Chapter 34 — Hithpael Semantic Function Sorting

BBH Chapter 34 · Hithpael Strong Verbs

Classify each Hithpael verb as R (Reflexive), RC (Reciprocal), IT (Iterative), ES (Estimative), or DN (Denominative). Type your answer in the Function column, then click ▶ Answer to check.

Code	Function	Diagnostic question
R	Reflexive	Is the subject doing the action to or for itself? (Subject = object)
RC	Reciprocal	Are multiple subjects acting on one another mutually?
IT	Iterative/Frequentative	Is the action repeated, habitual, or extended through time?
ES	Estimative/Declarative	Is the subject presenting or considering itself as being in a state?
DN	Denominative	Is the verb derived from a noun, with the subject performing the noun's characteristic action?

Code

Function

Diagnostic question

Reflexive

Is the subject doing the action to or for itself? (Subject = object)

Reciprocal

Are multiple subjects acting on one another mutually?

Iterative/Frequentative

Is the action repeated, habitual, or extended through time?

Estimative/Declarative

Is the subject presenting or considering itself as being in a state?

Denominative

Is the verb derived from a noun, with the subject performing the noun's characteristic action?

Tip: Subject acts on itself → Reflexive. Subjects act on one another → Reciprocal. Action repeated/habitual → Iterative. Subject presents itself as X → Estimative. Verb built from a noun → Denominative.

#	Hebrew	Conjugation	Root	Ref	Gloss
1	מִתְהַלֵּךְ	Participle ms	הָלַךְ	Gen 3:8	"walking about"
IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · Walking back and forth — ongoing, habitual movement, not a single walk
2	וַיִּתְחַבֵּא	Wayyiqtol 3ms	חָבָא	Gen 3:8	"he hid himself"
R — Reflexive · Root: חָבָא · Adam hid himself — the subject is both agent and object of the hiding action
3	וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ	Wayyiqtol 3ms	הָלַךְ	Gen 5:22	"he walked about"
IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · Enoch walked with God habitually over his lifetime — a pattern of conduct, not a single event
4	וַיִּתְעַצֵּב	Wayyiqtol 3ms	עָצַב	Gen 6:6	"he was grieved"
R — Reflexive · Root: עָצַב · God's grief is directed inward — subject experiencing the action within itself
5	וַיִּתְגַּל	Wayyiqtol 3ms	גָּלָה	Gen 9:21	"he uncovered himself"
R — Reflexive · Root: גָּלָה · Noah uncovered himself — acted upon his own body (III-he root: apocopated wayyiqtol, ה dropped)
6	הִתְהַלֵּךְ	Imperative 2ms	הָלַךְ	Gen 13:17	"walk about!"
IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · Command to traverse the land repeatedly in all directions
7	הִתְעַנִּי	Imperative 2fs	עָנָה	Gen 16:9	"humble yourself!"
R — Reflexive · Root: עָנָה · Return and humble yourself — the subject is commanded to submit herself
8	הִתְהַלֵּךְ	Imperative 2ms	הָלַךְ	Gen 17:1	"walk about before me"
IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · "Walk before me" — ongoing conduct of life as a pattern of faithfulness
9	וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ	Wayyiqtol 3ms	שָׁחָה	Gen 18:2	"he bowed down"
R — Reflexive · Root: שָׁחָה · Abraham prostrated himself — acted upon his own body in obeisance (metathesis + III-he form)
10	וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ	Wayyiqtol 3ms	שָׁחָה	Gen 19:1	"he bowed down"
R — Reflexive · Root: שָׁחָה · Same form as #9; Lot bowed himself to the ground before the angelic visitors
11	וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל	Wayyiqtol 3ms	פָּלַל	Gen 20:17	"he prayed"
DN — Denominative · Root: פָּלַל · Performing the characteristic act of intercession — "to act as an intercessor/mediator" derived from a judicial/arbitration concept
12	הִתְבָּרֲכוּ	Weqatal 3cp	בָּרַךְ	Gen 22:18	"they will bless themselves"
R — Reflexive · Root: בָּרַךְ · Nations enacting blessing for themselves through Abraham's seed; the reflexive reading of this debated formula
13	הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי	Qatal 1cs	הָלַךְ	Gen 24:40	"I have walked about"
IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · Abraham's report of a lifetime pattern of walking before the LORD
14	וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ	Wayyiqtol 3ms	שָׁחָה	Gen 24:26	"he bowed down"
R — Reflexive · Root: שָׁחָה · Abraham's servant bowed himself down in gratitude to the LORD
15	הִתְעַשְּׂקוּ	Qatal 3cp	עָשַׂק	Gen 26:20	"they quarreled"
RC — Reciprocal · Root: עָשַׂק · Isaac's herdsmen and the local herdsmen quarreled with one another — mutual strife between two parties
16	מִתְנַחֵם	Participle ms	נָחַם	Gen 27:42	"is comforting himself"
R — Reflexive · Root: נָחַם · Esau is consoling himself with plans of revenge — inward reflexive state
17	וַיִּתְנַכְּלוּ	Wayyiqtol 3mp	נָכַל	Gen 37:18	"they plotted against"
RC — Reciprocal · Root: נָכַל · Joseph's brothers conspired together against him — the plotting involves mutual coordination among multiple agents
18	וַיִּתְאַבֵּל	Wayyiqtol 3ms	אָבַל	Gen 37:34	"he mourned"
R — Reflexive · Root: אָבַל · Jacob mourned — inward grief directed toward himself, expressed outwardly through mourning rites
19	וַתִּתְכַּסֶּה	Wayyiqtol 3fs	כָּסָה	Gen 24:65	"she covered herself"
R — Reflexive · Root: כָּסָה · Rebekah veiled herself — performed the action upon her own person at the approach of Isaac
20	וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ	Wayyiqtol 3mp	שָׁחָה	Gen 33:7	"they bowed down"
R — Reflexive · Root: שָׁחָה · Leah and her children each prostrated themselves — each one performed the action upon his/her own body
21	אֶתְנַהֲלָה	Cohortative 1cs	נָהַל	Gen 33:14	"I will journey on slowly"
IT — Iterative · Root: נָהַל · "I will lead along slowly" — gradual, ongoing movement at a measured pace through the journey
22	הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ	Imperative 2mp	קָדַשׁ	Exo 19:22	"consecrate yourselves!"
R — Reflexive · Root: קָדַשׁ · The priests are commanded to prepare/purify their own persons — they apply holiness to themselves
23	וַיִּתְחַזֵּק	Wayyiqtol 3ms	חָזַק	Exo 7:13	"and his heart was strengthened"
R — Reflexive · Root: חָזַק · Pharaoh's heart strengthened itself — the heart is simultaneously agent and object of the hardening
24	יִתְהַלְּלוּ	Imperfect 3mp	הָלַל	Ps 97:7	"they glory in idols"
ES — Estimative · Root: הָלַל · They present themselves as glorious/praiseworthy before idols — the subject is performing/displaying a posture of glory
25	הִתְחַזְּקוּ	Imperative 2mp	חָזַק	Jos 1:6	"be strong!"
ES — Estimative · Root: חָזַק · Present yourself as strong = show yourself to be strong; the Hithpael adds a performative/volitional nuance absent from Qal חָזַק

