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
Peil Perfect 3ms כתב it was written (CvCīC: Hireq-Yod between R2/R3)
2
הִתְכְּתִיב
Ithpeel Perfect 3ms כתב it was inscribed / it registered itself (הִתְ‑ prefix = Ithpeel Perfect)
3
קְטִיל
Peil Perfect 3ms קטל he was killed (model Peil qəṭīl form)
4
אִתְקְטֵל
Ithpeel Perfect 3ms קטל he was killed — reflexive nuance (אִתְ‑ prefix)
5
שִׂים
Peil Perfect 3ms שׂים it was placed/set (hollow root; Peil of שׂים)
6
יִתְבְּנֵא
Ithpeel Imperfect 3ms בנה it will be built (יִתְ‑ prefix; III-he root: final ‑ēʾ)
7
יִתְכְּתִב
Ithpeel Imperfect 3ms כתב it will be written (יִתְ‑ = Ithpeel Impf marker)
8
שְׂכִיר
Peil Perfect 3ms שׂכר he was hired (CvCīC pattern; שׂ‑כִיר)
9
אִתְעֲבִיד
Ithpeel Perfect 3ms עבד it was done/made (אִתְ‑ prefix; guttural ע takes Hateph Pathach)
10
נְתִין
Peil Perfect 3ms נתן it was given (I-nun assimilation: first nun dropped; Hireq-Yod on R2 = Peil)
11
יִתְיְהִב
Ithpeel Imperfect 3ms יהב it will be given (יִתְ‑ prefix; I-yod root יהב)
12
קְרִי
Peil Perfect 3ms קרא it was called/read (III-aleph root: Peil ‑ī appears as yod mater)
13
אִתְאֲמַר
Ithpeel Perfect 3ms אמר it was said (אִתְ‑ prefix; I-aleph root takes Hateph Pathach)
14
נְבִיא
Peil Perfect 3ms נבא he was designated a prophet (Peil of נבא; III-aleph: final ‑ā = aleph mater)
15
יִתְנְסַח
Ithpeel Imperfect 3ms נסח it will be pulled out / uprooted (יִתְ‑ prefix)
16
כְּפִית
Peil Perfect 3ms כפת he was bound (CvCīC: כְּ‑פִית; no prefix)
17
אִתְחֲזֵה
Ithpeel Perfect 3ms חזה it was seen / it appeared (אִתְ‑ prefix; III-he root: ‑ēh ending)
18
עֲבִיד
Peil Perfect 3ms עבד it was made/done (guttural ע: Hateph Pathach; CvCīC = Peil)
19
יִתְקְרֵא
Ithpeel Imperfect 3ms קרא it will be called (יִתְ‑ prefix; III-aleph: Tsere before final aleph)
20
שְׁלִים
Peil Perfect 3ms שׁלם 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.