Chapter 25 — Qal–Niphal Contrast Drill (Weak Roots)

BBH Chapter 25 · Niphal Weak Verbs

For each Niphal form: (1) translate it in context, (2) name the semantic function (Passive / Reflexive / Simple Action / Stative Niphal), (3) explain in one sentence how the Niphal meaning relates to the Qal.

Part A — I-נ Roots

#	Root	Qal	Niphal Form	Conj	Ref
1	נפל	to fall	יִפָּל	Imperfect 3ms	Gen 14:10
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.
2	נגש	to approach	נִגַּשׁ	Perfect 3ms	—
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.
3	נגד	to tell, declare	הִגָּד	Inf. Absolute	—
to be told / being declared — Passive — הִגָּד is the Niphal inf. absolute of נגד; הִ prefix + dagesh forte in גּ (assimilated root nun).
4	נגע	to touch	נִגַּע	Perfect 3ms	—
he was touched — Passive — Niphal of נגע: the subject receives the touch rather than performs it.
5	נכה	to strike	יִנָּכֶה	Imperfect 3ms	Exo 21:20
he shall be struck / beaten — Passive — Exo 21:20 legal context. Niphal imperfect with dagesh forte in כּ (assimilated nun) + ֶה (III-ה ending). Qal "to strike" → Niphal "to be struck."

Part B — III-ה Roots

#	Root	Qal	Niphal Form	Conj	Ref
6	גלה	to uncover, reveal	נִגְלָה	Perfect 3ms	Gen 35:7
it/God was revealed / revealed himself there — Passive or Reflexive — Gen 35:7 "God revealed himself to him." The Niphal of גלה is typically used for divine revelation; the ambiguity between passive and reflexive is built into the Niphal.
7	עלה	to go up, ascend	נַעֲלָה	Perfect 3ms	—
he went up / ascended — Simple Action — The Niphal of עלה sometimes overlaps with the Qal in meaning. Note the patach-furtive pattern under the ע (guttural + III-ה combination).
8	ראה	to see	נִרְאָה	Perfect 3ms	Gen 12:7
he appeared / was seen — Passive/Reflexive — Gen 12:7 "The LORD appeared to Abram." The Niphal of ראה is the classic OT formula for divine appearance (theophany).
9	בנה	to build	יִבָּנֶה	Imperfect 3ms	—
it will be built — Passive — Niphal imperfect of בנה; dagesh forte in בּ + ֶה ending (III-ה). Qal "to build" → Niphal "to be built."
10	עשׂה	to do, make	נַעֲשָׂה	Perfect 3ms	Gen 20:9
what has been done (to me) — Passive — Gen 20:9. The guttural ע takes a composite shewa (chateph-patach); final ה is III-ה. Qal "to do" → Niphal "to be done."

Part C — Hollow Roots

#	Root	Qal	Niphal Form	Conj	Ref
11	קום	to rise, stand up	נָקוֹם	Perfect 3ms	—
it was established / raised up — Passive — Hollow Niphal perfect; the characteristic long ō vowel (vav) is preserved: נָקוֹם.
12	כון	to be firm, established	נָכוֹן	Perfect 3ms	Psa 103:19
it is firm / established — Stative Niphal — Psa 103:19 "his throne is established in the heavens." The Niphal of כון nearly always expresses a state of being fixed, ready, or secure.
13	שׁים	to place, set	יִשָּׂם	Imperfect 3ms	—
it will be placed / set — Passive — Niphal imperfect of שׁים; the hollow middle vowel contracts; note the sin-to-sin (שׁ→שׂ) shift and dagesh forte in שּׂ.
14	בוא	to come, go in	נָבוֹא	Perfect 1cp	Num 32:9
they went / came (up) — Simple Action — Num 32:9. Niphal of בוא often functions as a simple intransitive of movement in poetry and narrative; hollow ō vowel preserved.
15	שׁוב	to return	נָשׁוּב	Perfect 3ms	—
it was brought back / returned — Passive or Simple Action — Hollow Niphal perfect; ū vowel (vav) preserved (נָשׁוּב). Context determines whether this is passive (something brought back) or simple intransitive (he/it returned).