Hebrew

Conjugation

Root

Ref

Gloss

Function

מִתְהַלֵּךְ

Participle ms

הָלַךְ

Gen 3:8

"walking about"

IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · Walking back and forth — ongoing, habitual movement, not a single walk

וַיִּתְחַבֵּא

Wayyiqtol 3ms

חָבָא

Gen 3:8

"he hid himself"

R — Reflexive · Root: חָבָא · Adam hid himself — the subject is both agent and object of the hiding action

וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ

Wayyiqtol 3ms

הָלַךְ

Gen 5:22

"he walked about"

IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · Enoch walked with God habitually over his lifetime — a pattern of conduct, not a single event

וַיִּתְעַצֵּב

Wayyiqtol 3ms

עָצַב

Gen 6:6

"he was grieved"

R — Reflexive · Root: עָצַב · God's grief is directed inward — subject experiencing the action within itself

וַיִּתְגַּל

Wayyiqtol 3ms

גָּלָה

Gen 9:21

"he uncovered himself"

R — Reflexive · Root: גָּלָה · Noah uncovered himself — acted upon his own body (III-he root: apocopated wayyiqtol, ה dropped)

הִתְהַלֵּךְ

Imperative 2ms

הָלַךְ

Gen 13:17

"walk about!"

IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · Command to traverse the land repeatedly in all directions

הִתְעַנִּי

Imperative 2fs

עָנָה

Gen 16:9

"humble yourself!"

