CHAPTER TWO: Hebrew Verbal System: An Introduction

Chapter
2
The Vowel Scheme in Verbal System
How does it work
2.1
The most important word in the sentence is the verb (‫)הַפוֹעַל‬. A verb in
Hebrew conveys four miens of information related to the verb: semantic
meaning, gender (masculine or feminine), number (singular or plural)
and tenses (or aspect).
2.2
Words in Hebrew (nouns, adjectives, and verbs) came mostly in a unit of
three consonants, known as the root (‫שׁוֹרֵש‬. In language sciences, a more
technical word for ‫ שורש‬world be lemma or word stem, referred to the
headword which is used in dictionary indexing. The lemma is related to
lexeme, but it is not necessary to be over curious about it at this point. It
Steffen Han January 2011 revised.
is onto the triconsonantal root specific dyads of default vowels (‫)נִיקְוּדִים‬

are to be uploaded to configure the root into various moods and tenses
of the verb. No doubt there are words that come in four consonants,
especially in Modern Hebrew.
‫ברוך השם‬
2.3
Hebrew reads from right to left, each consonant of the root is named
after the sequence of the word ‫( ← פָעַל‬which means to operate, verb),
2 Hebrew Verbal System
Name Calling
N omenclature and terminology

would be among some of the
many obstacles the beginner students
part of the grammatical units.
In other areas lessspecialized word will
be used.
of Hebrew language must overcome, Before the emergence of modern
partly due to different textbooks used linguistic research, Hebrew grammarians
different nomenclature system. It chose the verb ‫פעל‬, which has the
seems there will be a long way to meaning “to do” as an operative concept
go before attempt to consolidate the to express the morphology and paradigm
diverse approaches into a unifying of Hebrew verbs. Unfortunately, the word
system would come about. Specialist ‫ פעל‬has a guttural residing in the middle
terminology is useful only to the extent position, which means that it could not be
that it does not in itself become a new doubled in the case with verbs in the Pi’el,
problem along side learning the already Pu’al and Hithpa’el stems. Nonetheless, it
difficult enough language. has been in used over a long period of
It may appear too complex and, time, and the method sticks deep into the
at times, annoying, but different system, so modern research would just
nomenclatures are provided here tag along with it.
to facilitate recognition of each
according to the order of the position the consonant occurs, so that the
first position is termed as the ”‫ )פֵא( פ‬position, the second as the ”‫ע‬
(‫ )עַין‬position, and the third and last is known as the ”‫ )לָמֶד( ל‬position.
Verbs in Hebrew are to be classified according to this taxonomy. There
are other systems to name each alphabet of the root, for sure.
Steffen Han January 2011 Improved.
2.4
Verbs in the Hebrew language are expressed across seven stems or
binyanim (‫ בִּנְיָנִים‬plural; ‫ בִּנְיָן‬singular), namely, the Pa’al (‫ )פָּעַל‬or
Qal (‫)קַַל‬, Niph’al (‫)נִפְעַל‬, Pi’el (‫ פִּעֵל‬or in Modern Hebrew: ‫)פִּיעֵל‬,
Pu’al (‫ פֻּעַל‬or ‫)פּוּעָל‬, Hiphil (‫)הִפְעִיל‬, Hophal or Huphal (‫ הָפְעַל‬also
written as ‫ הוֹפְעַל‬or ‫)הֻפְעַל‬, Hithpa’el (‫)הִתְפַּעַל‬, grouped into three or
four major groupings: the Simple stem, the Intensive stem, the Causative
stem and the Reflexive stem. There are some minor and rare stems as
well.
CHAPTER TWO: The Vowel Scheme 3
Meaning of the ‫בניינים‬
2.5 The Simple binyan: Active - Qal ‫קל‬

The Simple stem consists of: (i) The ‫ קל‬and the ‫ נפעל‬binyanim. ‫קַל‬
verbs, an active voice, could be transitive or intransitive, as shown by
the sample word: ‫ פָּקַד‬he visited (to visit). The Qal binyan apart from
the triconsonantal root and the pronominal affixes, when under inflexion,
has no prosthesis in any verbal form of the binyan, not even in the
Participles. To each of its seven or so verbal forms, the Qal binyan is
given by default a pair of fixed vowels, both the head vowel as well the
stem or theme vowel—hence rules pertaining to the topic and problems
of theme vowel that often appeared to be a difficult part of conjugation
of the Hebrew verb would not be applicable to the Qal binyan—to
compose the verb in its respective forms. Weak verbs, irregular verbs or
stative verbs in Qal binyan, however, would be given a vowel [ַ○] (‫)פַּ֫תַּח‬,
which in other non-Qal binyan would hint at passive or irregular verbs,
as stem vowel in the Qal Imperative, Qal Imperfect and Qal Perfect
Tense mainly in zero vowel sufformative conjugation and consonantal
sufformative conjugation. Vocalic (vowel) sufformative conjugation
of all binyanim would go through a process of abdication of the hind
consonant of the root and shortening of the stem vowel to ‫שווא‬. The
Qal Participles, active as well as passive participle, have a separate set
of stem vowels each. Only in the simple binyan the passive participle
would utilise what is known as the alternative vocalic feminine ending,
namely, [‫ָה‬---] (‫ )קמץ־הֵא‬combination, for the declension of feminine
singular participle. The declension of the remaining three, namely, the
masculine singular, is a zero vowel sufformative conjugation, and the
others: (a) masculine plural would follow the usual plural declension
for masculine noun, which carried the [‫ ]○ִים‬ending; and (b) the regular
plural declension for feminine nouns, which carried the [‫ ]וֹת‬ending.
Stative verb is available only in the Qal banyan, which stem or theme
vowel may have up to three vowel types. Verbs appearing in the Qal
binyan would often be active, indicative in meaning.
(ii) Verb in the ‫ נִפְעַל‬binyan is always headed by a [ְ‫ )נוּּן( ]נ‬where the
vowel [ִ○] (‫ )הִירִיק‬appearing beneath the [ְ‫ )נוּּן( ]נ‬in the nomenclature is
shortened from ‫ שווא נע‬in compliance with the rule of two contiguous
‫ שוואים‬occurring in a row (more about this rule later). In the Infinitive

Absolute, the Niph’al has two formats of prosthesis: (a) the [ְ‫ )נוּּן( ]נ‬type,
as the [ְ‫ )נוּּן( ]נ‬in the two sample words: ‫ נִכְתוֹב‬to be written, ‫ נִקְטוֹל‬to
be murdered. The vowel composition of this Niph’al format is similar
to the vowel pattern used in the Qal Infinitive Construct but with the
addition of the [ְ‫ )נוּּן( ]נ‬prosthesis which together with the default vowels
make up a base unit that would be used only by the Niph’al Infinitive
Absolute; and (b) the [‫ )חֵא( ]ח‬type, as the prosthesis in the sample
words: ‫ הִכָּתוֹב‬to be written, ‫ חִקָּטוֹל‬to be killed, to be murdered, where
the signatory [ְ‫ )נוּּן( ]נ‬is assimilated into the head consonant of the root
leaving the [‫ )חֵא( ]ח‬visible, hence the presence of a ‫ דגש‬in the first
letter of the ‫שורש‬. Once again, this format is quite similar to the vowel
pattern of the Qal Infinitive Absolute with the addition of [ְ‫ ]הִנ‬playing
the role of default prosthesis. When the prosthesis of this Niph’al format
is teamed up with a vowel [ֵ○] (‫ )צרי‬in the pillion syllable, apart from
being an alternative format of Niph’al Infinitive Absolute, it formed the
default base, template unit which would be used to install the Niph’al
Infinitive Construct, the Niph’al Imperative and the Niph’al Imperfect,
as the vowels shown in the following two sample words: ‫הִכָּתֵב‬, ‫חִקָּטֵל‬,
while the other format: ‫נִקְטוֹל‬, with the adoption of the vowel [ַ○] (‫)פַּ֫תַּח‬
as the theme vowel, is used to configure the rest of other verbal forms
for the Niph’al banyan, such as the Niph’al Perfect and the Niph’al
(passive) Participle. Basically, ‫ נִפְעַל‬is a passive voice verb but it
assumes the vowel [ֵ○] (‫—)צרי‬a vowel when in the role of theme vowel
is closely linked with the active voice of a verb in non-Qal binyanim—as
stem vowel in zero vowel sufformative conjugation to run the Niph’al
Infinitive, Niph’al Imperative and Niph’al Imperfect while the Niph’al
Perfect would load a [ַ○] (‫—)פתח‬a vowel which is more akin to the
passive voice of a verb in non-Qal binyanim—as the theme vowel in the
counterpart conjugation. The [ְ‫ )נוּּן( ]נ‬in the prosthesis of ‫ נִפְעַל‬would
be assimilated during conjugation in the Niph’al Imperfect Tense as the
case shown in the sample word: ‫ יִכָּתֵכ‬it would be written or ‫ אֶקָּטֵל‬I
would/will be killed, where the vowel [ִ○] (‫ )הִירִיק‬is reduced from a
‫שווא נע‬. The vowel [ַ○] (‫ )פתח‬is also used in all cases of consonantal
sufformative conjugation in the Niph’al binyan. The vocalic sufformative

