יִתְ prefix similarly adjusts before a guttural R1.

Diagnostic markers:
- Perfect 3ms: הִתְעַלֵּם — composite shewa (hateph-patach) under ע (R1); tsere in R2 (Hithpael marker)
- Imperfect 3ms: יִתְעַלֵּם — יִתְ prefix; composite shewa under R1; dagesh in R2; tsere
- Wayyiqtol 3ms: וַיִּתְעַלֵּם — וַיִּתְ prefix; composite shewa under R1
- Imperative 2ms: הִתְעַלֵּם — same as perfect 3ms form (distinguish by context)
- Participle ms: מִתְעַלֵּם — מִתְ prefix; composite shewa under R1; dagesh in R2

Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Key Corpus Examples

• הִתְעַלֵּם (Deu 22:1) — "you must not ignore [your brother's ox or sheep]" — perfect 3ms used as prohibition with לֹא; composite shewa under ע is the I-guttural marker
• וַיִּתְעַלֵּם (1 Sam 12:11) — "he delivered you from the hand of your enemies" — wayyiqtol 3ms; prefix יִתְ + composite shewa
• הִתְחַזֵּק (2 Sam 10:12) — "be strong" — imperative 2ms from חָזַק (I-ח guttural); hateph-patach under ח
• מִתְחַזֵּק (1 Chr 11:10) — "who gave him strong support" — participle ms; מִתְ prefix; composite shewa under ח

3. III-ח/ע (Lamed-Guttural) Verbs

Pattern

When R3 is ח or ע, the guttural demands an a-class vowel in its syllable. In the Hithpael, the
characteristic tsere under R2 (the Hithpael vowel) typically shifts toward patach when R3 is a
guttural, and patach furtive appears before a word-final guttural in open syllables.

Diagnostic markers:
- Perfect 3ms: הִתְרַחֵם — patach may shift toward seghol before word-final ח; the main
Hithpael markers (הִתְ prefix, dagesh in R2) remain intact
- Participle ms: מִתְרַחֵם — patach furtive before final ח when the syllable is open
- Imperfect 3ms: יִתְרַחֵם — standard יִתְ prefix; a-class before final ח/ע

Note: The patach furtive is pronounced before the guttural (as a glide), though it is written
below the guttural. It does not appear when the guttural is followed by a suffix and stands in a
closed syllable.

Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Key Corpus Examples

• הִתְרַחֵם (Isa 27:11) — "he who made them will not have compassion on them" — perfect/imperfect Hithpael from רחם; reflexive/middle: "will show himself compassionate"
• מִתְנַחֵם (Gen 6:6) — "and he was grieved" — participle from נחם (III-ח overlap with I-נ class); illustrates a-class vowel before final ח
• יִתְנַחֵם (Exo 32:12) — "relent from this disaster" — imperfect 3ms; a-class vowel before final ח maintained

4. III-א (Lamed-Aleph) Verbs

Pattern

The final א of these roots quiesces (becomes silent) in word-final position. The vowel that would stand
before it lengthens compensatorily. The Hithpael prefix הִתְ and the dagesh in R2 are otherwise intact.
In practice, the form looks very similar to the strong Hithpael, but the word ends in a long vowel + silent
א rather than a true consonantal ending.

Diagnostic markers:
- Perfect 3ms: הִתְרַפֵּא — tsere + silent א; form ends in visible א but it does not close the syllable
- Imperfect 3ms: יִתְרַפֵּא — יִתְ prefix; dagesh in R2; tsere before silent final א
- Inf. Construct: הִתְרַפֵּא (with לְ: לְהִתְרַפֵּא) — same form as perfect 3ms; lamed-preposition marks infinitive construct
- Participle ms: מִתְרַפֵּא — מִתְ prefix; tsere before silent final א

Compare: Strong Hithpael perfect 3ms ends in the R3 consonant (הִתְקַטֵּל). III-א forms end in
visible א but it is quiescent — the syllable is effectively open with a long tsere.

