Chapter 34 — Qal / Piel / Hithpael Contrast Drill (Strong Roots)

BBH Chapter 34 · Hithpael Strong Verbs

Each group of three shares the same root. For each form: (1) identify the stem, (2) describe the semantic function, (3) provide an English translation. Type your answers in the fields, then click ▶ Answer to check.

StemPrefixR2 FeatureFunction
QalnonenoneBasic action / stative
PielnoneDagesh ForteFactitive / intensive
Hithpaelהִתְ–Dagesh ForteReflexive / reciprocal
Tip: Hithpael = הִתְ prefix + Dagesh in R2 + Pathach under R1 (perfect). Piel = Dagesh in R2, no prefix, Tsere under R1. Qal = neither Dagesh nor הִתְ prefix.
Group 1: קדשׁ Group 2: כבד Group 3: שׁמר Group 4: פלל Group 5: ברך
#HebrewStemFunctionTranslation
Group 1 — Root: קדשׁ (to be holy)
1 קָדַשׁ
Qal Perfect 3msStative: subject is in the state of holiness"he was holy / became holy"
2 קִדֵּשׁ
Piel Perfect 3msFactitive: subject causes the object to become holy"he consecrated / made holy"
3 הִתְקַדֵּשׁ
Hithpael Perfect 3msReflexive: subject consecrates itself"he consecrated himself / made himself holy"
Group 2 — Root: כבד (to be heavy / honored)
4 כָּבֵד
Qal Perfect 3msStative: subject is in the state of being heavy or honored"he was heavy / was honored"
5 כִּבֵּד
Piel Perfect 3msFactitive: subject treats another as weighty / causes another to be honored"he honored"
6 הִתְכַּבֵּד
Hithpael Perfect 3msReflexive: subject honors or glorifies itself"he honored himself / gloried"
Group 3 — Root: שׁמר (to keep / guard) — sibilant metathesis: הִתְ + שׁ → הִשְׁתְּ
7 שָׁמַר
Qal Perfect 3msBasic: subject keeps / guards an object"he kept / guarded"
8 שִׁמֵּר
Piel Perfect 3msIntensive: subject keeps carefully / watches over diligently"he kept carefully / watched over"
9 הִשְׁתַּמֵּר
Hithpael Perfect 3msReflexive: subject guards itself"he kept himself / was on guard" · Note: sibilant metathesis — הִתְ + שׁ → הִשְׁתְּ (ת and שׁ swap positions)
Group 4 — Root: פלל (to judge / intervene)
10 פָּלַל
Qal Perfect 3msBasic: subject judges or intervenes"he judged / intervened"
11 פִּלֵּל
Piel Perfect 3msIntensive: subject actively intercedes / judges"he judged / interceded"
12 הִתְפַּלֵּל
Hithpael Perfect 3msSimple Action: Hithpael is the book's own §34.2.4 worked example — no separate reflexive or reciprocal force ("prayer" is the fixed lexical meaning)"he prayed"
Group 5 — Root: ברך (to kneel / bless)
13 בָּרַךְ
Qal Perfect 3msBasic: subject kneels"he knelt"
14 בֵּרַךְ
Piel Perfect 3msFactitive: subject conveys blessing to another"he blessed"
15 הִתְבָּרֵךְ
Hithpael Perfect 3msReflexive: subject receives or enacts blessing for/upon itself"he blessed himself / was blessed"

Discussion Questions

  1. The Piel and Hithpael of קדשׁ look similar: קִדֵּשׁ vs. הִתְקַדֵּשׁ. What two visual markers distinguish the Hithpael from the Piel in every strong-root form?
  2. In Group 4, the Hithpael of פלל is commonly translated "to pray," classified as Simple Action rather than Reflexive (compare BBH §34.2.4, which uses this exact verb as its worked example). What does it mean for a Hithpael verb to lose its reflexive coloring and become the standard lexical form for a meaning?
  3. The Hithpael of ברך (הִתְבָּרֵךְ) is sometimes translated passively: "be blessed." What does this tell us about the overlap between the Hithpael's reflexive and passive functions?
  4. Look at Group 3 and the metathesis form הִשְׁתַּמֵּר. Without the metathesis note, how would you have identified this as a Hithpael rather than a Hiphil or Niphal?