conjugation of all verbs would go through the process of abdication of
the hind consonant and shortening the stem vowel to a ‫שווא‬. The Niph’al
Passive Participle takes the vowel [ָ○] (‫ )קמץ‬to form a combination of

[‫ָה‬---] (‫)קמץ־הא‬, which is immutable, as the stem vowel in all its four
forms of declension to the participles. In the case of feminine singular
in Niph’al Passive Participle, it assumes the alternative vocalic feminine
noun ending thus adding another [ָ○] (‫)קמץ‬, tailing at the rear of the root,
as the vowels in the sample word: ‫נִכְתָּבָה‬, (take note that this word might
not be found in use in the ‫)תנ”ך‬. The vowel [ֵ○] (‫ )צרי‬is usually reserved
for an active stem and hence sometimes the Niph’al could be either active
or passive, and occasionally reflexive, as the meaning expressed by the
sample word: ‫ נִשְׁמַר‬to guard oneself. Properly understood, the Niph’al
in Hebrew is quite akin to a middle voice, which is passive in form but
active in meaning. As the Niph’al binyan is passive voice verb, there is
no Niph’al Active Participle.
2.6 The Intensive binyan

The Intensive stem consists of: (i) ‫ פיעל‬and ‫ פוּעל‬binyanim. Generally,
‫ פִּעֵל‬is active voice transitive verb (Actualy, this word is in the Perfect
Tense of masculine third person singular). In cases when the verbs in the
‫ קַל‬binyan are intransitive or stative, as the sample words: ׁ‫ קָדַש‬to be
(it was) holy, ׁ‫ קִדֵּש‬to sanctify (it sanctified), would assume a dynamic
nature in Pi’el; thus there would be no more distinction between dynamic
verbs and stative verbs outside the Qal binyan. Sometimes ‫ פיעל‬is
intransitive, as shown by the sample word: ‫ פַּחֵד‬to fear. There are two
patterns of Pi’el Infinitive Absolute, as could be seen from the samples:
(a) ‫כַּתוֹב‬, which is used only by the Pi’el Infinitive Absolute; and (b)
‫כַּתֵּב‬. It is the second pattern headed by a [ַ○] (‫ )פתח‬in partnership
with [ֵ○] (‫ )צרי‬and a ׁ‫ דָגֵש‬is placed in the middle consonant of the
‫שורש‬, a pairing of [ֵּ○+ַ○] (‫דגש‬+‫צרי‬+‫—)פתח‬the default combination

for Pi’el forming a sort of default, base template (as the case in the
Niph’al binyan) which is immutable, and its relation with Aramaic has
been explained in the previous chapter—is used to configure practically
all other Pi’el verbal forms: the Pi’el Infinitive Construct, the Pi’el
Imperative, the Pi’el Imperfect, the Pi’el Active Participle and the Pi’el
Perfect Tense: but the Pi’el Perfect Tense is headed by a [ִ○] (‫)הִירִיק‬
partnering a [ֵ○] (‫ )צרי‬loaded with ׁ‫ דָגֵש‬in the pillion syllable instead.

Verbs in Pi’el binyan are known for the ׁ‫ דָגֵש‬present in the middle
consonant of the root in all verbal forms of Pi’el binyan, which would
be omitted in verbal roots where a guttural consonant sits in the middle

position of the ‫שורש‬. When this happens, the rules for compensatory
lengthening the vowel of the preceding syllable or virtual doubling
without lengthening the vowel beneath the preceding consonant while
rejecting the ‫דגש‬, in both cases, would be applicable. In the matter of
stem or theme vowel, in zero vowel sufformative conjugation as well
as all consonantal sufformative conjugations for all verbal forms in
the Pi’el binyan, covering Pi’el Infinitive construct, Pi’el Imperative,
Pi’el Imperfect, Pi’el Active Participle and even Pi’el Perfect Tense,
a combination of [ֵּ○] (‫דגש‬+‫ )צרי‬tailing after the head [ַ○] (‫( )פתח‬the
default base template for Pi’el binyan, as noted in the previous chapter)
would be used: the whole affair is rather consistent, except for the
consonantal sufformative conjugation of Pi’el Perfect Tense, in which
case, the vowel [ַ○] (‫)פתח‬, and like wise, loads a (‫)דגש‬, is used as the
theme vowel next after the vowel [ִ○] (‫)הִירִיק‬, which is the default head
vowel for Pi’el Perfect Tense, as the vowels in the sample word: ‫;כִּתַּבְתֶּן‬
and of course, there is no consonantal sufformative conjugation for Pi’el
Participle, and there is no Passive Participle for Pi’el binyan, too. In
vocalic sufformative conjugation, the pillion syllable would go through
the process of abdication of the hind consonant but to be reused to form
a new, rare syllable with the vowel coming from the sufformative, and
shortening the stem vowel to a ‫ שווא‬in all Pi’el verbs except the Pi’el
Active Participle. The vocalic sufformative conjugation in Pi’el Active
Participle would assume a pattern resembles plural feminine noun ending;
whereas for the singular, it is segholate noun ending, and masculine plural
noun ending for masculine plural active participle. Hebrew participles
outside the Simple binyanim would prefix a consonant [ְ‫)מֵם( ]מ‬, which
is immutable and universal (everyone has one), as signatory prosthesis

for Participles outside the Qal binyan.
(ii) The ‫ פֻּעַל‬binyan is the passive voice of ‫ פיעל‬verbs as shown by

the sample word: ׁ‫ קֻדַּש‬to be sanctified. As a member of the Intensive
binyan, the Pu’al like wise totes a ‫ דגש‬in the middle consonant of the
‫שורש‬, a common feature found in the Intenvive binyan and, again, the
rules related to compensatory lengthening and virtual doubling of the

vowel in the preceding syllable shall be applicable to a verbal root which
has a guttural residing in the middle position. The head vowel [ֻ○] (‫)קֻבּוּץ‬
is immutable, but the head consonant of verbal root would just sit on it
while the preformative pronominal the ‫ אית”ן‬for the Imperfect Tense
would be attached to the front of the base unit as shown in the sample
word: ‫ יְכֻתַּב‬it would be written, and the vowel [ַ○] (‫ )פתח‬would be used
as stem vowel in all cases of zero vowel sufformative conjugation and
consonantal sufformative conjugation in Pu’al verbs, which is a passive
voice. The vocalic sufformative conjugation would go through the same
process of abdication of the hind consonant as that of the Pi’el verbs.
There is no Active Participle for Pu’al binyan, and the Pu'al Passive Participle
is headed by the consonant [ְ‫)מֵם( ]מ‬, the prosthesis for participle outside the
Qal binyan, as the case with the Pi’el Active Participle. The next instance
of similar mechanical use of vowel [ֻ○] (‫ )קֻבּוּּץ‬in the conjugation of a
passive voice of a binyan would be in the Hophal binyan, which employs
[ֻ‫ ]ה‬instead.
2.7 The Reflexive binyan

