Chapter 31 — Qal–Piel Contrast Drill (Weak Roots)

BBH Chapter 31 · Piel Weak Verbs

For each Piel form below, (1) translate it and (2) classify its function as I, F, D, SA, or DN. Compare with the Qal gloss to see what the Piel adds. Click ▶ Answer to check.

Code	Function	Diagnostic
I	Intensive	Piel does the Qal action more forcefully, thoroughly, or repeatedly
F	Factitive	Piel causes an object to enter a state (stative Qal root)
D	Declarative	Piel pronounces/treats something as being in a state
SA	Simple Action	No productive Qal; Piel is the primary form
DN	Denominative	Verb built on a noun; performs the noun's characteristic action

Code

Function

Diagnostic

Intensive

Piel does the Qal action more forcefully, thoroughly, or repeatedly

Factitive

Piel causes an object to enter a state (stative Qal root)

Declarative

Piel pronounces/treats something as being in a state

Simple Action

No productive Qal; Piel is the primary form

Denominative

Verb built on a noun; performs the noun's characteristic action

Weak root reminder: I-Guttural — Piel R2 dagesh becomes virtual doubling (vowel lengthens instead). III-ה — Piel perfect 3ms ends in ָּה (qamets + dagesh-he). I-י / Hollow — R1 may assimilate; watch vowel patterns carefully.

Part A — I-Guttural Roots

#	Hebrew	Root	Qal Gloss	Reference
1	בֵּרַךְ	ברך	to kneel / bless	Gen 1:28
he blessed · I — Intensive · Qal "to bless" is rare; Piel = formal, powerful bestowal of divine favor. The ב takes virtual dagesh (no actual doubling possible). Most common form for blessing in OT.
2	אֵהֵב	אהב	to love	—
he loved (intensively) · I — Intensive · Qal also means "to love"; Piel = love fervently or devotedly. The א (R1 guttural) shows virtual doubling — tsere lengthened rather than dagesh added.
3	חִזֵּק	חזק	to be strong	Exo 4:21
he hardened / made strong · F — Factitive · Qal = stative "be strong/hard." Piel = cause to enter the state of hardness. Classic Factitive: "he hardened [Pharaoh's heart]" (Exo 4:21). The ח guttural takes virtual dagesh.
4	עִזֵּב	עזב	to forsake	—
he utterly forsook · I — Intensive · Qal = forsake/leave. Piel = abandon completely and definitively. The ע (R1 guttural) rejects dagesh; virtual doubling compensates.
5	עִנָּה	ענה	to answer / respond	—
he afflicted / humbled · F — Factitive · This root ענה II (distinct from ענה I "answer") = stative "be bowed down/afflicted." Piel = cause to be in that state. ע guttural + III-ה contraction: note the ּה at the end.

Hebrew

Root

Qal Gloss

Reference

Translation

Function

בֵּרַךְ

ברך

to kneel / bless

Gen 1:28

he blessed · I — Intensive · Qal "to bless" is rare; Piel = formal, powerful bestowal of divine favor. The ב takes virtual dagesh (no actual doubling possible). Most common form for blessing in OT.

אֵהֵב

אהב

to love

—

he loved (intensively) · I — Intensive · Qal also means "to love"; Piel = love fervently or devotedly. The א (R1 guttural) shows virtual doubling — tsere lengthened rather than dagesh added.

חִזֵּק

חזק

to be strong

Exo 4:21

he hardened / made strong · F — Factitive · Qal = stative "be strong/hard." Piel = cause to enter the state of hardness. Classic Factitive: "he hardened [Pharaoh's heart]" (Exo 4:21). The ח guttural takes virtual dagesh.

עִזֵּב

עזב

to forsake

—

he utterly forsook · I — Intensive · Qal = forsake/leave. Piel = abandon completely and definitively. The ע (R1 guttural) rejects dagesh; virtual doubling compensates.

עִנָּה

ענה

to answer / respond

—

he afflicted / humbled · F — Factitive · This root ענה II (distinct from ענה I "answer") = stative "be bowed down/afflicted." Piel = cause to be in that state. ע guttural + III-ה contraction: note the ּה at the end.

Part B — III-ה Roots

#	Hebrew	Root	Qal Gloss	Reference
6	גִּלָּה	גלה	to uncover / go into exile	Gen 35:7
he revealed · I — Intensive · Qal = uncover. Piel = disclose, reveal completely. III-ה root: the ה contracts to ָּה in Piel perfect 3ms. Dagesh in ל (R2).
7	בִּנָּה	בנה	to build	1 Kgs 6:2
he built / built thoroughly · I — Intensive · Qal = build. Piel = build completely, comprehensively. Used of Solomon's thorough construction of the temple. Dagesh in נ (R2) + III-ה contraction.
8	צִוָּה	צוה	(no common Qal)	Gen 2:16
he commanded · SA — Simple Action · No Qal "command." Commanding is the Piel's own primary function. III-ה root: the ו (waw) in the root appears as part of the vowel pattern; the ה contracts in the perfect.
9	קִנָּה	קנה	to acquire / buy	—
he acquired thoroughly · I — Intensive · Qal = acquire/buy. Piel = formal or thorough acquisition. Dagesh in נ (R2); III-ה contraction at end.
10	כִּלָּה	כלה	to be finished / complete	Gen 2:2
he finished / completed · I (or F) — Intensive / Factitive · Qal = stative "be finished." Piel = bring to completion. Can be analyzed as Factitive (cause to be complete) or Intensive (finish thoroughly). Either analysis is acceptable.

