Chapter 19 — Peal vs. Pael Contrast Drill

Basics of Biblical Aramaic, Van Pelt — Ch19: Intensive/Causative Pael vs. Simple Peal

Instructions

For each numbered Aramaic verbal form from Daniel or Ezra, enter: Stem (Peal or Pael), Conjugation (Perfect / Imperfect / Participle), PGN, Root, and Translation. Click ▶ Answer to reveal the answer row.

Peal Perfect 3ms: CvCaC — Shewa under R1, Pathach under R2, no dagesh in R2 (e.g., כְּתַב).    Pael Perfect 3ms: CaCCēC — Pathach under R1, dagesh forte in R2, Tsere under R2 (e.g., כַּתֵּב).    Pael Imperfect 3ms: יְ‑ prefix + CaCCeC.    Pael Participle ms: מְ‑ prefix + CaCCaC.    Key: dagesh forte in R2 = Pael; absence = Peal.
# Form Stem (Peal/Pael) Conjugation PGN Root Translation
1
כְּתַב
Peal Perfect 3ms כתב he wrote (no dagesh in R2; CvCaC pattern)
2
כַּתֵּב
Pael Perfect 3ms כתב he wrote (intensively) / he recorded (dagesh forte in tav = Pael)
3
אֲמַר
Peal Perfect 3ms אמר he said (I-aleph; Hateph Pathach; no dagesh in R2)
4
חַוִּי
Pael Perfect 3ms חוה he declared / he showed (III-he root; dagesh in waw = Pael)
5
עֲבַד
Peal Perfect 3ms עבד he made/did (guttural ע; no dagesh in R2)
6
בַּטִּיל
Pael Perfect 3ms בטל he caused to cease / he stopped it (factitive; dagesh forte in tet)
7
קְרָא
Peal Perfect 3ms קרא he called/read (III-aleph; no dagesh in R2)
8
קַדֵּשׁ
Pael Perfect 3ms קדשׁ he sanctified/hallowed (dagesh in dalet = Pael; factitive)
9
יְדַע
Peal Perfect 3ms ידע he knew (I-yod root; Shewa under yod; no dagesh in R2)
10
שׁוּ
Pael Perfect 3ms שׁוה he made equal / he set (hollow/III-he root שׁוה; contracted Pael form)
11
שְׁמַע
Peal Perfect 3ms שׁמע he heard (guttural ע at R3; no dagesh in mem)
12
רַבִּי
Pael Perfect 3ms רבה he made great / he magnified (III-he Pael; dagesh in bet; factitive)
13
נְפַל
Peal Perfect 3ms נפל he fell (I-nun root; no dagesh in R2 = Peal)
14
כַּבֵּד
Pael Perfect 3ms כבד he honored (dagesh in bet = Pael; factitive of "to be heavy")
15
יִקְטֻל
Peal Imperfect 3ms קטל he will kill (יִ‑ prefix; Qibbuts = Peal Impf 3ms)
16
יְבַטֵּל
Pael Imperfect 3ms בטל he will cause to cease (יְ‑ Shewa prefix + dagesh in tet = Pael Impf)
17
אֲמַרְנָא
Peal Perfect 1cp אמר we said (‑נָא = 1cp Perfect suffix; no dagesh in R2)
18
מְשַׁבַּח
Pael Participle ms שׁבח praising / who praises (מְ‑ prefix + dagesh in bet = Pael Participle)
19
שְׁלַח
Peal Perfect 3ms שׁלח he sent (no dagesh in lamed; guttural ח at R3)
20
שַׁלַּח
Pael Perfect 3ms שׁלח he sent away / he let go (dagesh in lamed = Pael; causative/factitive nuance)

Discussion Questions

  1. The Pael is often described as the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew Piel. The diagnostic feature is the same: dagesh forte in R2. Compare items 1/2 (כְּתַב vs. כַּתֵּב) and 19/20 (שְׁלַח vs. שַׁלַּח). In item 20, does the Pael add an intensive, factitive, or causative nuance? Explain.
  2. Item 6 (בַּטִּיל) uses the root בטל ("to cease"). The Peal = intransitive "to cease"; the Pael = transitive "to cause to cease." This is the factitive function. Find two other Pael items in the list where the Pael is clearly causative/factitive rather than just intensive.
  3. Item 18 (מְשַׁבַּח) is a Pael Participle. How do you distinguish a Pael Participle from a Pael Perfect 3ms? Write out the expected Pael Perfect 3ms of שׁבח and compare.