Niphal (נִפְעַל) — Full Conjugation Paradigms¶
Model root: קטל (Qal: קָטַל). All forms are strong-root paradigms. Qal column is included for direct comparison at each conjugation. Source: Basics of Biblical Hebrew, Pratico & Van Pelt, Ch. 23–25
Perfect (Qatal)¶
BBH §23.3 — Niphal prefix: נִ; characteristic vowel: patach under first root letter
| Person | Qal | Niphal |
|---|---|---|
| 3ms | קָטַל | נִקְטַל |
| 3fs | קָטְלָה | נִקְטְלָה |
| 3cp | קָטְלוּ | נִקְטְלוּ |
| 2ms | קָטַלְתָּ | נִקְטַלְתָּ |
| 2mp | קְטַלְתֶּם | נִקְטַלְתֶּם |
| 2fs | קָטַלְתְּ | נִקְטַלְתְּ |
| 2fp | קְטַלְתֶּן | נִקְטַלְתֶּן |
| 1cs | קָטַלְתִּי | נִקְטַלְתִּי |
| 1cp | קָטַלְנוּ | נִקְטַלְנוּ |
Key marker: נִ prefix + patach under first root consonant. Distinguished from Hiphil perfect (הִקְטִיל) by נִ vs. הִ and the absence of the characteristic chiriq in the second syllable.
Imperfect (Yiqtol)¶
BBH §23.5 — Niphal: dagesh forte in first root letter (assimilated נ) + tsere in final syllable
| Person | Qal | Niphal |
|---|---|---|
| 3ms | יִקְטֹל | יִקָּטֵל |
| 3fs | תִּקְטֹל | תִּקָּטֵל |
| 3mp | יִקְטְלוּ | יִקָּטְלוּ |
| 3fp | תִּקְטֹלְנָה | תִּקָּטַלְנָה |
| 2ms | תִּקְטֹל | תִּקָּטֵל |
| 2fs | תִּקְטְלִי | תִּקָּטְלִי |
| 2mp | תִּקְטְלוּ | תִּקָּטְלוּ |
| 2fp | תִּקְטֹלְנָה | תִּקָּטַלְנָה |
| 1cs | אֶקְטֹל | אֶקָּטֵל |
| 1cp | נִקְטֹל | נִקָּטֵל |
Key marker: Doubled (dagesh forte) first root consonant + tsere in final syllable. The doubling reflects assimilation of the נ prefix. Qal has hiriq prefix + holem final (יִקְטֹל); Niphal has same prefix vowel but dagesh in R1 and tsere final.
Wayyiqtol¶
Sequential narrative form of the imperfect. Same dagesh + tsere pattern as the yiqtol.
| Person | Qal | Niphal |
|---|---|---|
| 3ms | וַיִּקְטֹל | וַיִּקָּטֵל |
| 3fs | וַתִּקְטֹל | וַתִּקָּטֵל |
| 3mp | וַיִּקְטְלוּ | וַיִּקָּטְלוּ |
| 3fp | וַתִּקְטֹלְנָה | וַתִּקָּטַלְנָה |
| 2ms | וַתִּקְטֹל | וַתִּקָּטֵל |
| 2mp | וַתִּקְטְלוּ | וַתִּקָּטְלוּ |
| 1cs | וָאֶקְטֹל | וָאֶקָּטֵל |
| 1cp | וַנִּקְטֹל | וַנִּקָּטֵל |
Key marker: Both Qal and Niphal use וַיִּ prefix — the distinguishing feature is the dagesh forte in R1 in the Niphal (וַיִּקָּטֵל) vs. its absence in the Qal (וַיִּקְטֹל).
Weqatal¶
Sequential future/consequential form of the perfect. וְ + perfect form.
| Person | Qal | Niphal |
|---|---|---|
| 3ms | וְקָטַל | וְנִקְטַל |
| 3fs | וְקָטְלָה | וְנִקְטְלָה |
| 3cp | וְקָטְלוּ | וְנִקְטְלוּ |
| 2ms | וְקָטַלְתָּ | וְנִקְטַלְתָּ |
| 2mp | וּקְטַלְתֶּם | וְנִקְטַלְתֶּם |
| 1cs | וְקָטַלְתִּי | וְנִקְטַלְתִּי |
| 1cp | וְקָטַלְנוּ | וְנִקְטַלְנוּ |
Key marker: וְ + identical to the perfect paradigm. Context distinguishes it from a simple perfect with vav-conjunction.
Imperative¶
BBH §23.7 — Niphal prefix: הִ; tsere in final syllable
| Form | Qal | Niphal |
|---|---|---|
| 2ms | קְטֹל | הִקָּטֵל |
| 2fs | קִטְלִי | הִקָּטְלִי |
| 2mp | קִטְלוּ | הִקָּטְלוּ |
| 2fp | קְטֹלְנָה | הִקָּטַלְנָה |
Key marker: Niphal imperative has הִ prefix (hiriq) + dagesh in R1 + tsere. Qal has no prefix. Distinguish from Hiphil imperative (הַקְטֵל — patach under הַ, no dagesh in R1).
Infinitive Construct¶
BBH §23.9 — Niphal prefix: הִ; tsere in final syllable
| Form | Qal | Niphal |
|---|---|---|
| Base | קְטֹל | הִקָּטֵל |
| With לְ | לִקְטֹל | לְהִקָּטֵל |
| With בְּ | בִּקְטֹל | בְּהִקָּטֵל |
| With כְּ | כִּקְטֹל | כְּהִקָּטֵל |
Key marker: הִ prefix + dagesh in R1 + tsere. Identical in form to the Niphal imperative 2ms; context and prepositions clarify function.
Infinitive Absolute¶
BBH §23.11 — Niphal prefix: נִ; holem in final syllable
| Form | Qal | Niphal |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | קָטוֹל | נִקְטֹל |
Usage: Appears before or after a finite Niphal verb for emphasis (הִמָּצֵא יִמָּצֵא "he will certainly be found," Exo 22:3). Qal inf. absolute uses qamets-holem (קָטוֹל); Niphal uses נִ prefix + holem (נִקְטֹל).
Participle (Passive)¶
BBH §23.13 — Niphal prefix: נִ; qamets under second root consonant
| Form | Qal | Niphal |
|---|---|---|
| ms | קֹטֵל | נִקְטָל |
| fs | קֹטֶלֶת | נִקְטֶלֶת |
| mp | קֹטְלִים | נִקְטָלִים |
| fp | קֹטְלוֹת | נִקְטָלוֹת |
Key marker: נִ prefix + qamets under R2 (ms). Distinguish from the perfect 3ms (נִקְטַל — patach under R2 vs. qamets in the participle).
Summary: Qal vs. Niphal at a Glance¶
| Conjugation | Qal marker | Niphal marker |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect | קָ / patach-patach | נִ + patach |
| Imperfect | יִקְטֹל / holem final | dagesh in R1 + tsere |
| Wayyiqtol | וַיִּקְטֹל / no dagesh in R1 | וַיִּקָּטֵל / dagesh in R1 |
| Weqatal | וְקָ | וְנִ |
| Imperative | no prefix | הִ + dagesh in R1 + tsere |
| Inf. Construct | קְטֹל | הִקָּטֵל |
| Inf. Absolute | קָטוֹל | נִקְטֹל |
| Participle ms | קֹטֵל / no prefix | נִקְטָל / נִ prefix + qamets |