Chapter 35 — Qal / Piel / Hithpael Contrast Drill (Weak Roots)

BBH Chapter 35 · Hithpael Weak Verbs

Each group of three shares the same weak root. For each form: (1) identify the stem, (2) identify the weak class, (3) describe how the weakness affects the form, (4) translate. Type your answers, then click ▶ Answer to check.

Weak ClassSignalHithpael effect
III-הPerfect 3ms ends ָ–ה; wayyiqtol drops ההִתְ prefix + Qamets + ה at end
Sibilant שׁ/שׂ/סR1 is a sibilantהִתְ + שׁ → הִשְׁתְּ (ת and שׁ swap)
Sibilant צR1 is צהִתְ + צ → הִצְטְ (ת → ט, then swap)
GeminateR2 = R3הִתְ prefix + Dagesh in R2/R3 retained
Tip: III-ה: look for Qamets + ה at the end. Sibilant metathesis: the ת of the Hithpael prefix appears after R1, not before. Geminate: the doubled consonant (R2 = R3) still takes Dagesh Forte in Hithpael.
Group 1: גלה Group 2: שׁמר Group 3: צדק Group 4: הלל Group 5: ענה
#HebrewStemWeak ClassWeakness EffectTranslation
Group 1 — Root: גלה (III-ה: to uncover / go into exile)
1 גָּלָה
Qal Perfect 3msIII-הR3 (ה) appears as Qamets + ה (ָ–ה) ending"he went into exile / uncovered"
2 גִּלָּה
Piel Perfect 3msIII-הDagesh in R2 (לּ); R3 ends as Qamets + ה"he uncovered / revealed"
3 הִתְגַּלָּה
Hithpael Perfect 3msIII-ההִתְ prefix + Dagesh in R2 + Qamets + ה at end (R3-ה preserved in Hithpael perfect)"he revealed himself"
Group 2 — Root: שׁמר (sibilant R1: to keep / guard)
4 שָׁמַר
Qal Perfect 3mssibilant R1 (שׁ)No change in Qal — sibilant metathesis only affects the Hithpael prefix"he kept / guarded"
5 שִׁמֵּר
Piel Perfect 3mssibilant R1 (שׁ)No change in Piel"he kept carefully / watched over"
6 הִשְׁתַּמֵּר
Hithpael Perfect 3mssibilant metathesisהִתְ + שׁ → ת and שׁ swap: הִשְׁתְּ (not *הִתְשְׁ); Dagesh in R2 retained"he kept himself / was on guard"
Group 3 — Root: צדק (sibilant צ with assimilation: to be righteous)
7 צָדַק
Qal Perfect 3mssibilant R1 (צ)No change in Qal"he was righteous / was in the right"
8 צִדֵּק
Piel Perfect 3mssibilant R1 (צ)No change in Piel"he justified / declared righteous"
9 הִצְטַדֵּק
Hithpael Perfect 3mssibilant metathesis + dental assimilationהִתְ + צ: ת assimilates to ט (both are dentals) and then swaps with צ → הִצְטְ; Dagesh in R2 retained"he justified himself"
Group 4 — Root: הלל (geminate: to shine / praise)
10 הָלַל
Qal Perfect 3msgeminate (R2 = R3 = ל)Both radicals appear fully in Qal perfect 3ms; no contraction"he shone / praised"
11 הִלֵּל
Piel Perfect 3msgeminateDagesh Forte in R2 (= R3): לּ"he praised"
12 הִתְהַלֵּל
Hithpael Perfect 3msgeminateהִתְ prefix + Dagesh Forte in R2/R3 (לּ) → הִתְהַלֵּל; no metathesis (ה is not a sibilant)"he boasted / praised himself"
Group 5 — Root: ענה (III-ה: to answer / afflict)
13 עָנָה
Qal Perfect 3msIII-הR3 (ה) appears as Qamets + ה ending"he answered"
14 עִנָּה
Piel Perfect 3msIII-הDagesh in R2 (נּ); R3 ends as Qamets + ה; Hireq under R1 → Piel III-ה perfect"he afflicted"
15 הִתְעַנָּה
Hithpael Perfect 3msIII-ההִתְ prefix + Dagesh in R2 (נּ) + Qamets + ה at end; no metathesis (ע is a guttural, not a sibilant)"he afflicted himself / fasted"

Discussion Questions

  1. In Group 2, the Qal and Piel of שׁמר are unchanged from the strong pattern, but the Hithpael הִשְׁתַּמֵּר looks dramatically different. Why does sibilant metathesis affect only the Hithpael?
  2. Compare the metathesis forms הִשְׁתַּמֵּר (Group 2) and הִצְטַדֵּק (Group 3). What additional change occurs with the צ root that does not occur with the שׁ root?
  3. In Group 4, the Piel הִלֵּל begins with הִ–, which looks like a Hiphil or Hithpael prefix. How do you distinguish Piel הִלֵּל from Hiphil or Hithpael forms?
  4. Both Groups 1 and 5 are III-ה roots. Compare the Piel forms גִּלָּה and עִנָּה. What is the same and what is different? What causes the difference in R2 pointing?