Hebrew

Root

Qal Gloss

Reference

Translation

Function

גִּלָּה

גלה

to uncover / go into exile

Gen 35:7

he revealed · I — Intensive · Qal = uncover. Piel = disclose, reveal completely. III-ה root: the ה contracts to ָּה in Piel perfect 3ms. Dagesh in ל (R2).

בִּנָּה

בנה

to build

1 Kgs 6:2

he built / built thoroughly · I — Intensive · Qal = build. Piel = build completely, comprehensively. Used of Solomon's thorough construction of the temple. Dagesh in נ (R2) + III-ה contraction.

צִוָּה

צוה

(no common Qal)

Gen 2:16

he commanded · SA — Simple Action · No Qal "command." Commanding is the Piel's own primary function. III-ה root: the ו (waw) in the root appears as part of the vowel pattern; the ה contracts in the perfect.

קִנָּה

קנה

to acquire / buy

—

he acquired thoroughly · I — Intensive · Qal = acquire/buy. Piel = formal or thorough acquisition. Dagesh in נ (R2); III-ה contraction at end.

כִּלָּה

כלה

to be finished / complete

Gen 2:2

he finished / completed · I (or F) — Intensive / Factitive · Qal = stative "be finished." Piel = bring to completion. Can be analyzed as Factitive (cause to be complete) or Intensive (finish thoroughly). Either analysis is acceptable.

Part C — I-י / Hollow Roots

#	Hebrew	Root	Qal Gloss	Reference
11	יִדֵּעַ	ידע	to know	—
he made known / declared · D or I — Declarative / Intensive · Qal = to know. Piel = cause to know = declare, make known (D); or know thoroughly/intimately (I). Both analyses appear in scholarship. Context determines which is primary.
12	חִיָּה	חיה	to live / be alive	Gen 47:25
he kept alive / preserved · F — Factitive · Qal = stative "live/be alive." Piel = cause to live = preserve, save alive. Classic Factitive from a stative root. III-ה root (the י is R1, ה is R3); dagesh in י (R2) with compensatory lengthening.
13	שִׁנָּה	שׁנה	to change / repeat	—
he changed / altered · I — Intensive · Qal = change, repeat. Piel = change thoroughly, alter completely. III-ה root; dagesh in נ (R2).
14	שִׁלֵּם	שׁלם	to be complete / at peace	Exo 22:2
he made restitution / paid fully · I or F — Intensive / Factitive · Qal = stative "be complete/whole." Piel = cause to be complete = pay in full, make restitution (F); or pay thoroughly/fully (I). Legal contexts (Exo 22:2) favor "make full restitution."
15	כִּנָּה	כנה	(noun: כִּנּוּי "title/name")	Isa 45:4
he gave a title / assigned an honorific name · DN — Denominative · Derived from the noun כִּנּוּי ("title, surname, honorific"). The Piel performs the noun's characteristic action: to give or assign a name/title. God says to Cyrus: "I gave you a title though you did not know me."

Hebrew

Root

Qal Gloss

Reference

Translation

Function

יִדֵּעַ

ידע

to know

—

he made known / declared · D or I — Declarative / Intensive · Qal = to know. Piel = cause to know = declare, make known (D); or know thoroughly/intimately (I). Both analyses appear in scholarship. Context determines which is primary.

חִיָּה

חיה

to live / be alive

Gen 47:25

he kept alive / preserved · F — Factitive · Qal = stative "live/be alive." Piel = cause to live = preserve, save alive. Classic Factitive from a stative root. III-ה root (the י is R1, ה is R3); dagesh in י (R2) with compensatory lengthening.

שִׁנָּה

שׁנה

to change / repeat

—

he changed / altered · I — Intensive · Qal = change, repeat. Piel = change thoroughly, alter completely. III-ה root; dagesh in נ (R2).

שִׁלֵּם

שׁלם

to be complete / at peace

Exo 22:2

he made restitution / paid fully · I or F — Intensive / Factitive · Qal = stative "be complete/whole." Piel = cause to be complete = pay in full, make restitution (F); or pay thoroughly/fully (I). Legal contexts (Exo 22:2) favor "make full restitution."

כִּנָּה

כנה

(noun: כִּנּוּי "title/name")

Isa 45:4

he gave a title / assigned an honorific name · DN — Denominative · Derived from the noun כִּנּוּי ("title, surname, honorific"). The Piel performs the noun's characteristic action: to give or assign a name/title. God says to Cyrus: "I gave you a title though you did not know me."