The Reflexive stem consists of only the ‫ התפעל‬binyan, which sometimes
could be passive or intransitive, as shown by the sample words: ׁ‫הִתְקַדֵּש‬
to make oneself ready, to consecrate oneself, ‫ הִתְכַּפֵּר‬be propitiated,
‫ הִתְהַלִּך‬to walk. Nevertheless, the Hithpa’el sometimes could function
as a passive verb, and the Niph’al could resume a Reflexive function.
The inflexion of all three forms of conjugation would be identical as that
of the Pi’el binyan while the signatory head syllable ְ‫ הִת‬is immutable
and might require metathesis in certain cases.
2.8 The Causative binyan

The Causative stem, an active voice, consists of: (i) ‫ הִפְעִיל‬and ‫הָפְעַל‬
or ‫ הֻפְעַל‬binyanim, which sometimes could be intransitive, as shown by
the sample words: ‫ הֶאֱזִין‬to listen, ׁ‫ חִקְדִּיש‬to declare holy. The passive
of Hiphil has two formats: the ‫ הָפְעַל‬or ‫ הֻפְעַל‬as the vowels shown
in the sample word: ׁ‫ הָפְדַּש‬to be declared holy. The Hiphil Infinitive
Absolute is headed by a prosthetic syllable [ַ‫]ה‬, the key signature in
Hiphil binyan at the head of a deuce with [ֵ○] (‫ )צרי‬placed in the pillion
syllable as stem vowel forming a default base unit. The prosthetic [ַ‫]ה‬
when acting with the head consonant of the root closes the first syllable,
as the vowels shown in the sample word: ‫ הַכְתֵּב‬to write. NOTE: The
‫ דגש‬is used because it is at the beginning of another syllable for the
consonant [‫ )תָו( ]ת‬in this word. The same brace of default base unit (the
pairing of vowels) would be used in the Hiphil Imperative for both zero
sufformative conjugation and consonantal sufformative conjugation, but
only the consonantal sufformative conjugation of the Hiphil Imperfect
Tense, where the position occupied by [‫ ]ה‬in the prosthesis [ַ‫ ]ה‬would
be replaced by a preformative pronominal for the Imperfect Tense,
the ‫אית”ן‬, as in the sample word: ‫יַעֲמִיד‬. In the case of consonantal
sufformative conjugation for the Hiphil Perfect, it is led by its default
signatory [ִ○] (‫ )הִירִיק‬buckled up with [‫ ]ה‬to compose a unit of [ִ‫]ה‬
and totes a [ַ○] (‫ )פתח‬as stem vowel: as a general rule, the vowel [ַ○]
(‫ )פתח‬is conventionally linked with the Hebrew Perfect Tense as theme
vowel in all binyanim. Other than that, for the other cases of zero
vowel sufformative conjugation and all cases of vocalic sufformative
conjugation—overspreading the Hiphil Imperative, the Hiphil Imperfect,
the Hiphil Active Participle and the Hiphil Perfect, together with the
respective default prosthesis—in the Hiphil binyan, the default base
unit, the template, of the Hiphil Infinitive Construst, a combination
of [‫○ִי‬+ַ‫היריק מלא( ]ה‬+ַ‫)ה‬, would be used, as the vowels shown in
the sample word: ‫ הַכְתִּיב‬to write. The rule of abdication of the hind
consonant and shortening of the theme vowel would not be applicable to
the Hiphil binyan, as the epenthsis [‫ )הִירִיק מלא( ]○ִי‬is immutable. The
active participles in Hebrew decline like a noun, thus the segholate noun
declension pattern would be used on feminine singular of the Hiphil
Active Participle, and the declension for plural feminine noun would
be used on the counterpart of Hiphil Active Participle feminine plural;
similar application of the declension rules for masculine nouns, singular
and plural, would be used on the Hiphil Active Participle masculine.
(ii) The Hiphil has two passive formats: (a) ‫הָפְעַל‬, and (b) ‫הֻפְעַל‬. The
Infinitive Absolute would be a combination of the prosthesis of each
format pairing with [ֵ○] (‫ )צרי‬to form a default unit, as the vowels shown
in the sample word in the Hophal Infinitive Absolute: ‫הָכְתֵּב‬. NOTE:
The ‫ דגש‬is used because it is at the beginning of another syllable for
the consonant [‫)תָו( ]ת‬. To install the Hophal Infinitive Construct, it is
a combination of the prosthesis [ָ‫ ]ה‬taking the lead with a [ַ○] (‫ )פתח‬in
pillion syllable serving the role of a theme vowel, as the vowels shown
in the sample word: ‫ הָכְתַּב‬to write. This is the base unit, a zero vowel
sufformative conjugation, which would be used to configure the Hophal

Imperfect Tense and the Hophal Perfect Tense in that conjugation. So
far there is no sample of Hophal Imperative available from the ‫תנ”ך‬.
The two Hophal and Huphal binyanim are rather consistent in the sense
that apart from the prostheses, the stem vowels for two of them would
be the vowel [ַ○] (‫ )פתח‬in zero vowel sufformative conjugation and
consonantal sufformative conjugation. As a general rule, the vocalic
sufformative conjugation of all binyanim would go to through the
process of abdication of the hind consonant and shortening the stem
vowel. The same procedure would be applicable to the conjugation of
Hophal and Huphal binyanim. As a matter of general pattern, passive
participle outside the Simple binyan would assume a [ָ○] (‫ )קמץ‬as stem
vowel pairing with the prosthesis of each respective binyan in zero vowel
sufformative conjugation, and the feminine singular would assume a
segholate noun ending; for the declension of the plural participles,
masculine and feminine, would be a regular pattern for masculine plural
noun ending and feminine plural noun ending.
2.9
Only six or seven verbs (‫ פקד‬,‫ עלד‬,‫ ידע‬,‫ חלה‬,‫ גלה‬,‫ )בקע‬are found
to have appeared in all the seven ‫ בניינים‬in the Hebrew Bible (‫)תנ”ך‬,
namely the Old Testament.
2.10
The system of the Hebrew verbs, not totally unlike English, consists of
two Infinitives (‫)שֵׁם הַפֹּועֵל‬, two Participles (‫)פּוֹעֵל בֵּינֹונִים‬, one Past
Tense (‫)זְמַן עָבַר‬, one Imperfect Tense (‫)זְמַן עָתִיד‬, and the Imperative
(‫)צִיוּוּי‬, the Jussive (‫)תיווי של‬, the Cohortative, the Wav Consecutive
and the Wav Conversive.
2.11
With the exception of the infinitives, these forms are conjugated to
reflect number (singular or plural), person (first I, second you, or third
he/she) and gender (masculine or feminine) of its subject. In the case of
the Participles, only number and gender would be required. To configure
a verb, a student must learn up the three forms of conjugations, namely,

the zero vowel sufformative conjugation, the consonantal sufformative
conjugation and the vocalic (vowel) sufformative conjugation. The

same principle would be applicable to the inflection of verbs in all
forms, depending on the person, gender or number involved. Different
textbook would offer different approach on inflexion of the Hebrew
verbs. Student could choose one that best suits his learning habit.
2.12
As in the case with any other languages, a word in Hebrew consists
of vowels and consonants. The consonantal root of the Hebrew words
are significant, so are the respective default vowels, which could be
shortened or lengthened, one pair for each verbal form and one pair for
each binyan: fixed, not mixed, not confused and no cross-over.
2.13
Unlike most Indo-European languages, a verb in the Hebrew language,
in most cases, is made up of three consonants (verbs in Modern Hebrew
could have up to four or five letters) with a set of two default vowels
assigned to each form, mood or tense, originally not displayed in the
writing system, at least not before the Messoretic epoch, forming a
two-syllable base of a verb, to appear some what like CVCVC (C =
consonant; V = vowel). In the case of two-consonant verbs, actually
single syllable word, the verb would conjugate without changes to the
root or the stem vowel, as far as possible. As a rule, default vowels are
immutable or unchangeable.
2.14
Inspired or not, the default vowels (‫ )נִיקוּדִים‬formed an essential part
of the Hebrew grammar. Each derived stem, each form, mood and tense
of the verb is determined by the nature and specific deuce of the default
vowels. The sets of default vowels are clearly distinguishable one from
the other, not easily giving rise to confusion. In this way, Hebrew is very
much a vocalic language.
2.15
A pair of fixed vowels, given by default, is assigned to each mood, tense or
verbal forms: the Infinitive Absolute, the Infinitive Construct, the Active
Participle, the Passive Participle, the Perfect Tense, the Imperative, the
Cohortative, the Jussive Reflexive, Passive Active Groups