R — Reflexive · Root: עָנָה · Return and humble yourself — the subject is commanded to submit herself

הִתְהַלֵּךְ

Imperative 2ms

הָלַךְ

Gen 17:1

"walk about before me"

IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · "Walk before me" — ongoing conduct of life as a pattern of faithfulness

וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ

Wayyiqtol 3ms

שָׁחָה

Gen 18:2

"he bowed down"

R — Reflexive · Root: שָׁחָה · Abraham prostrated himself — acted upon his own body in obeisance (metathesis + III-he form)

וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ

Wayyiqtol 3ms

שָׁחָה

Gen 19:1

"he bowed down"

R — Reflexive · Root: שָׁחָה · Same form as #9; Lot bowed himself to the ground before the angelic visitors

וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל

Wayyiqtol 3ms

פָּלַל

Gen 20:17

"he prayed"

DN — Denominative · Root: פָּלַל · Performing the characteristic act of intercession — "to act as an intercessor/mediator" derived from a judicial/arbitration concept

הִתְבָּרֲכוּ

Weqatal 3cp

בָּרַךְ

Gen 22:18

"they will bless themselves"

R — Reflexive · Root: בָּרַךְ · Nations enacting blessing for themselves through Abraham's seed; the reflexive reading of this debated formula

הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי

Qatal 1cs

הָלַךְ

Gen 24:40

"I have walked about"

IT — Iterative · Root: הָלַךְ · Abraham's report of a lifetime pattern of walking before the LORD

וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ

Wayyiqtol 3ms

שָׁחָה

Gen 24:26

"he bowed down"

R — Reflexive · Root: שָׁחָה · Abraham's servant bowed himself down in gratitude to the LORD

הִתְעַשְּׂקוּ

Qatal 3cp

עָשַׂק

Gen 26:20

"they quarreled"

RC — Reciprocal · Root: עָשַׂק · Isaac's herdsmen and the local herdsmen quarreled with one another — mutual strife between two parties

מִתְנַחֵם

Participle ms

נָחַם

Gen 27:42

"is comforting himself"

R — Reflexive · Root: נָחַם · Esau is consoling himself with plans of revenge — inward reflexive state

וַיִּתְנַכְּלוּ

Wayyiqtol 3mp

נָכַל

Gen 37:18

"they plotted against"

RC — Reciprocal · Root: נָכַל · Joseph's brothers conspired together against him — the plotting involves mutual coordination among multiple agents

וַיִּתְאַבֵּל

Wayyiqtol 3ms

אָבַל

Gen 37:34

"he mourned"

R — Reflexive · Root: אָבַל · Jacob mourned — inward grief directed toward himself, expressed outwardly through mourning rites

וַתִּתְכַּסֶּה

Wayyiqtol 3fs

כָּסָה

Gen 24:65

"she covered herself"

R — Reflexive · Root: כָּסָה · Rebekah veiled herself — performed the action upon her own person at the approach of Isaac

וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ

Wayyiqtol 3mp

שָׁחָה

Gen 33:7

"they bowed down"

R — Reflexive · Root: שָׁחָה · Leah and her children each prostrated themselves — each one performed the action upon his/her own body

אֶתְנַהֲלָה

Cohortative 1cs

נָהַל

Gen 33:14

"I will journey on slowly"

IT — Iterative · Root: נָהַל · "I will lead along slowly" — gradual, ongoing movement at a measured pace through the journey

הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ

Imperative 2mp

קָדַשׁ

Exo 19:22

"consecrate yourselves!"

R — Reflexive · Root: קָדַשׁ · The priests are commanded to prepare/purify their own persons — they apply holiness to themselves

וַיִּתְחַזֵּק

Wayyiqtol 3ms

חָזַק

Exo 7:13

"and his heart was strengthened"

R — Reflexive · Root: חָזַק · Pharaoh's heart strengthened itself — the heart is simultaneously agent and object of the hardening

יִתְהַלְּלוּ

Imperfect 3mp

הָלַל

Ps 97:7

"they glory in idols"

ES — Estimative · Root: הָלַל · They present themselves as glorious/praiseworthy before idols — the subject is performing/displaying a posture of glory

הִתְחַזְּקוּ

Imperative 2mp

חָזַק

Jos 1:6

"be strong!"

ES — Estimative · Root: חָזַק · Present yourself as strong = show yourself to be strong; the Hithpael adds a performative/volitional nuance absent from Qal חָזַק

Discussion Questions

The Hithpael of הָלַךְ appears five times (items 1, 3, 6, 8, 13). Why is this classified as Iterative rather than Reflexive? What does the "walking about" context add that a single walk would not?
Item 12 (הִתְבָּרֲכוּ, Gen 22:18): this form can be translated "bless themselves" (Reflexive) or "be blessed" (passive-like). The same tension appears in Gen 12:3. What grammatical evidence would help decide between these interpretations?
Items 15 (הִתְעַשְּׂקוּ, quarreled) and 17 (וַיִּתְנַכְּלוּ, plotted): both involve conflict between parties. What makes one Reciprocal and the other more Reflexive/Collective? Does the context of Gen 26:20 vs. Gen 37:18 help?
Items 24–25 (Estimative): the ES function is the rarest Hithpael class. In what way does הִתְחַזֵּק ("present yourself as strong" → "be strong") differ from a plain Qal חָזַק ("be strong")? What does the Hithpael add pragmatically?