Chapter 24 — Semantic Function Sorting

BBH Chapter 24 · Niphal Strong Verbs

Classify each Niphal form by its semantic function using the legend below.

Code	Function
P	Passive — subject receives the action
R	Reflexive — subject acts on or for itself
RC	Reciprocal — subjects act on one another
SA	Simple Action — Niphal-only root; no distinct Qal meaning

Tip: Ask "Is the subject receiving the action, doing it to itself, doing it mutually, or is this simply what the root means in the Niphal?" When in doubt, check whether the Qal of the same root expresses an action that could logically be applied to the Niphal subject.

#	Hebrew Form	Conjugation	Reference	Gloss
1	וַיִּמָּכֵר	Wayyiqtol 3ms	Gen 37:36	"and Joseph was sold into Egypt"

2	נִצָּבָה	Perfect 3fs	Gen 37:7	"my sheaf stood upright"

3	וַיִּנָּחֶם	Wayyiqtol 3ms	Gen 6:6	"the LORD regretted"

4	יֵאָכֵל	Imperfect 3ms	Exo 12:46	"it shall be eaten"

5	הִשָּׁמְרוּ	Imperative 2mp	Exo 19:12	"take heed for yourselves!"

6	נִשְׁמַע	Perfect 3ms	Gen 45:16	"the report was heard"

7	הִשָּׁבְעָה	Imperative 2ms	Gen 47:31	"swear to me!"

8	הַנִּמְצָא	Participle ms	Gen 47:14	"that which was found"

9	וְנִכְרְתָה	Weqatal 3fs	Exo 12:15	"that person will be cut off"

10	נִצָּבִים	Participle mp	Exo 5:20	"standing before Pharaoh"

11	אִוָּעֵד	Imperfect 1cs	Exo 29:42	"I will meet with you there"

12	וַיִּשָּׁבַע	Wayyiqtol 3ms	Gen 47:31	"and he swore to him"

13	וַיֵּאָסֶף	Wayyiqtol 3ms	Gen 49:33	"and he was gathered to his people"

14	יִלָּחֵם	Imperfect 3ms	Exo 14:14	"the LORD will fight for you"

15	נִשְׁבְּעוּ	Weqatal 3mp	Gen 21:31	"both of them swore"

16	תִּכָּרֵת	Imperfect 3fs	Gen 41:36	"the land will not be cut off"

17	נִלְחָם	Participle ms	Exo 14:25	"the LORD is fighting for them"

18	הֵאָסְפוּ	Imperative 2mp	Gen 49:1	"gather yourselves!"

19	וְנוֹעֲדוּ	Weqatal 3mp	Num 10:3	"all the congregation shall assemble"

20	נִחַמְתִּי	Weqatal 1cs	Gen 6:7	"I regret that I made them"

21	נְמַלְתֶּם	Weqatal 2mp	Gen 17:11	"you shall be circumcised"

22	נִצַּבְתָּ	Perfect 2ms	Exo 7:15	"station yourself to meet him"

23	לְהִלָּחֵם	Inf. Construct	Exo 17:10	"to fight against Amalek"

24	יִמָּצֵא	Imperfect 3ms	Gen 44:9	"whoever is found [with the cup]"

25	הִמָּצֵא יִמָּצֵא	Inf. Abs. + Imperfect	Exo 22:3	"if it is actually found in his possession"

Hebrew Form

Conjugation

Reference

Gloss

Function

וַיִּמָּכֵר

Wayyiqtol 3ms

Gen 37:36

"and Joseph was sold into Egypt"

נִצָּבָה

Perfect 3fs

Gen 37:7

"my sheaf stood upright"

וַיִּנָּחֶם

Wayyiqtol 3ms

Gen 6:6

"the LORD regretted"

יֵאָכֵל

Imperfect 3ms

Exo 12:46

"it shall be eaten"

הִשָּׁמְרוּ

Imperative 2mp

Exo 19:12

"take heed for yourselves!"

נִשְׁמַע

Perfect 3ms

Gen 45:16

"the report was heard"

הִשָּׁבְעָה

Imperative 2ms

Gen 47:31

"swear to me!"

הַנִּמְצָא

Participle ms

Gen 47:14

"that which was found"

וְנִכְרְתָה

Weqatal 3fs

Exo 12:15

"that person will be cut off"

נִצָּבִים

Participle mp

Exo 5:20

"standing before Pharaoh"

אִוָּעֵד

Imperfect 1cs

Exo 29:42

"I will meet with you there"

וַיִּשָּׁבַע

Wayyiqtol 3ms

Gen 47:31

"and he swore to him"

וַיֵּאָסֶף

Wayyiqtol 3ms

Gen 49:33

"and he was gathered to his people"

יִלָּחֵם

Imperfect 3ms

Exo 14:14

"the LORD will fight for you"

נִשְׁבְּעוּ

Weqatal 3mp

Gen 21:31

"both of them swore"

תִּכָּרֵת

Imperfect 3fs

Gen 41:36

"the land will not be cut off"

נִלְחָם

Participle ms

Exo 14:25

"the LORD is fighting for them"

הֵאָסְפוּ

Imperative 2mp

Gen 49:1

"gather yourselves!"

וְנוֹעֲדוּ

Weqatal 3mp

Num 10:3

"all the congregation shall assemble"

נִחַמְתִּי

Weqatal 1cs

Gen 6:7

"I regret that I made them"

נְמַלְתֶּם

Weqatal 2mp

Gen 17:11

"you shall be circumcised"

נִצַּבְתָּ

Perfect 2ms

Exo 7:15

"station yourself to meet him"

לְהִלָּחֵם

Inf. Construct

Exo 17:10

"to fight against Amalek"

יִמָּצֵא

Imperfect 3ms

Gen 44:9

"whoever is found [with the cup]"

הִמָּצֵא יִמָּצֵא

Inf. Abs. + Imperfect

Exo 22:3

"if it is actually found in his possession"

Discussion Questions

Items 3, 14, 17, 20, and 23 all involve "Simple Action" Niphal-only roots (נָחַם and לָחַם). What is the practical difference between a Niphal-only root and a root that simply lacks a Qal in the OT corpus? How would a lexicon help you distinguish them?
Compare items 7 and 12 (both שָׁבַע Niphal). The imperative (item 7) and the wayyiqtol (item 12) appear in the same verse (Gen 47:31). How does the sequential narrative create a scene of formal oath-taking? What does each form contribute?
Item 11 (אִוָּעֵד — Reciprocal) differs subtly from item 19 (וְנוֹעֲדוּ — Reciprocal). In Exo 29:42 God promises to meet with Israel; in Num 10:3 the congregation assembles. Is the "reciprocal" label equally apt for both? Who initiates the meeting in each case?
Item 18 (הֵאָסְפוּ) is listed as Passive, yet it is an imperative addressed to Jacob's sons. Explain how a Niphal imperative can be both a command and passive in force.