and the Imperfect Tense Reciprocal
in the Qal binyan. Each
‫נִפְעַל‬ ‫פָעַל‬ Group 1
of these enjoys a brace Niph’al /‫קַל‬ Simple /
of default vowel of its ‫נִפְעַל‬ Pa’al Absolute
own; and for the other
binyanim, the non-Qal Group2
binyanim, would utilise Intensive
‫פֻּעַל‬ ‫פִּעֵל‬
the same deuce of default ‫הִתְפַּעֵל‬ also
vowels as that expressed Pu’al Pi’el known as
Hithpa’el
by the Infinitive Construct D-stem
of each binyan, or in group
its absence, that of the ‫הֹופְעַל‬
Infinitive Absolute to /‫ הִפְעִיל הָפְעַל‬Group 3
configure the various Hophal/ Hiphil Causative
forms of the verb for each Huphal
binyan. ← read this direction.
2.16
The two default vowels, the first and the second vowel, or a head and
pillion (head and stem), interplays with the rules of vowel reduction or
elongation under the influence of shifting accent or stress as and whenever
a syllable is added by way of personal pronoun affixes, together with the
presence or absence of the laryngeal or guttural consonants, to create
meaning for the verb.
2.17
The verb has its base form in the Infinitive. Like English which has the
full infinitive and the bare infinitive, there are two of these in Hebrew: (i)
the Infinitive Absolute, which appeared some what like the bare infinitive;
(ii) the Infinitive Construct, known as the building block of the verb in
Hebrew (‫)הַפּוֹעֵ בּוֹנִים‬. In cases where the verb does not have a known
form of the Infinitive Construct, the Infinitive Absolute is used instead.
The default vowels of the Infinitive Absolute in the Qal binyan are built
around a deuce of [ֹ‫ו‬+ָ○] (‫הוֹלַם מָלֵא‬+‫)קָמֶץ‬, which actually reflects the
vowels in the word for Infinitive Absolute in Hebrew: ‫מָקוֹר‬.

The Infinitive of the seven derived stems

Hophal Hiphil Hitpa’el Pu’al Pi’el Ni’phal Qal
Pa’el
‫הָקְטַל‬ ‫תקַטֵּל הַקְטִיל‬

ְ ִ‫ה‬ ‫פֻּעַל‬ ‫פַּעֵל‬ ‫הִקָּטֵל‬ ‫קְטֹל‬
2.18
Hebrew verbs are expressed in seven ‫בניינים‬: these are the Qal stem
and six derived stems, including the Niph’al, Pi’el, Pu’al, Hithpa’el,
Hiphil, and Hophal, grouped
into three main groupings, Other ways nomenclature
The vowel patterns in these Qal G stem; qatal, qatel, qatol
‫ בניינים‬would be used as
the basis for conjugation Nif’al N stem; niqtal,
or inflection of the verb for Pi’el D stem; qittel
each stem, both the strong,
dynamic as well as the Pu’al Dp stem; quttal
irregular and weak verbs.
Hif’il H stem; hiqtil
Hof’al Hp stem; hoqtal
Hitpa’el HtD stem; hitqattel
2.19
These three groupings are:
(i) The simple group, which includes the Qal and Niph’al;
(ii) The Intensive group, which consists of Pi’el, Pu’al and

the Hitpa’el. The Hitpa’el is the reflexive stem, which
for practical purpose and convenience, is placed together
with the Intensive stem group throughout this grammar.
(iii) The Causative group, which consists of Hiphil and

Hophal.
(iv) There are other minor stems, i.e. Palel, Palal, and the
like.
(v) The rare stems
Needless to say, there are other ways of naming the binyanim.
2.20
The identification of these ‫ בניינים‬is to be based on the default vowels.
Once again for emphasis, there are five pairs of these default vowels in
use in the vowel schemes, for instance, in the Qal stem. It is out of these
five pairs default vowels that other forms of the verb are to be derived for
the verb: namely, the Perfect Tense, the Participles (Active and Passive),
the Imperative, the Jussive, the Cohortative, the Imperfect Tense and the
Wav Conversive.
2.21
By nature, the Infinitive is the base form of a verb: both the Infinitive
Absolute and the Infinitive Construct, while in effect the Infinitive
Construct is a reduced form of Infinitive Absolute, given allowance that
some grammar textbooks might not agree to this. In cases where the
Infinitive Construct of a verb is uncertain, the Infinitive Absolute would
be used.
2.22
In the Table 2.18, the coloured syllable (CV and or CVC combination)
at the head of the root are verbal prosthesis, not part of the verbal root.
These prostheses are the key signature for each respective ‫בניין‬. In stems
that do not have the prosthesis, the head vowel would assume that role.
2.23
Like other languages, Hebrew in the early stage of development was
chiefly a spoken language. Originally the verb, as in the case of all
other words in the language, was unmarked with vowel signs, the vowel
pointings or nikudim (‫)ניקודים‬, when the written form of the language
was first emerged. In the early days, even without ‫ניקודים‬, speech and
communication were coherent and intelligible to the native speaker of
the language as the vowel schemes used in the verbal system was simple,
The five pairs of default vowel are:

The Hebrew Default vowel scheme to be used in
Sample scheme names Hebrew verbs in the Qal Stem.
1 [ֹ‫ו‬+ָ○] To be used in the Qal Infinitive

‫קָטֹול‬ ‫ מָקוֹר‬Absolute.
2 To be used in the Qal Perfect

‫קָטַל‬ [ַ○+ָ○] ‫עָבַר‬ Tense or the Preterite.
3 ‫קָטוּל‬ [ּ‫ו‬+ָ○] ‫ פָּעוּל‬To be used in the Qal Passive

Participle.
4 To be used in the Qal Active

‫קֹטֵל‬ [ֵ○+ֹ○] ‫ פֹּועֵל‬Participle.
To be used in the Qal Infinitive

Construct and other forms of the
5 ‫קְטֹל‬ [ֹ○+ְ○] ‫לִבְּנֹות‬
verb, i.e, the Qal Imperative, the
Qal Jussive, the Qal Cohortative
and the Qal Imperfect.
consistent and unambiguous. It was not until sometime in the second half
of the first millennium in the Christian era that the Tiberian Masoretic
‫ ניקודים‬were added to the triconsonantal root. There were other systems
of nikudim in use, parallel to the Tiberian system.
2.24
The Default Vowel Schemes
Vowel Scheme for the Qal Infinitive Groups

To be used in the Qal Infinitive Absolute, as the
a [ֹ‫ו‬+ָ○] vowels in the Hebrew word: ‫ מָקוֹר‬origin or Infinitive.
To be used in the Qal Infinitive Construct

b [ֹ‫ו‬+ְ○] and other verbal forma of the Qal stem,
as the vowels in the word: ‫ בְּנוֹת‬to build.
There are five yoke of vowels being used in the Qal stem in the verbal
system of the Hebrew language, forming a template of two vowels in
each pair.
2.25 These five pairs of primary default vowels are:
Vowel Scheme for the Qal Perfect Tense

