Hiphil (הִפְעִיל) — 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. 26
Perfect (Qatal)¶
BBH §26.3 — Hiphil prefix: הִ; characteristic vowel: chiriq under first root letter
| Person | Qal | Hiphil |
|---|---|---|
| 3ms | קָטַל | הִקְטִיל |
| 3fs | קָטְלָה | הִקְטִילָה |
| 3cp | קָטְלוּ | הִקְטִילוּ |
| 2ms | קָטַלְתָּ | הִקְטַלְתָּ |
| 2mp | קְטַלְתֶּם | הִקְטַלְתֶּם |
| 2fs | קָטַלְתְּ | הִקְטַלְתְּ |
| 2fp | קְטַלְתֶּן | הִקְטַלְתֶּן |
| 1cs | קָטַלְתִּי | הִקְטַלְתִּי |
| 1cp | קָטַלְנוּ | הִקְטַלְנוּ |
Key marker: הִ prefix + chiriq vowel pattern distinguishes Hiphil from Qal (patach-patach) and Niphal (נִקְטַל, hiriq-patach).
Imperfect (Yiqtol)¶
BBH §26.5 — Hiphil prefix vowel: patach (יַ); characteristic: chiriq in final syllable
| Person | Qal | Hiphil |
|---|---|---|
| 3ms | יִקְטֹל | יַקְטִיל |
| 3fs | תִּקְטֹל | תַּקְטִיל |
| 3mp | יִקְטְלוּ | יַקְטִילוּ |
| 3fp | תִּקְטֹלְנָה | תַּקְטֵלְנָה |
| 2ms | תִּקְטֹל | תַּקְטִיל |
| 2fs | תִּקְטְלִי | תַּקְטִילִי |
| 2mp | תִּקְטְלוּ | תַּקְטִילוּ |
| 2fp | תִּקְטֹלְנָה | תַּקְטֵלְנָה |
| 1cs | אֶקְטֹל | אַקְטִיל |
| 1cp | נִקְטֹל | נַקְטִיל |
Key marker: Patach under prefix consonant (יַ/תַּ/אַ/נַ) vs. Qal's hiriq (יִ/תִּ/אֶ/נִ). Final chiriq in Hiphil vs. holem in Qal.
Wayyiqtol¶
Sequential narrative form of the imperfect. Hiphil prefix: וַיַּ; final syllable shifts from chiriq to tsere.
| Person | Qal | Hiphil |
|---|---|---|
| 3ms | וַיִּקְטֹל | וַיַּקְטֵל |
| 3fs | וַתִּקְטֹל | וַתַּקְטֵל |
| 3mp | וַיִּקְטְלוּ | וַיַּקְטִילוּ |
| 3fp | וַתִּקְטֹלְנָה | וַתַּקְטֵלְנָה |
| 2ms | וַתִּקְטֹל | וַתַּקְטֵל |
| 2mp | וַתִּקְטְלוּ | וַתַּקְטִילוּ |
| 1cs | וָאֶקְטֹל | וָאַקְטֵל |
| 1cp | וַנִּקְטֹל | וַנַּקְטֵל |
Key marker: Qal uses hiriq under prefix (וַיִּ); Hiphil uses patach (וַיַּ) + tsere in final syllable. The vowel shift chiriq → tsere from the Hiphil yiqtol is the diagnostic difference within the Hiphil itself.
Weqatal¶
Sequential future form of the perfect. וְ + perfect form; used for sequential or consequential future.
| Person | Qal | Hiphil |
|---|---|---|
| 3ms | וְקָטַל | וְהִקְטִיל |
| 3fs | וְקָטְלָה | וְהִקְטִילָה |
| 3cp | וְקָטְלוּ | וְהִקְטִילוּ |
| 2ms | וְקָטַלְתָּ | וְהִקְטַלְתָּ |
| 2mp | וּקְטַלְתֶּם | וְהִקְטַלְתֶּם |
| 1cs | וְקָטַלְתִּי | וְהִקְטַלְתִּי |
| 1cp | וְקָטַלְנוּ | וְהִקְטַלְנוּ |
Key marker: Hiphil weqatal = וְ + perfect paradigm with הִ prefix. Context (future/sequential meaning) distinguishes it from a simple perfect with vav-conjunction.
Imperative¶
BBH §26.7 — Hiphil prefix: הַ; tsere in final syllable (2ms)
| Form | Qal | Hiphil |
|---|---|---|
| 2ms | קְטֹל | הַקְטֵל |
| 2fs | קִטְלִי | הַקְטִילִי |
| 2mp | קִטְלוּ | הַקְטִילוּ |
| 2fp | קְטֹלְנָה | הַקְטֵלְנָה |
Key marker: Qal imperative has no prefix (bare stem); Hiphil takes הַ prefix. The הַ prefix + tsere final (2ms) or chiriq (2fs/2mp) is the Hiphil signature.
Infinitive Construct¶
BBH §26.9 — Hiphil prefix: הַ; chiriq in final syllable
| Form | Qal | Hiphil |
|---|---|---|
| Base | קְטֹל | הַקְטִיל |
| With לְ | לִקְטֹל | לְהַקְטִיל |
| With בְּ | בִּקְטֹל | בְּהַקְטִיל |
| With כְּ | כִּקְטֹל | כְּהַקְטִיל |
Key marker: Hiphil inf. construct הַ prefix + chiriq final. Nearly identical in form to the Hiphil perfect 3ms (הִקְטִיל) — distinguished by the vowel under הַ (patach in inf. construct, hiriq in perfect).
Infinitive Absolute¶
BBH §26.11 — Hiphil prefix: הַ; tsere in final syllable
| Form | Qal | Hiphil |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | קָטוֹל | הַקְטֵל |
Usage: Appears before or after a finite verb of the same root for emphasis (הַרְבָּה אַרְבֶּה "I will surely multiply"). Qal inf. absolute uses qamets-holem (קָטוֹל); Hiphil uses הַ + tsere (הַקְטֵל), identical in form to the Hiphil imperative 2ms.
Participle (Active)¶
BBH §26.13 — Hiphil prefix: מַ; chiriq in final syllable
| Form | Qal | Hiphil |
|---|---|---|
| ms | קֹטֵל | מַקְטִיל |
| fs | קֹטֶלֶת | מַקְטֶלֶת |
| mp | קֹטְלִים | מַקְטִילִים |
| fp | קֹטְלוֹת | מַקְטִילוֹת |
Key marker: Qal participle has no prefix and uses holem (קֹ). Hiphil takes מַ prefix + chiriq (ms) or tsere-seghol (fs). Distinguish from Piel participle (מְקַטֵּל — shewa under מְ vs. patach under מַ).
Summary: Qal vs. Hiphil at a Glance¶
| Conjugation | Qal marker | Hiphil marker |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect | קָ / patach-patach | הִ + chiriq |
| Imperfect | יִ / hiriq + holem | יַ / patach + chiriq |
| Wayyiqtol | וַיִּ + holem | וַיַּ + tsere |
| Weqatal | וְקָ | וְהִ |
| Imperative | no prefix + holem | הַ + tsere (2ms) |
| Inf. Construct | קְטֹל | הַקְטִיל |
| Inf. Absolute | קָטוֹל | הַקְטֵל |
| Participle ms | קֹטֵל / no prefix | מַקְטִיל / מַ prefix + chiriq |