Chapter 18 — Peil vs. Ithpeel Stem Identification Drill

Basics of Biblical Aramaic, Van Pelt — Ch18: Passive and Reflexive Stems of the Peal

Instructions

For each numbered Aramaic verbal form from Daniel or Ezra, enter: Stem (Peil or Ithpeel), Conjugation (Perfect / Imperfect / Participle), PGN (person-gender-number), Root (3 consonants), and Translation. Click ▶ Answer to reveal the answer row.

Peil: no prefix; hireq-yod on R2 (CvCīC pattern — e.g., כְּתִיב, קְטִיל).    Ithpeel Perfect: אִתְ‑ or הִתְ‑ prefix before R1.    Ithpeel Imperfect: יִתְ‑ before R1.    Metathesis (sibilant R1): tāw switches with R1 — look for הִשְׁתַּ‑ / יִשְׁתַּ‑.
# Form Stem (Peil/Ithpeel) Conjugation PGN Root Translation
1
כְּתִיב
Stem: Peil  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: כתב  |  Trans: it was written (CvCīC: hireq-yod between R2/R3)
2
הִתְכְּתִיב
Stem: Ithpeel  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: כתב  |  Trans: it was inscribed / it registered itself (הִתְ‑ prefix = Ithpeel Perfect)
3
קְטִיל
Stem: Peil  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: קטל  |  Trans: he was killed (model Peil qəṭīl form)
4
אִתְקְטֵל
Stem: Ithpeel  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: קטל  |  Trans: he was killed — reflexive nuance (אִתְ‑ prefix)
5
שִׂים
Stem: Peil  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: שׂים  |  Trans: it was placed/set (hollow root; Peil of שׂים)
6
יִתְבְּנֵא
Stem: Ithpeel  |  Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: בנה  |  Trans: it will be built (יִתְ‑ prefix; III-he root: final ‑ēʾ)
7
יִתְכְּתִב
Stem: Ithpeel  |  Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: כתב  |  Trans: it will be written (יִתְ‑ = Ithpeel Impf marker)
8
שְׂכִיר
Stem: Peil  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: שׂכר  |  Trans: he was hired (CvCīC pattern; שׂ‑כִיר)
9
אִתְעֲבִיד
Stem: Ithpeel  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: עבד  |  Trans: it was done/made (אִתְ‑ prefix; guttural ע takes hateph-patach)
10
נְתִין
Stem: Peil  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: נתן  |  Trans: it was given (I-nun assimilation: first nun dropped; hireq-yod on R2 = Peil)
11
יִתְיְהִב
Stem: Ithpeel  |  Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: יהב  |  Trans: it will be given (יִתְ‑ prefix; I-yod root יהב)
12
קְרִי
Stem: Peil  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: קרא  |  Trans: it was called/read (III-aleph root: Peil ‑ī appears as yod mater)
13
אִתְאֲמַר
Stem: Ithpeel  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: אמר  |  Trans: it was said (אִתְ‑ prefix; I-aleph root takes hateph-patach)
14
נְבִיא
Stem: Peil  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: נבא  |  Trans: he was designated a prophet (Peil of נבא; III-aleph: final ‑ā = aleph mater)
15
יִתְנְסַח
Stem: Ithpeel  |  Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: נסח  |  Trans: it will be pulled out / uprooted (יִתְ‑ prefix)
16
כְּפִית
Stem: Peil  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: כפת  |  Trans: he was bound (CvCīC: כְּ‑פִית; no prefix)
17
אִתְחֲזֵה
Stem: Ithpeel  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: חזה  |  Trans: it was seen / it appeared (אִתְ‑ prefix; III-he root: ‑ēh ending)
18
עֲבִיד
Stem: Peil  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: עבד  |  Trans: it was made/done (guttural ע: hateph-patach; CvCīC = Peil)
19
יִתְקְרֵא
Stem: Ithpeel  |  Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: קרא  |  Trans: it will be called (יִתְ‑ prefix; III-aleph: tsere before final aleph)
20
שְׁלִים
Stem: Peil  |  Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: שׁלם  |  Trans: it was completed/finished (CvCīC: שְׁ‑לִים; no prefix)

Discussion Questions

  1. Compare Aramaic Peil (כְּתִיב) with Hebrew Pual (כֻּתַּב). What vowel pattern is the diagnostic feature of the Peil, and how does it differ from Hebrew Pual's diagnostic pattern (dagesh in R2 + qibbuts)?
  2. Items 3 and 4 both translate "he was killed." What is the semantic distinction between Peil (קְטִיל) and Ithpeel (אִתְקְטֵל)? In what contexts would each be preferred in a text like Daniel?
  3. Item 10 (נְתִין) looks unusual — the root is נתן (I-nun). Where did the first nun go? Compare with the Hebrew Niphal of נתן (נִתַּן) and explain whether the same process is at work.