Chapter 35 — Hithpael Semantic Function Sorting (Weak Roots)

BBH Chapter 35 · Hithpael Weak Verbs

Classify each Hithpael verb as R (Reflexive), Re (Reciprocal), I (Intensive/Iterative), or SA (Simple Action). All forms use weak roots. Type your answer, then click ▶ Answer to check.

CodeFunctionDiagnostic question
RReflexiveIs the subject doing the action to or for itself? (Subject = object)
ReReciprocalAre multiple subjects acting on one another mutually?
IIntensive/IterativeIs the action repeated, habitual, or intensified?
SASimple ActionIs the Hithpael the primary lexical form with no Qal/Piel reflexive force visible?
Tip: Subject acts on itself → Reflexive. Subjects act on one another → Reciprocal. Action repeated/intensified → Intensive. Hithpael = the standard word for this meaning → Simple Action.
#HebrewConjugationRootRefGlossFunction
1 הִתְגַּלָּה Perfect 3ms גלה Gen 35:7 "God revealed himself"
R — Reflexive — “God revealed HIMSELF” — explicit reflexive object in the gloss
2 הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה Perfect 3ms שׁחה Gen 22:5 "we will worship / bow down"
R — Reflexive — Bowing down is a reflexive posture — the subject bows HIMSELF down
3 הִתְהַלֵּל Perfect 3ms הלל Jer 9:23 "let him not boast"
R — Reflexive — Boasting/praising oneself — the subject exalts HIMSELF
4 הִתְפַּלֵּל Perfect 3ms פלל Gen 20:7 "he prayed"
SA — Simple Action — Same root as ch34's own Simple Action example (הִתְפַּלֵּל); “pray” has no separate reflexive or reciprocal force
5 הִתְעַנָּה Perfect 3ms ענה Ezr 8:21 "we afflicted ourselves / fasted"
R — Reflexive — “we afflicted OURSELVES / fasted” — explicit reflexive object in the gloss
6 יִתְגַּלֶּה Imperfect 3ms גלה — "he will reveal himself / it will be revealed"
R — Reflexive — Same root/sense as item 1 — “reveal himself”
7 יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה Imperfect 3ms שׁחה — "he will bow down"
R — Reflexive — Same root/sense as item 2 — reflexive posture of bowing
8 יִתְהַלֵּל Imperfect 3ms הלל Jer 9:23 "let him boast"
R — Reflexive — Same root/sense as item 3 — boasting/praising oneself
9 יִתְפַּלֵּל Imperfect 3ms פלל — "he will pray"
SA — Simple Action — Same root/sense as item 4 — lexicalized Hithpael for “pray”
10 וַיִּתְגַּל Wayyiqtol 3ms גלה Gen 9:21 "he uncovered himself"
R — Reflexive — Same root/sense as items 1 and 6 — “uncovered HIMSELF”
11 וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ Wayyiqtol 3ms שׁחה Gen 22:5 "and he bowed down"
R — Reflexive — Same root/sense as items 2 and 7 — reflexive posture of bowing
12 וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל Wayyiqtol 3ms פלל Gen 20:17 "Abraham prayed"
SA — Simple Action — Same root/sense as items 4 and 9 — lexicalized Hithpael for “pray”
13 הִתְנַבֵּא Perfect 3ms נבא 1 Sam 10:10 "he prophesied"
SA — Simple Action — נָבָא occurs only in Niphal and Hithpael, never Qal — the Hithpael is the standard lexical form for “prophesy,” with no reflexive force
14 הִתְחַזֵּק Perfect 3ms חזק 2 Sam 10:12 "take courage! / be strong!"
R — Reflexive — Same root as BBH ch34 items 23/25 (חָזַק); the subject strengthens/steels HIMSELF — “take courage!”
15 הִתְנַחֵם Perfect 3ms נחם Gen 24:67 "Isaac was comforted"
R — Reflexive — The subject comforts HIMSELF (reflexive), though a passive-like “was comforted” reading is also possible — see the Discussion Questions
16 הִתְבָּרֵךְ Perfect 3ms ברך Gen 22:18 "all nations will bless themselves"
R — Reflexive — Same root as BBH ch34 item 12 (בָּרַךְ); “bless THEMSELVES” — explicit reflexive object in the gloss
17 הִצְטַדֵּק Perfect 3ms צדק — "he justified himself"
R — Reflexive — “he justified HIMSELF” — explicit reflexive object in the gloss
18 הִתְרַגֵּז Perfect 3ms רגז — "he trembled / was agitated"
I — Intensive/Iterative — Trembling/agitation as a repeated, intensified physical response, not a single self-directed act
19 הִתְחַנֵּן Perfect 3ms חנן — "he pleaded for mercy / implored"
I — Intensive/Iterative — Pleading/imploring as repeated, urgent supplication rather than a single self-directed act
20 הִתְנַהֵג Perfect 3ms נהג — "he conducted himself / behaved"
R — Reflexive — “he conducted HIMSELF / behaved” — explicit reflexive object in the gloss

Discussion Questions

  1. Items 2, 7, and 11 all use root שׁחה. The forms show sibilant metathesis (הִשְׁתַּ– / יִשְׁתַּ–) plus III-ה endings (apocopation in wayyiqtol). Why is bowing down classified as Reflexive? What is the subject doing "to itself"?
  2. Items 4, 9, and 12 (root פלל) are all classified as Simple Action. How does this illustrate the lexicalization of the Hithpael, where the original reflexive force becomes conventionalized and disappears from view?
  3. Item 15 (הִתְנַחֵם, "was comforted") vs. item 14 (הִתְחַזֵּק, "took courage"): both describe an inner state. What is the difference between "comforted himself" and "was comforted" as translations of הִתְנַחֵם? Which is more accurate?
  4. Items 16 (הִתְבָּרֵךְ, Gen 22:18) and 17 (הִצְטַדֵּק) both involve the subject acting on itself. What is the theological difference between blessing oneself and justifying oneself? Why might the second carry a negative connotation in the OT?