Exercise connection: Verb 10 in the passage exercise — לְהִתְרַפֵּא (2 Kgs 8:29) — is the
Hithpael inf. construct of רפא (III-א), "to be healed / to seek healing." The לְ preposition
signals the infinitive construct function.

Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Note on נבא (I-נ + III-א): The root נבא carries two weak features — I-נ and III-א. See
§6 for the I-נ discussion; the critical point is that in Hithpael the נ of the root does NOT
assimilate (unlike in the Niphal or Hiphil imperfect). The full paradigm column above reflects
the III-א effect; the I-נ column in §6 shows the same root with focus on the Pe-Nun behavior.

Key Corpus Examples

• לְהִתְרַפֵּא (2 Kgs 8:29) — "to be healed / to seek healing" — infinitive construct; הִתְ prefix + dagesh in R2 (פּ) + tsere + silent א; לְ preposition confirms inf. construct function (exercise verb 10)
• וַיִּתְנַבֵּא (1 Sam 18:10) — "and he prophesied" — wayyiqtol 3ms of נבא; יִתְ prefix clearly visible; tsere before quiescent א
• הִתְנַבֵּא (Eze 37:7) — "So I prophesied" — perfect 1cs (הִתְנַבֵּאתִי); the 1cs suffix is added to the root; paradigm Hithpael denominative form
• מִתְנַבְּאִים (1 Sam 10:5) — "prophesying" — participle mp; מִתְ prefix + dagesh in R2 + shewa + III-א form; denominative from נָבִיא

5. III-ה (Lamed-He) Verbs — Including I-שׁ/שׂ/ס Metathesis

Pattern

The final ה of these roots is a vowel letter (mater lectionis), not a true consonant. In the Hithpael, III-ה
roots show contracted endings throughout the paradigm, parallel to other stems. The Hithpael prefix
הִתְ is otherwise intact — but when R1 is also a sibilant (שׁ, שׂ, ס), metathesis occurs
simultaneously: the ת of the הִתְ prefix swaps with the sibilant. The root שׁחה (the most common
Hithpael verb in the entire OT) combines both features: I-שׁ metathesis AND III-ה endings.

Metathesis rule:
- הִתְ + שׁ → the שׁ and ת swap positions → הִשְׁתַּ
- In the imperfect: יִתְ + שׁ → יִשְׁתַּ
- In the wayyiqtol: וַיִּתְ + שׁ → וַיִּשְׁתַּ

III-ה endings in Hithpael:
- Perfect 3ms: ends in ָה (qamets-he): הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה
- Imperfect 3ms: ends in ֶה (seghol-he): יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה
- Wayyiqtol 3ms: apocopated — ה dropped, short vowel retained: וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ (note: the וּ ending in this root reflects a retained historical glide; see §5a below)
- Imperative 2ms: ends in ֵה (tsere-he): הִשְׁתַּחֲוֵה (poetic/rare) or imperative pl הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ
- Cohortative 1cp: וְנִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה — cohortative ה added to the imperfect/cohortative form
- Inf. Construct: הִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת — holem-vav + ת (cf. other III-ה inf. constructs)
- Participle ms: מִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה — מִשְׁ prefix; seghol-he ending

§5a — שׁחה in detail: This root (שׁחה, III-ה) presents an extra complication: the final ה
conceals an underlying ו (waw) glide. Forms like וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ retain the ו as part of the root,
making the wayyiqtol end in וּ rather than fully apocopating. Students should memorize the key forms
of this root as a special paradigm.