To be used in the Qal Infinitive Absolute, as the
vowels in the word: ‫מָקוֹר‬. Compare the pair with
i [ֹ‫ו‬+ָ○] the default vowels in the Perfect Tense given
below.
To be used in the Qal Perfect Tense, as the vowels

in the word: ‫ עָבַר‬or ‫ עָבָר‬for ‫ה‬/‫ ל"א‬verbs, where
ii [ַ○+ָ○] the double ‫ קמץ‬would be due to the hind consonant
is a weak alphabet in the root.
2.26
Vowel Scheme for the Qal Participles: ‫בֵּינוֹנִים‬
To be used in the Qal Passive Participle, as the
i [ּ‫ו‬+ָ○] vowels in the word: ‫פָּעוּל‬.
To be used in the Qal Active Participle, as the

ii [ֵ○+ֹ○] vowels in the word: ‫פֹּעֵל‬.
The vowels in other binyanim and each minor or rare stem operate with
the same principle as that of the five primary forms and four secondary
forms of each stem.
2.27
Grouping of the Vowel Scheme
These five pairs of default vowels could be broadly lumped into two
groups: the Infinitive group and the Participle group.
2.28
The Infinitive group could be further branched out into the Infinitive
Absolute and the Preterite, or the Infinitive Construct.
2.29
For the Qal Preterite group, take a look at the vowels in the Qal Infinitive
Absolute as each of the two pairs shared a common first, head vowel [ָ○]
(‫)קמץ‬.
2.30
Another group, derived from the five yoke of vowels forming the
Participle group, consists of two members, namely the Passive Participle
(‫ )פָּעוּל‬and the Active Participle (‫)פּוֹעֵל‬.
2.31
Alternatively, the five pairs of primary default vowels could be grouped
into two groups: that is, [ָ○] (‫ )קמץ‬and non-[ָ○] (‫ )קמץ‬group. In any
case, how the vowels are to be schemed would not disrupt the function
and purpose of the default vowels. The groupings are mere attempts to
give the vowel formats some sense of coherence and consistency, some
Extended application of the vowels in Qal Infinitive Construct

To be used in the Qal Imperative by adding the
appropriate personal pronoun affixes directly to the
a [ֹ‫ו‬+ְ○]
vowel scheme, as the vowels in the word: ‫ כְּתֹב‬you
man must write.
To be used in the Qal Cohortative by adding the


b [ֹ‫ו‬+ְ○] vowel scheme, as the vowels in the word: ‫אֶכְתְּבָה‬
Let me write or I must write.
To be used in the Qal Jussive by adding the

vowel scheme, as the vowels in the word: ‫ יִשְׁפֹּט‬Let
c [ֹ‫ו‬+ְ○] him decide, making adjustment for the contiguous
‫ שוואים‬in the head consonant.

To be used in the Qal Imperfect Tense by adding

the appropriate personal pronoun affixes directly to
d [ֹ‫ו‬+ְ○] the vowel scheme, as the vowels in the word: ‫אֶכְּתֹב‬
I’ll write.
To be used in the Wav Conversive by adding the

e [ֹ‫ו‬+ְ○] vowel scheme, as the vowels in the word: ‫ וַיֹּ֫אמֶר‬and
he said (and he will say).
sort of workable principles.
2.32
The Qal Infinitive Construct, which vowel scheme in effect is a reduced
form from the Qal Infinitive Absolute, would be used to generate the
Qal Imperative, the Qal Jussive, the
The Qal Infinitive Absolute
Qal Cohortative and the Qal Imperfect, vowel scheme: ‫וֹ[ מָקוֹר‬+ָ○]
the Infinitive derivatives, by directly Strong
adding the necessary or relevant to kill ‫ קָטוֹל‬verb
personal pronoun affixes to the default Guttural
vowel scheme, as all of these extended to stand ‫ֹד‬ ‫ו‬ ‫ָמ‬ ‫ע‬ ‫ח‬/‫פ”ע‬
forms of the verb share a common to fall ‫נָפוֹל‬ ‫פ”נ‬
vowel template with the Qal Infinitive to nurse ‫יָנֹק‬ ‫פ”י‬
Construct. Adjustment to the default to return ‫יָשׁוֹב‬ ‫פ”ו‬
deuce, however, would be made in
to choose ‫בָּחוֹר‬ ”‫ע‬
response to the presence or absence of Guttural
guttural consonant in the verbal root, to rise up ‫ קוֹם‬Hollow
especially in cases where the head
to reveal ‫גָּלוֹה‬ ‫ל”ה‬

consonant of the root could not receive
to wage war ‫צָבוֹא‬ ‫ל”א‬
‫שווא נע‬.
2.33
Extended application of the Qal Infinitive Construct to form other Tenses
and Moods: The Qal Imperative, Qal Cohortative, Qal Jussive, the Qal
Imperfect Tense and Wav Conversive are extended application of the
default vowels given in the Infinitive Construct as all of these forms of

the Hebrew Moods and Tense share the same vowel scheme as that of
the Qal Infinitive Construct.
2.34
The Base Form of the Verb: The Infinitive (‫)מָקוֹר‬
The Hebrew Infinitives, both the Infinitive Absolute and the Infinitive
Construct, as in the case with the English Infinitive, are the base form
of the verb from which configuration into other tenses would take place.
The vowel scheme shown in the Table 2.24 is to be used in the Qal
Infinitive Absolute.
2.35
Default vowel scheme for the Qal Infinitive Absolute is given as a duo of
[ֹ‫ו‬+ָ○] (‫הולם מלא‬+‫)קמץ‬, which combination reflects the vowels used in
the word ‫ מָקוֹר‬origin or Infinitive. This splice of vowels would be used
for all verbs in the Qal Infinitive Absolute, the strong as well as the weak
verbs, except the Qal binyan of Hollow Verbs, which are mostly single-
syllable verbs that loads a [ֹ‫ )הולם מלא( ]ו‬in the syllable as the main,
sole vowel. Hollow verbs could be given two other default vowels.
2.36
In certain cases the [ֹ‫ )הולם מלא( ]ו‬used in the Infinitive Absolute could
be written as [ֹ○] (‫ )הוֹלֵם חָסֵר‬instead. The vowel [ֹ‫ )הולם מלא( ]ו‬would
not be used in Tenses or verbal form other than the Infinitive Absolute.
Hence, the shorter form of the Infinitive Absolute would be used as
the base, the template, to install other forms of the verb in cases where
there are two formats of the Infinitive Absolute, such as the Niph’al and
Pi’el.
2.37
The Infinitive Absolute is the base form of the verb from which the Qal
Perfect Tense and the Qal Passive Participle of the Hebrew verbs are
to be derived since these two verbal forms share some vowel features
common in the vowel scheme of the Qal Infinitive Absolute, namely [ֹ‫]ו‬
(‫הולם מלא‬+‫ )קמץ‬pairing. By the same token, the same principle is
operative in other derived stems of the verb.
CHAPTER TWO: The Vowel Schememe 19
2.38
The Infinitive Absolute of the Weak Verbs
Taking Qal binyan as a working example, the set of identical vowels would
work in the weak verbs in the same manner as in the dynamic, strong
verbs. In certain cases the pillion, stem vowel [ֹ‫הולם מלא( ]ו‬+‫ )קמץ‬is
written as [ֹ○] (‫)הוֹלֵם חָסֵר‬.
2.39
In the Qal Infinitive Absolute, verbs ending in the strong gutturals,
namely [‫ )עַיִן( ]ע‬or [‫)חֵית( ]ח‬, tend to take one ‫( פַּתַּח גְּנוּבָה‬pathach
furtive) placed beneath the hind consonant of the root that has [‫)עַיִן( ]ע‬
or [‫)חֵית( ]ח‬, as the ‫ פתח גנובה‬in the sample world ַ‫ רוּח‬wind. These
two consonants will be discarded or assumed other alphabet in the Qal
Infinitive Construct, the Qal Perfect Tense or other forms of the verb.
2.40
Hollow verbs are single-syllable verbs that have [‫ )יוֹד( ]י‬or [‫ )וָו( ]ו‬in
the middle radical of a biconsonantal root. Feature such as this would
be visible only in the Qal Infinitive Construct, Qal Imperative, Qal
Imperfect form of the verb, as well as in the Hiphil binyan; but not in
the Qal Perfect and Qal Participles as the seemingly middle [‫ )יוֹד( ]י‬of
the Hollow verbs would be eliminated in the process of transforming or
inflection from the Qal Infinitive Absolute to the Qal Perfect Tense.
2.41
The Rare Stems
There are a few unusual stems known as the rare stems. What
commonly known as the minor stems are actually the Intensive stems
for the monosyllable verbs or the Hollow verbs. As such, grammatical

information pertaining to the minor stems, namely, the Polel, the Polal
and the Hithpolel, would be covered under the heading of the Hollow
verb. The rare stem verbs would be those verbs coming under the
purview of the Poel, the Poal, Hithpoel, which are essentially the same as
Pi’el, Pu’al and Hithpa’el in function and meaning, but with a somewhat
different vowel format. Under the general heading of rare stem verbs
‫ברוך בשם‬
there is another group of verbs which members consist of the Palel, the
Pulal and the Hithpalel. In addition to these, there are a few more: the
Pipel, Polpel and Hithpalpel, which could be lumped into a group by

itself. That would leave the Pealal as the sole member in the last group.
How many groups are there:

• Polel, Polal, Hithpolel
• Poel, Poal, Hithpoel
• Palel, Pulal, Hithpalel
• Pilpel, Polpel, Hithpalpel
• Pealal
2.42
Nomenclature is a good source of nightmare in Hebrew grammar. For
instance, the Polel, essentially is the same as the Pi’el, which also
seemed to be known as the Pilel in Gesenius and Brown-Driver-Briggs
lexicon; but it is not mentioned in other grammar textbooks. Whereas the
Polal, which in effect is the same as Pu’al, which in turn is the passive
form of the intensive Pi’el, appears to be the same as what is called Pulal
in New Englishman’s Hebrew Concordance. Verbs of Poel stem would
be referred to Germinate verbs of Pelel type, namely the intensive form
of Germinate verb type.
2.43
Actually, there is one more not often heard of stem, known as the Tiphil
stem, and it has only one examples in the ‫תנ”ך‬: ‫ תִּרְגַלְתִּי‬Tiphil Perfect
first person common singular I trained in Hosea 11:3, which root is
‫תִּרְגֵּל‬.
Hishtaphel
2.44 ‫ )ל(הִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת‬Infinitive Construct

Metathesis ‫מִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה‬ Participle msg
Mention must be made of an ‫הִשְׁתַּחֲוִי‬ Imperative fsg
interesting feature about how ּ‫יִשְׁתַּ֫חו‬ Jussive 3msg
Hebrew is used by switching
a certain consonant with the ּ‫וַיִּשְׁתַּ֫חו‬
Wav consecutive Preterite
prosthesis for easy speech,
which appeared to have caused some changes to the verb, but actually no
conjugation has been done. In grammar, this is known as metathesis. For
instance, the verbal root: ‫ שמר‬to guard, in the Hithpa’el, it is supposed
to be ‫הִתְשַׁמֵּר‬, but it would be very difficult for Hishtaphel Imperfect

the Hebrew speaker to twist the tongue to utter ‫ יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה‬3msg
this word. So the Hebrew people speak and wrote ‫ תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה‬2msg
it as ‫ הִשְׁתַּמֵּר‬to be preserved. Another example of ‫ אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה‬1csg
this form of metathesis would be the word: ‫קָדַצ‬ Hishtaphel Perfect /
righteous, written as ‫הִצְטַדֵּק‬. It seems when Preterite
a verb is headed by a strong consonant, such ‫הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה‬ 3ms
as [‫)טִּית( ]ט‬, it may be required to go through ‫הִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתָה‬ 3fs
similar maneuver, as in the case with the verb: ָ‫הִשְׁתַּחֲוִ֫ית‬ 2ms
‫ טמא‬to be contaminated, would be written as ‫הִשְׁתַּחֲוִ֫יתִי‬ 2fs
‫הִטַּמֵּא‬. Apparently, most occurrence of metathesis ‫הִשְׁתַּחֲוִ֫יתִי‬ 1cs
involved only the Hithpa’el stem.
‫ הִשְׁתַּחֲו ּו‬3cp
2.45
Hishtaphel
There is one controversial verb in Hebrew for the expression to bow
down in order to worship. It is used only in the Hishtaphel in the ‫תנ”ך‬.
Older grammar textbooks believed that the verb came from the root:
‫שָׁחָה‬. Contemporary research drawing resource from Ugarit suggests that
it might have come from the root ‫ הוח‬with ּ‫ הִשְׁת‬as the prosthesis or
verbal prefix, known as the Shaphel stem (‫)שפעל‬, equating it with the
Hiphil in Hebrew. It seems this position is being reversed to the older
opinion. Is the case fait accompli? Be that as it may, the word is now
appeared as: ‫ לחשתחוה‬in the infinitive Construct.
2.46
Quadriliterals
Quadriliterals are verbs come in four consonants, as it is defined by the

term. Not many of these are in currency in the ‫תנ”ך‬.
2.47
The population of quadriliteral words in the ‫ תנ”ך‬is small, yet significant.
A popular sample of these words would included: ‫( כִּלְכֵּל‬Qal ‫;כוּל‬
Pilpel Infinitive ‫ כַּלְכֵּל‬to support, to sustain; 1 Kings 8:27), ‫כִּרְכֵּר‬
(Pilpel ‫ כרר‬to gyrate, to swirl, to dance; 2 Samuel 6:14), ‫( צִפְצֵף‬Pilpel

‫ צפף‬to peep, to chirp, Isaiah ‫קִרְקֵר‬, 10:14) (Pilpel ‫ קרר‬to tear down, to
smash, Isaiah 22:5), ‫( שִׁעֲשַׁע‬Pilpel ‫ שעע‬to be amused, to delight, to be
entertained, Psalm 94:19), ‫( תִּעְתֵּע‬Pilpel ‫ תעע‬to mock, to burlesque, to

hold in contempt, Genesis 27:12), ‫( טִאטֵא‬Pilpel Perfect 3ms to sweep
away Isaiah 14:23), ‫( שִׂגְשֵׂג‬Pilpel ‫ שׂוּג‬to raise, to flourish, to prosper,
Isaiah 17:11). Some of these words could be termed as ‫ פיעל‬verbs.
2.48
Qal Passive
Generally, the Niph’al is already the passive form of the Qal stem. There
are, however, some verbs which are marked or vocalized as Pu’al or
Hophal in the ‫ תנ”ך‬that seemed to be more in accord with the Niph’al
stem. To distinguish them from the Niph’al, the term Qal passive has
been used to depict these verbs. Few popular sample of this group would
be the verbs: ‫קבד‬, ‫הורד‬, ‫לקח‬.
2.49
The Participles: ‫בֵּינֹנִים‬
There are two Participles in the Hebrew language: the Passive Participle
(‫ )פָּעוּל‬and the Active Participle (‫)פוֹעֵל‬. Usually the active form of
a binyan would have the Active participle, and the Passive form of a
derived stem would have the Passive Participle, which means the Pi’el,
the Hiphil, the Hithpa’el would have the Active Participle, but without
Passive Participle; whereas the Niph’al, the Pu’al, the Hophal would
have the Passive Participle, but no the Active Participle. Only the Qal
stem has both the Active and Passive Participle; hence, it appears to have
a little confusion out there.
2.50
Except the Qal stem which does not have a prosthesis for the Participles,
the Participles of all other binyanim of the verb would have [ְ‫ )מֶם( ]מ‬as
the prosthesis for Pi’el, Pu’al, Hithpa’el, Hiphil and Hophal. The Hophal
has two Passive Participles, each with merely a different vowel: ‫ קמץ‬or
‫קֻבּוּץ‬. The Niph’al has [ְ‫ )נוּן( ]נ‬as the prosthesis for the Participle.
2.51
The Passive Participle is used as adjectives, as the way the Past Participle
is used in English, as shown in the sample word: ‫ כָּתוּב‬written. For
the Qal Passive Participle, the duo vowels of [ּ‫ו‬+ָ○) (‫קֻבּוּץ‬+‫ )קָמֶץ‬in the
vowel scheme, which actually reflects the vowels of the Hebrew word
for Passive Participle ‫פָּעוּל‬, which resembles rather closely but should
not be confused with the default vowels for the Qal Infinitive Absolute:
‫וֹ[ מָקוֹר‬+ָ○] (‫הולם מלא‬+‫)קמץ‬. The Passive Participle of all the other
non-Qal binyanim would have the respective prosthesis loading the [ָ○]
(‫ )קמץ‬as the stem or theme vowel, allowing adjustment for feminine
sufformative conjugation, which follows either one pattern of the
feminine noun.
2.52
As the case in the Passive Participle, the default vowels in the Qal
Active Participle reflect the vowels used in the Hebrew word for Active
Participle ‫פֹעֵל‬, that is [ֵ○+ֹ○] (‫צרי‬+‫)הולם חסר‬. In Modern Hebrew, the
vowel [ֹ‫ )הולם מלא( ]ו‬is used instead of [ֹ○] (‫ )הולם חסר‬in the Active
Participle, which would make the verb to appear like ‫( כוֹתֵב‬he) writes.
The Active Participle is used as the Present Tense (‫ )הוֹוֶה‬in classical
as well as Modern Hebrew, as the way it is being used in English; but
unlike English, it does not require the use of verb to be in the formation
of Hebrew Present Tense, especially so in sentences depicting a situation
or a simple connecting relationship between the subject and the predicate.
Usually, this is termed as verbless or zero verb sentence. The participles
would be conjugated to agree in number and gender with the nouns and
pronouns associated with them; it may precede or follow the subject of
the sentence. Other than the Active Participle, there are other ways to
express the sense and meaning of a Present Tense in Hebrew.
2.53
The Perfect Tense: ‫זְמַן עָבַר‬
Similar operation of the template vowels could be seen at work from

