Chapter 31 — Qal–Piel Contrast Drill (Weak Roots)
BBH Chapter 31 · Piel Weak Verbs
Instructions
Below are 15 weak-root Piel forms organized in three parts by weak class. For each item:
- Translate the Piel form.
- Name the semantic function: I (Intensive), F (Factitive), D (Declarative), SA (Simple Action), or DN (Denominative).
- Compare with the Qal gloss to see what the Piel adds or changes.
| 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 |
Weak root reminder:
- I-Guttural: Gutturals (א ה ח ע) reject dagesh; Piel shows compensatory lengthening or virtual doubling.
- III-ה: The final ה of the root drops or transforms; Piel perfect 3ms ends in ָה (qamets-he).
- I-י / Hollow: The first root consonant (י) may assimilate or contract; vowel patterns shift accordingly.
Part A — I-Guttural Roots (5)
| # |
Hebrew |
Root |
Qal Gloss |
Conjugation |
Reference |
Translation |
Function |
| 1 |
בֵּרַךְ |
ברך |
to kneel/bless |
Perfect 3ms |
Gen 1:28 |
|
|
| 2 |
אֵהֵב |
אהב |
to love |
Perfect 3ms |
— |
|
|
| 3 |
חִזֵּק |
חזק |
to be strong |
Perfect 3ms |
Exo 4:21 |
|
|
| 4 |
עִזֵּב |
עזב |
to forsake |
Perfect 3ms |
— |
|
|
| 5 |
עִנָּה |
ענה |
to answer/respond |
Perfect 3ms |
— |
|
|
Part B — III-ה Roots (5)
| # |
Hebrew |
Root |
Qal Gloss |
Conjugation |
Reference |
Translation |
Function |
| 6 |
גִּלָּה |
גלה |
to uncover/go into exile |
Perfect 3ms |
Gen 35:7 |
|
|
| 7 |
בִּנָּה |
בנה |
to build |
Perfect 3ms |
1 Kgs 6:2 |
|
|
| 8 |
צִוָּה |
צוה |
(no common Qal) |
Perfect 3ms |
Gen 2:16 |
|
|
| 9 |
קִנָּה |
קנה |
to acquire/buy |
Perfect 3ms |
— |
|
|
| 10 |
כִּלָּה |
כלה |
to be finished/complete |
Perfect 3ms |
Gen 2:2 |
|
|
Part C — I-י / Hollow Roots (5)
| # |
Hebrew |
Root |
Qal Gloss |
Conjugation |
Reference |
Translation |
Function |
| 11 |
יִדֵּעַ |
ידע |
to know |
Perfect 3ms |
— |
|
|
| 12 |
חִיָּה |
חיה |
to live/be alive |
Perfect 3ms |
Gen 47:25 |
|
|
| 13 |
שִׁנָּה |
שׁנה |
to change/repeat |
Perfect 3ms |
— |
|
|
| 14 |
שִׁלֵּם |
שׁלם |
to be complete/at peace |
Perfect 3ms |
Exo 22:2 |
|
|
| 15 |
כִּנָּה |
כנה |
(noun כִּנּוּי "title/name") |
Perfect 3ms |
Isa 45:4 |
|
|
Answer Key
Part A — I-Guttural Roots
| # |
Hebrew |
Root |
Piel Translation |
Function |
Explanation |
| 1 |
בֵּרַךְ |
ברך |
he blessed |
I |
Qal "to kneel" is rare; Piel is the standard word for formal blessing. The gutturals (ר, ב's context) don't affect the paradigm marker here — the ב takes a virtual dagesh. The Piel intensifies the bestowal of divine favor. |
| 2 |
אֵהֵב |
אהב |
he loved (intensively) |
I |
Qal also means "to love"; Piel = love fervently/passionately. The א (guttural R1) takes a virtual dagesh (compensatory lengthening seen in vowel pattern). |
| 3 |
חִזֵּק |
חזק |
he hardened / made strong |
F |
Qal = stative "to be strong/hard." Piel causes something to enter that state: "he made hard/firm." Pharaoh's heart was caused to be in a state of hardness. Classic Factitive. |
| 4 |
עִזֵּב |
עזב |
he utterly forsook |
I |
Qal = "to forsake/leave." Piel = leave completely, abandon thoroughly. The ע (guttural R1) shows virtual doubling. |
| 5 |
עִנָּה |
ענה |
he afflicted / he humbled |
F |
Qal = stative "to be bowed down/afflicted." Piel = cause to be in a state of affliction or humiliation. Guttural ע at R1 causes virtual doubling / compensatory lengthening. |
Part B — III-ה Roots
| # |
Hebrew |
Root |
Piel Translation |
Function |
Explanation |
| 6 |
גִּלָּה |
גלה |
he revealed |
I |
Qal = uncover, go into exile. Piel = reveal thoroughly, disclose completely. The ה (III-ה root) contracts to ָה in the Piel perfect 3ms. |
| 7 |
בִּנָּה |
בנה |
he built / rebuilt |
I |
Qal = build. Piel = build thoroughly/completely; often used for comprehensive construction projects. |
| 8 |
צִוָּה |
צוה |
he commanded |
SA |
No common Qal form. Commanding is the Piel's own primary function. III-ה root: the ה contracts; waw appears as part of the vowel. |
| 9 |
קִנָּה |
קנה |
he acquired thoroughly |
I |
Qal = to acquire/buy. Piel = thorough or formal acquisition. |
| 10 |
כִּלָּה |
כלה |
he finished / completed |
I |
Qal = stative "be finished/complete." Piel = bring to completion, finish thoroughly. Often analyzed as Factitive (cause to be complete) or Intensive (finish thoroughly). |
Part C — I-י / Hollow Roots
| # |
Hebrew |
Root |
Piel Translation |
Function |
Explanation |
| 11 |
יִדֵּעַ |
ידע |
he made known / declared |
D or I |
Qal = to know. Piel = cause to know = declare, make known; some analyze as Declarative (pronouncing knowledge) or Intensive (know thoroughly). |
| 12 |
חִיָּה |
חיה |
he kept alive / preserved |
F |
Qal = stative "to live/be alive." Piel = cause to be alive = preserve, keep alive. Classic Factitive from a stative root. |
| 13 |
שִׁנָּה |
שׁנה |
he changed / altered |
I |
Qal = to change/repeat. Piel = change thoroughly, alter completely. |
| 14 |
שִׁלֵּם |
שׁלם |
he made restitution / paid fully |
I or F |
Qal = stative "to be complete/at peace." Piel = cause completion (F) or make payment thoroughly/fully (I). Both analyses occur; legal contexts favor "make full restitution." |
| 15 |
כִּנָּה |
כנה |
he gave a title / assigned a name |
DN |
Derived from the noun כִּנּוּי ("title, surname"). The Piel performs the noun's characteristic action: to give someone an honorific title or name. |
Function Summary
| Part |
Items |
Functions Present |
| A (I-Guttural) |
1–5 |
I (×3), F (×2) |
| B (III-ה) |
6–10 |
I (×3), SA (×1), I/F (×1) |
| C (I-י / Hollow) |
11–15 |
D/I (×1), F (×1), I (×1), I/F (×1), DN (×1) |