Exercise connections:
- Verb 2 (Gen 22:5): וְנִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה — Hithpael cohortative 1cp of שׁחה; I-שׁ metathesis + III-ה cohortative ending
- Verb 3 (Gen 18:2): וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ — Hithpael wayyiqtol 3ms of שׁחה; apocopated with retained ו
- Verb 4 (Exo 20:5): תִשְׁתַּחְוֶה — Hithpael imperfect 2ms of שׁחה; I-שׁ metathesis + III-ה imperfect ending

Pure III-ה (without metathesis):
- הִתְגַּלָּה (reveal oneself) — גָּלָה, III-ה; perfect 3ms
- הִתְעַלָּה (exalt oneself) — עָלָה, III-ה; perfect 3ms
- הִתְחַנָּן (seek favor, plead) — חָנַן, III-ה (and geminate); perfect 3ms

Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Key Corpus Examples

שׁחה (III-ה + I-שׁ metathesis — the most common Hithpael verb in the OT, ~170 occurrences):

• וְנִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה (Gen 22:5) — "and we will worship" — cohortative 1cp; the ו introduces the cohortative of purpose; I-שׁ metathesis clearly visible (וְנִשְׁ- rather than וְנִתְשׁ-); III-ה cohortative ending ֶה (exercise verb 2)
• וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ (Gen 18:2) — "and he bowed down" — wayyiqtol 3ms; apocopated III-ה form with retained ו glide; Abraham's greeting of the three visitors (exercise verb 3)
• תִשְׁתַּחְוֶה (Exo 20:5) — "you shall not bow down" — imperfect 2ms with negation לֹא; the second commandment; I-שׁ metathesis + III-ה imperfect ending ֶה (exercise verb 4)
• הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ (Psa 95:6) — "bow down, kneel" — imperative 2mp; plural imperative form of שׁחה in the call to worship; I-שׁ metathesis + III-ה plural imperative ending

גלה (III-ה, without metathesis):

• נִגְלוּ (Gen 35:7) — "God had revealed himself" — Niphal perfect 3cp (distractor! — exercise verb 6); compare Hithpael הִתְגַּלָּה which is not used at this verse; the Niphal נִ- prefix is the key diagnostic against the Hithpael הִתְ prefix
• הִתְגַּלָּה (Gen 35:7 context) — the Hithpael form does NOT appear here; the Niphal is used instead; students must distinguish נִגְלוּ (Niphal) from the Hithpael הִתְגַּלָּה

6. I-נ (Pe-Nun) Verbs

Pattern

In the Niphal and Hiphil imperfect, a I-נ root's initial נ assimilates into R2 with dagesh forte.
In the Hithpael, this assimilation does NOT occur. The reason: in the Hithpael, R1 (the נ) is
not adjacent to a prefix that triggers assimilation — it follows the הִתְ prefix directly, and the נ
simply stands as R1 with a patach vowel under it. The נ is preserved in all conjugations.

Diagnostic marker: The full הִתְ prefix is followed by נַ (patach under נ) and then dagesh in R2
(the standard Hithpael double). No assimilation of the נ; no trace of dagesh in R1 from assimilation.

Paradigm:
- Perfect 3ms: הִתְנַבֵּא — הִתְ + נַ (Pe-Nun with patach) + בֵּ (dagesh in R2) + א (quiescent)
- Imperfect 3ms: יִתְנַבֵּא — יִתְ prefix; נַ retained as R1
- Wayyiqtol 3ms: וַיִּתְנַבֵּא — וַיִּתְ prefix; נַ retained
- Weqatal 2ms: וְהִתְנַבִּיתָ — וְהִתְ prefix; 2ms suffix; cf. exercise verb 7
- Wayyiqtol 3mp: וַיִּתְנַבְּאוּ — וַיִּתְ prefix; נַ retained; 3mp suffix אוּ added; cf. exercise verb 8

Exercise connections:
- Verb 7 (1 Sam 10:6): וְהִתְנַבִּיתָ — Hithpael weqatal 2ms of נבא (I-נ + III-א); "and you will prophesy"; the הִתְ prefix with full נַ (no assimilation) is the key to identification
- Verb 8 (1 Sam 10:11): וַיִּתְנַבְּאוּ — Hithpael wayyiqtol 3mp of נבא; the יִתְ prefix with full נַ (no assimilation) distinguishes this from what a Niphal wayyiqtol would look like

Why no assimilation? In the Qal imperfect of a I-נ root (e.g., יִפֹּל from נפל), the נ assimilates because
it directly follows the imperfect prefix יִ with no intervening letter. In the Hithpael, the sequence
is הִ + תְ + נַ: the נ is protected by the intervening ת. There is nothing to trigger assimilation into
the next consonant.

Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Key Corpus Examples

• וְהִתְנַבִּיתָ (1 Sam 10:6) — "and you will prophesy" — weqatal 2ms of נבא (I-נ + III-א); the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon Saul; הִתְ prefix with intact נַ; denominative Hithpael (exercise verb 7)
• וַיִּתְנַבְּאוּ (1 Sam 10:11) — "and they prophesied" — wayyiqtol 3mp of נבא; יִתְ prefix; נַ not assimilated; אוּ suffix for 3mp (exercise verb 8)
• הִתְנַחֵם (Gen 6:6) — "and he was sorry / relented" — perfect 3ms of נחם; God's sorrow over creating humanity; Hithpael reflexive/estimative: "he caused himself to feel sorrow"
• וַיִּתְנַחֵם (Exo 32:14) — "and the LORD relented" — wayyiqtol 3ms of נחם; intact נַ under R1; a classic theological use of the Hithpael reflexive

7. I-י (Pe-Yod) Verbs

Pattern

Roots beginning with י in the Hithpael retain the initial י as R1 between the הִתְ prefix and R2.
Unlike the Qal imperfect (where I-י often quiesces), the Hithpael prefix הִתְ does not provide the
same vowel environment that triggers quiescence. As a result, the Hithpael of I-י roots looks
relatively regular: הִתְ + יַ (patach under י) + R2 with dagesh. The prefix vowel and יַ are
distinct and the form is recognizable.

Diagnostic markers:
- Perfect 3ms: הִתְיַצֵּב — הִתְ prefix + יַ (full yod with patach) + dagesh in R2 + tsere
- Imperfect 3ms: יִתְיַצֵּב — יִתְ prefix + יַ (full yod) + dagesh in R2
- Wayyiqtol 3ms: וַיִּתְיַצֵּב — וַיִּתְ prefix + יַ

Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Key Corpus Examples

• הִתְיַצֵּב (Gen 18:22) — "but Abraham still stood before the LORD" — perfect 3ms of יצב; note יַ (full yod) retained after הִתְ; Hithpael reflexive: "presented himself / took his stand"
• וַיִּתְיַצֵּב (Num 22:22) — "and the angel of the LORD took his stand" — wayyiqtol 3ms of יצב; intact יַ between the וַיִּתְ prefix and R2; reflexive: "positioned himself"
• יִתְיַצֵּב (Psa 2:2) — "the kings of the earth take their stand" — imperfect 3mp (יִתְיַצְּבוּ); plural with 3mp suffix; reflexive standing/positioning

8. Biconsonantal (II-ו/י) Verbs

Pattern

Biconsonantal roots (two true consonants with a medial long vowel) are rare in the Hithpael. Where
they occur, the Hithpael prefix הִתְ is added to the two-consonant core, and the medial vowel letter
(וּ or יִ) is retained. The stem's characteristic dagesh would fall on R2, but since there is no true
R2 between two consonants, the doubling effectively disappears and the root's long medial vowel
appears instead. These forms are uncommon enough that recognition rather than production is the
primary goal.

Diagnostic marker: The full הִתְ prefix signals Hithpael even when the root core is only two
consonants. The form may look unusual but the prefix is unmistakable.

Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Note on בוש: The root בּוֹשׁ (be ashamed) is biconsonantal. In the Hithpael, it shows
geminate-like doubling of the final consonant: הִתְבּוֹשֵׁשׁ. This is the expected pattern
when a biconsonantal root "fills out" its slots in a triconsonantal-based stem; students should
recognize it as a special lexical form.