the yoke of default vowels [ַ○+ָ○] (‫פתח‬+‫ )קמץ‬in the Qal Perfect
Tense, where the stem vowel is a reduction from [ֹ‫)הולם חסר( ]ו‬
under heavy stress, unmarked, hence invisible, when it falls on the

last syllable, as the vowels in the word ‫ עָבַר‬he crossed over. Default
vowels for the Qal Perfect Tense would be [ַ○+ָ○] (‫פתח‬+‫)קצץ‬, but it
is [ָ○+ָ○] (‫קמץ‬+‫ )קמץ‬in the case of [‫ )לָמֶד־הֵ( ]ל”ה‬verbs and [‫]ל”א‬
(‫ )למד־אלף‬verbs, simply because the rear ‫ א‬and ‫ ה‬are, as a general
rule, vowelless and mute; thus as a compensation, the preceeding vowel
would be lengthened, as the vowels in the sample word ‫ בָּרָא‬he created,
reflecting the vowels in: ‫עָבָר‬.
2.54
The Qal Perfect Tense is used as an illustration on how does the
mechanism of default vowel scheme work, and the same principle would
be applicable to other ‫בניינים‬, such as, the Pi’el, Hiphil, and so on.
2.55
Default Vowel Scheme: A summary of ‫ קמץ‬group
By the natural design of the language, it is really unnecessary to rote
learn the verbal paradigms in Hebrew, as the vowels used in the verbal
system are rather fixed by default, each form of the verb is assigned
with a definite pair of vowels: the whole system is consistent and not
confusing. What a student really needs to do is to understand how the
five couples of the primary vowels in the scheme would operate; and
the other four deuces, which actually is only one pair, namely, the duo
used in the Infinitive Construct of each binyan, the way how the deuce
vowels would response to the presence of a guttural or weak consonant
in any one position of the root, which means, more often than not, the ”‫פ‬
position being the one experiences the most frequent mutation. As taking
up the position of the first or head syllable, it is the rules for contiguous
‫ שוואים‬and propretonic reduction of the head vowel during pluralization
compel the vowel changes to take place; and in the case of the stem or
the pillion syllable, it would be abdication of the hind consonant and
shortening of the stem vowel during conjugation induced by affixing
pronominal suffixes, both vocalic and consonantal suffixes, to the root.
This rule is rather universal. Reduction of vowel would not occur to

unchangeable long vowel, such as ‫היריק מלא‬. Details of the rules and
mechanic of operation and procedures are set out under the heading of
syllable, vowels rules and conjugation. The Hebrew language speaks in

vowels.
2.56
Verbs of non-‫ קמץ‬binyanim: based default vowels
Admittedly, the term non-‫ קמץ‬binyanim could be misleading. The
Infinitive Construct of each binyan is the base form to configure other what
is known as the secondary forms of the verbs: namely, the Imperative,
the Cohortative, the Jussive and the Imperfect Tense, also known as the
Infinitive derivatives. These forms of the verbs share a common head
vowel, for instance, in the case of Qal stem, the ‫שווא נע‬, which required
adjustment in response to the presence of a weak or guttural consonant
at the head of the verbal root; for other ‫בניינים‬, the prosthesis of each
‫ בניין‬would be used together with the stem, pillion vowel.
2.57
Default vowels in the Imperative: ‫דֶּרֶך הַצוּוּי‬
The Imperative Mood is used to issue command or instruction to
the second person singular and plural, masculine and feminine. The
Cohortative and Jussive would be used in the case of the first person and
third person respectively to achieve a similar volitional purpose.
2.58
The Infinitive Construct, the Imperative, the Jussive and the Cohortative
of each binyan share a brace of default vowels identical with the twosome
used in the Infinitive Construct of each respective ‫בניין‬. The shape of
the Infinitive, as in many languages, is identical with the Imperative.
For instance, “to go” is the full Infinitive in the English language. By
removing the lead preposition “to” the bare infinitive is formed, thus the
verbal form “go” is obtain, which in effect is the Imperative. So is the
same with the Hebrew language.
2.59
The Imperative is found or in currency in the Active binyanim including
the two members in the Simple stems: the Qal and the Niph’al. To
install the Imperative, which virtually is the Infinitive Construct of each
respective active voice binyan, the same set of default vowels would be
used. Except the Niph’al, which is a passive, there is no Imperative for

all other passive binyanim. The Niph’al Imperative, as the case with
other active binyanim, takes [ֵ○] (‫ )צֵרֶי‬as the pillion vowel. A distinction
between dynamic verbs and stative verbs must be made when installing
the Imperative of each binyan, as each would take on qutie a different
vowel for a theme vowel.
2.60
The Imperative in Hebrew is conjugated
Imperative sufformative
for second person both gender and number
plural singular person
by adding one of the three sufformatives,
ּ‫ו‬--- 2m
namely, ‫נה‬-‫ו‬-‫( י‬the ‫)יו”נה‬: there is no
sufformative for second person masculine ‫נָה‬--- ‫○ִי‬ 2f
singular for the Hebrew Imperative, which
by nature is a zero vowel sufformative
conjugation.
2.61
The Cohortative and Jussive: ‫אִיוּוּי‬
The Cohortative and Jussive, which required personal pronoun affixes,
the base vowels of these two forms of the verbs are the same as the
vowel scheme used in the Infinitive Construct of each respective derived
stem. Under certain condition the stem vowel for Cohortative could take
a vowel [ֶ○] (‫ )סגול‬such as at the presence of a laryngeal.
2.62
The Cohortative is conjugated for the first Cohortative sufformative

person only, both singular and plural,
common gender. The suffix would not plural singular
be added to ‫ ל”ה‬verbs as this category ‫ָה‬---ְ‫נ‬ ‫ָה‬---ֶ‫א‬
of the verb is already being given a [‫]ה‬
(‫ )הֵא‬in the rare position by default.
2.63
The same principle and operative manner would be applicable to install the
verbal root into Jussive mood by adding the key pronominal preformative
for the third person singular and plural of Jussive Preformative

