ch25-qal-niphal-contrast

Chapter 25 — Niphal Weak

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BBH Chapter 25 · Niphal Weak Verbs

A 15-item exercise in three parts organized by weak-root class. Students are given a root with its Qal meaning and an attested Niphal form, then asked to translate the Niphal, name its semantic function (Passive / Reflexive / Simple Action / Stative Niphal), and explain how the Niphal meaning relates to the Qal. Part A covers I-נ roots (נפל, נגש, נגד, נגע, נכה); Part B covers III-ה roots (גלה, עלה, ראה, בנה, עשׂה); Part C covers hollow roots (קום, כון, שׁים, בוא, שׁוב).

Sample Questions

Q1. 1 נפל to fall יִפָּל Imperfect 3ms Gen 14:10

A: he fell (into the tar pits) Simple Action — I- נ Niphal imperfect: root nun assimilates → dagesh forte in פּ . The Niphal is the standard form for "fall" in many OT contexts.

Q2. 2 נגש to approach נִגַּשׁ Perfect 3ms

A: he approached / drew near Simple Action — Niphal of נגש often carries the simple intransitive sense of drawing near; the root acts on the subject reflexively.

Q3. 3 נגד to tell, declare הִגָּד Inf. Absolute

A: to be told / being declared Passive — הִגָּד is the Niphal inf. absolute of נגד ; הִ prefix + dagesh forte in גּ (assimilated root nun).