Chapter 20 — Hithpaal Semantic Function Sorting

Basics of Biblical Aramaic, Van Pelt — Ch20: Reflexive, Reciprocal, Iterative, and Estimative Uses

Instructions

For each numbered Hithpaal/Ithpaal form from Daniel or Ezra, classify its semantic Function (RF / RC / IT / ES), then parse fully (Conjugation, PGN, Root) and translate. Click ▶ Answer to reveal the answer row.

Code	Name	Definition
RF	Reflexive	Subject acts on itself
RC	Reciprocal	Plural subject acts on each other
IT	Iterative / Frequentative	Action repeated or ongoing
ES	Estimative / Tolerative	Subject reckoned as something, or permits an action

Code

Name

Definition

Reflexive

Subject acts on itself

Reciprocal

Plural subject acts on each other

Iterative / Frequentative

Action repeated or ongoing

Estimative / Tolerative

Subject reckoned as something, or permits an action

Hithpaal Perfect: הִתְ‑ prefix (metathesis with sibilant R1: הִשְׁתַּ‑). Hithpaal Imperfect: יִתְ‑ prefix (sibilant: יִשְׁתַּ‑). Hithpaal Participle: מִתְ‑ prefix.

Form

Function (RF/RC/IT/ES)

Conjugation

PGN

Root

Translation

הִשְׁתַּחֲוִי

Function: RF (Reflexive) | Conj: Perfect | PGN: 3ms | Root: שׁחה | Trans: he bowed himself down (metathesis: הִתְ + שׁ → הִשְׁתַּ‑)

יִשְׁתַּחֲווּן

Function: RF (Reflexive) | Conj: Imperfect | PGN: 3mp | Root: שׁחה | Trans: they will bow themselves down (metathesis: יִתְ + שׁ → יִשְׁתַּ‑; ‑וּן = 3mp)

מִתְכַּנְּשִׁין

Function: IT (Iterative) | Conj: Participle | PGN: mp | Root: כנשׁ | Trans: gathering repeatedly / assembling (ongoing; מִתְ‑ = Hithpaal ptcp)

הִתְחַשַּׁב

Function: ES (Estimative) | Conj: Perfect | PGN: 3ms | Root: חשׁב | Trans: he was reckoned / he counted himself as (הִתְ‑ prefix; dagesh in shin)

יִתְחַבַּר

Function: RF (Reflexive) | Conj: Imperfect | PGN: 3ms | Root: חבר | Trans: he will join himself / ally himself (יִתְ‑ Hithpaal Impf)

מִתְנַדְּבִין

Function: IT (Iterative) | Conj: Participle | PGN: mp | Root: נדב | Trans: volunteering (repeatedly / continually; מִתְ‑ ptcp; ‑ִין = mp)

אִשְׁתַּדַּל

Function: RF (Reflexive) | Conj: Perfect | PGN: 3ms | Root: שׁדל | Trans: he exerted himself (metathesis: אִתְ + שׁ → אִשְׁתַּ‑)

הִתְגְּזֵרַת

Function: RF (Reflexive) | Conj: Perfect | PGN: 3fs | Root: גזר | Trans: it was decreed (reflexive: the decree issued of itself; ‑ַת = 3fs)

יִתְרָחֵץ

Function: RF (Reflexive) | Conj: Imperfect | PGN: 3ms | Root: רחץ | Trans: he will wash himself (יִתְ‑ Hithpaal Impf; guttural ח)

מִתְבַּהֲלִין

Function: IT (Iterative) | Conj: Participle | PGN: mp | Root: בהל | Trans: being terrified (repeatedly / continually; מִתְ‑ ptcp; guttural ה in R2)

הִתְקְטַל

Function: RF (Reflexive) | Conj: Perfect | PGN: 3ms | Root: קטל | Trans: he was slain (reflexive-passive use of Hithpaal)

יִשְׁתַּנּוּן

Function: RF (Reflexive) | Conj: Imperfect | PGN: 3mp | Root: שׁנה | Trans: they will change themselves (metathesis; III-he root; dagesh in nun)

מִתְנַסּוֹ

Function: IT (Iterative) | Conj: Participle | PGN: ms | Root: נסה | Trans: testing repeatedly / being tested continually (מִתְ‑ ptcp; III-he root)

אִתְחַשַּׁב

Function: ES (Estimative) | Conj: Perfect | PGN: 3ms | Root: חשׁב | Trans: it was reckoned as / counted (variant prefix אִתְ‑ instead of הִתְ‑)

הִתְבַּהֲלוּ

Function: RF (Reflexive) | Conj: Perfect | PGN: 3mp | Root: בהל | Trans: they were terrified (reflexive: terror seized them; ‑וּ = 3mp Perf)

מִתְכַּנְּשִׁין

Function: IT (Iterative) | Conj: Participle | PGN: mp | Root: כנשׁ | Trans: repeatedly assembling / coming together (ongoing participle)

יִשְׁתַּחֲוֵה

Function: RF (Reflexive) | Conj: Imperfect | PGN: 3ms | Root: שׁחה | Trans: he will bow himself down (metathesis; III-he ending ‑ēh)

הִשְׁתַּכַּח

Function: RF (Reflexive-passive) | Conj: Perfect | PGN: 3ms | Root: שׁכח | Trans: he was found (metathesis: הִתְ + שׁ → הִשְׁתַּ‑)

מִתְחַזֵּא

Function: RF (Reflexive) | Conj: Participle | PGN: ms | Root: חזה | Trans: appearing / seeming (מִתְ‑ ptcp; III-he: final ‑ēʾ)

יִתְכַּנְּשׁוּן

Function: IT (Iterative) | Conj: Imperfect | PGN: 3mp | Root: כנשׁ | Trans: they will assemble (repeatedly / as a process; ‑וּן = 3mp Impf)

Discussion Questions

Biblical Aramaic Hithpaal (הִתְ‑ prefix) corresponds to Hebrew Hithpael. Does Aramaic preserve the sibilant metathesis when R1 = שׁ? Examine items 1, 2, 7, and 17. What do you observe?
Items 18 (הִשְׁתַּכַּח = "was found") and 4 (הִתְחַשַּׁב = "was reckoned") function like passives in translation. How is the Hithpaal being used passively here, and how does this differ from the Peil (true passive)?
The IT (Iterative) items (3, 6, 10, 13, 16, 20) are all participles. Is this a coincidence, or does the iterative function especially suit the Aramaic participle tense-aspect? Explain.