the Imperfect verb, which has been given
by default and the vowels identical to plural singular
those in the Infinitive Construct of each ּ‫ו‬---ִ‫י‬ ---ִ‫י‬
derived stem. The plural of Jussive looks
quite similar to the pronominal of third
person of Imperfect, but should not be confused by it.
2.64
These broad principles shall be applicable to all binyanim of the Hebrew
verb: namely, the Qal, the Pi’el, the Hiphil and so on; the active and
passive voice of Qal, the Intensive forms and the Causative forms, both
the strong as well the weak verbs and other ‫בניינים‬.
2.65
The Imperfect Tense: ‫עָתִיד‬
The Imperfect Tense of the Hebrew verb, used as the Future Tense, is
obtained by adding personal pronoun affixes, the ‫( אית”ן‬also known as
the preformatives), both prefixes and suffixes, the ‫( יו”נה‬the pronominal
sufformatives for the Imperfective) , embedding the verbal root, using
the same deuce of the theme or default vowels as they are given in the
Infinitive Construct of each binyan, making adjustment to contiguous
‫ שוואים‬and or [ֲ○] (‫( )חטף שווא‬composite shewa) when a weak or
guttural consonant is present at the head of the root, or virtually any
other position of the ‫שורש‬. The stem vowel for the Qal Imperfect Tense,
except for the Stative Verbs, which take [ַ○] (‫ )חתפ‬instead of [ֹ○] (‫חסר‬
‫ )חולם‬as stem or theme vowel, is the same as those used in the Qal
Infinitive Construct—stative verb with a laryngeal or guttural may not
load the [ַ○] (‫ )חתפ‬as stem vowel. Adjust the stem vowel or the pillion
vowel of the verbal root to [ְ○] (‫ )אווש‬if the personal pronoun suffix (the
‫ )יו”נה‬to be added begins with a vowel (the vocalic) and the abdication
of the hind consonant from the pillion syllable, which would merge with
the vowel from the pronominal to form a new syllable. Beware of the
accent shift. The presence of a laryngeal or guttural consonant in the
second or pillion syllable of the root would require the stem or theme
vowel under the pillion syllable to be adjusted for [ֲ○] (‫ )חטף שׁווא‬and or
the rules for ‫דגש‬, that is, compensatory lengthening or virtual doubling,
must come to play when adding personal pronoun affixes to verbs other
than the Qal stem.
2.66
The Wav Consecutive
There are two forms of vav-consecutive (i. e., follow the tense of the
previous verb) operative in Biblical Hebrew: the wayyiqtol (‫)וַיִּקְטֹל‬, that
is, an imperfect form of the verb is prefixed by [‫ )וָו( ]ו‬and vowelled [ַּ○]
(‫דגש‬+‫)פתח‬, resembles the vowels used in the article [ּ○‫ה‬ ַ ] (ַ‫ ;)ה‬and the
weqatal, where a perfect form of the verb is similarly prefixed by [‫)וָו( ]ו‬.
A verb in the Imperfect tense leads a sequence of perfect verb prefixed
with vav to each verb is termed the weqatal. A verb in the Perfect tense
leads a sequence of imperfect verb prefixed with vav [‫ )וָו( ]ו‬to each
verb is termed the vav-consecutive Imperfect or the wayyiqtol. The func-
tion and purpose of these two forms has been variously understood and
propagated in textbooks. The wayyiqtol become obsolete in Late Bibli-
cal Hebrew. The general advice given in Hebrew grammar textbooks is
to translate the vav-consecutive Imperfect as past tense in English or its
equivalent. It is worth while to bear in mind that the magic of conver-
sion is not done by adding the consonant [‫ )וָו( ]ו‬to the verb, rather it is
a signal that the meaning of the verb must be reckoned differently.
2.67
At this stage of research, the pedagogical insight is that wayyiqtol and
weqatal should not be treated as a single class of “vav-prefixed” verbal
forms. Rather, they are quite distinct from each other. New researches
carried out by John Cook, Robert Holmstedt in “The vav-prefixed
verb forms in elementary Hebrew grammar,” The Journal of Hebrew
Steffen Han January 2011 revised.
Scriptures, Volume 8: Article 3 (2008), pp2—16, and other on Biblical

Hebrew indicate that the prefixed yiqtol form in wayyiqtol (the vav-
conversive) is not the same as the Imperfect, but rather preserves an
older prefixed preterite form that has fallen out of general use.

CHAPTER TWO: Hebrew Verbal System: An Introduction

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

CHAPTER TWO: Hebrew Verbal System: An Introduction

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Chapter

is onto the triconsonantal root specific dyads of default vowels (‫)נִיקְוּדִים‬

N omenclature and terminology

Meaning of the ‫בניינים‬

2.5 The Simple binyan: Active - Qal ‫קל‬

‫ שוואים‬occurring in a row (more about this rule later). In the Infinitive

sufformative conjugation in the Niph’al binyan. The vocalic sufformative

Passive Participle takes the vowel [ָ○] (‫ )קמץ‬to form a combination of

2.6 The Intensive binyan

‫שורש‬, a pairing of [ֵּ○+ַ○] (‫דגש‬+‫צרי‬+‫—)פתח‬the default combination

partnering a [ֵ○] (‫ )צרי‬loaded with ׁ‫ דָגֵש‬in the pillion syllable instead.

be omitted in verbal roots where a guttural consonant sits in the middle

is immutable and universal (everyone has one), as signatory prosthesis

(ii) The ‫ פֻּעַל‬binyan is the passive voice of ‫ פיעל‬verbs as shown by

rules related to compensatory lengthening and virtual doubling of the

2.7 The Reflexive binyan

2.8 The Causative binyan

sufformative conjugation, which would be used to configure the Hophal

and the Wav Conversive.

a verb, a student must learn up the three forms of conjugations, namely,

conjugation and the vocalic (vowel) sufformative conjugation. The

Cohortative, the Jussive Reflexive, Passive Active Groups

vowels in the word for Infinitive Absolute in Hebrew: ‫מָקוֹר‬.

The Infinitive of the seven derived stems

‫הָקְטַל‬ ‫תקַטֵּל הַקְטִיל‬

Hof’al Hp stem; hoqtal

Hitpa’el HtD stem; hitqattel

(ii) The Intensive group, which consists of Pi’el, Pu’al and

(iii) The Causative group, which consists of Hiphil and

(v) The rare stems

Needless to say, there are other ways of naming the binyanim.

The five pairs of default vowel are:

1 [ֹ‫ו‬+ָ○] To be used in the Qal Infinitive

2 To be used in the Qal Perfect

3 ‫קָטוּל‬ [ּ‫ו‬+ָ○] ‫ פָּעוּל‬To be used in the Qal Passive

4 To be used in the Qal Active

To be used in the Qal Infinitive

Vowel Scheme for the Qal Infinitive Groups

To be used in the Qal Infinitive Construct

2.25 These five pairs of primary default vowels are:

Vowel Scheme for the Qal Perfect Tense

To be used in the Qal Perfect Tense, as the vowels

To be used in the Qal Active Participle, as the

Extended application of the vowels in Qal Infinitive Construct

To be used in the Qal Cohortative by adding the

appropriate personal pronoun affixes directly to the

To be used in the Qal Jussive by adding the

‫ שוואים‬in the head consonant.

To be used in the Qal Imperfect Tense by adding

To be used in the Wav Conversive by adding the

sort of workable principles.

to reveal ‫גָּלוֹה‬ ‫ל”ה‬

default vowels given in the Infinitive Construct as all of these forms of

the Qal Infinitive Construct.

for the monosyllable verbs or the Hollow verbs. As such, grammatical

Pipel, Polpel and Hithpalpel, which could be lumped into a group by

How many groups are there:

2.44 ‫ )ל(הִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת‬Infinitive Construct

to be ‫הִתְשַׁמֵּר‬, but it would be very difficult for Hishtaphel Imperfect

Quadriliterals are verbs come in four consonants, as it is defined by the

(Pilpel ‫ כרר‬to gyrate, to swirl, to dance; 2 Samuel 6:14), ‫( צִפְצֵף‬Pilpel

entertained, Psalm 94:19), ‫( תִּעְתֵּע‬Pilpel ‫ תעע‬to mock, to burlesque, to

Similar operation of the template vowels could be seen at work from

under heavy stress, unmarked, hence invisible, when it falls on the