Key Corpus Examples

• הִתְבּוֹשֵׁשׁ (Exo 32:1) — "Moses delayed" — perfect 3ms of בוש (Hithpael: "showed himself ashamed / was delayed"); the הִתְ prefix plus the long ōō vowel of the root and geminated final שׁ
• וַיִּתְבּוֹשָׁשׁוּ (Gen 2:25) — "and they were not ashamed" — wayyiqtol 3mp of בוש (negated); יִתְ prefix + biconsonantal core + 3mp suffix; reflexive-middle sense

9. Geminate (Ayin-Doubled, II=III) Verbs

Pattern

Geminate roots (R2 = R3) in the Hithpael show the Hithpael prefix הִתְ followed by R1 and the
doubled R2/R3. The dagesh forte required by the Hithpael in R2 may merge with the natural doubling
of the geminate root, or the root may show other adjustments. In practice, the most common geminate
Hithpael forms (e.g., הִתְאַנֵּן, הִתְמַהְמֵהַּ) are known as lexical items and recognized by the
הִתְ prefix plus the doubled consonant.

Diagnostic markers:
- Perfect 3ms: הִתְאַנֵּן — הִתְ prefix + אַ (R1 with patach) + נֵּ (dagesh in R2, which is also R3); tsere is the Hithpael characteristic vowel under R2
- Imperfect 3ms: יִתְאוֹנֵן — יִתְ prefix; geminate root may show o-class vowel in imperfect (like other geminate classes)

Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)

Key Corpus Examples

• וַיִּתְאוֹנְנוּ (Num 11:1) — "and the people complained" — wayyiqtol 3mp of אנן (geminate); the first complaint in the wilderness; יִתְ prefix + geminate root; Hithpael iterative/denominative: "they kept complaining"
• הִתְאוֹנֵן (Num 11:1) — underlying form of the root; perfect 3ms geminate pattern
• הִתְמַהְמֵהַּ (Gen 19:16) — "but he lingered" — perfect 3ms of מהה (geminate); patach furtive before final ח; the Hithpael iterative-intensive sense: "he kept delaying / lingering"; the doubled מ is diagnostic

10. Metathesis Summary — I-Sibilant Roots

Metathesis is not a "weak class" (the root itself is not phonologically weak) but it co-occurs with
any root whose R1 is a sibilant (שׁ, שׂ, ס, צ, ז). The הִתְ prefix's ת swaps with R1 before the vowel
is placed. This affects every conjugation that has הִתְ / יִתְ / מִתְ:

Exercise connection — Verb 9 (Gen 44:16): נִצְטַדָּק
Root: צדק (I-צ). Expected Hithpael before metathesis: הִתְצַדֵּק.
Metathesis + voicing: הִתְ + צ → הִצְתַּ → הִצְטַּ (ת voices to ט after the sibilant).
With 1cp imperfect prefix נ (short vowel hireq) and qamets under R2: נִצְטַדָּק.
Meaning: "How can we justify ourselves?" — Hithpael reflexive/estimative of צדק.

11. High-Frequency Weak Hithpael Lemmas

The following weak-root Hithpael lemmas are among the most common in the OT. Frequency counts
represent Hithpael tokens only.

Pedagogical note: The single most important Hithpael verb in the OT is הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה (שׁחה).
Students who master its three key forms — cohortative (וְנִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה), wayyiqtol (וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ),
and imperfect (יִשְׁתַּחְוֶה / תִשְׁתַּחְוֶה) — will recognize the dominant Hithpael pattern in
narrative, poetry, and law. Every instance of worship vocabulary in the Psalms and Torah runs
through this single root.

Sources: MACULA Hebrew WLC (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · BBH = Pratico & Van Pelt, Basics of Biblical Hebrew, 3rd ed.