BBH Chapter 25 · Niphal Weak Verbs
For each form: (1) identify the weak class, (2) parse (conjugation + PGN), (3) identify the root.
| Class | Key diagnostic signal |
|---|---|
| III-א | Silent final א; form looks nearly identical to the strong root |
| III-ה | Final ָה (perfect) / ֶה (imperfect/participle) / וֹת (inf. construct) / apocopated wayyiqtol |
| III-ח/ע | Patach furtive before final ח/ע in open syllables (perfect/imperfect/participle); patach replaces tsere in short forms (wayyiqtol/imperative) |
| I-guttural | נֶ prefix (perfect/participle); יֵ / הֵ prefix (imperfect/wayyiqtol/imperative/inf.); no dagesh in R1 |
| I-נ | Dagesh forte in R2; root's own נ invisible throughout the paradigm |
| I-י | נוֹ prefix (perfect/weqatal/participle); יִוָּ / הִוָּ prefix (imperfect/wayyiqtol/imperative/inf.) |
| Biconsonantal | נָ prefix (qamets) in perfect and participle ms; dagesh forte in R1 + contracted root in imperfect/wayyiqtol/imperative/inf. |
| Geminate | נָ prefix (qamets) in perfect and participle ms (same as Biconsonantal!); dagesh forte in R2/R3 + holem in imperfect/wayyiqtol/imperative; perfect = participle |
| # | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | נִמְצָא | Gen 44:12 | silent final א; identical in pointing to participle ms | |||||
| III-א · Perfect · 3ms · מָצָא — it was found; the silent א at the end is the only difference from a strong-root נִקְטַל | ||||||||
| 2 | יִמָּצֵא | Gen 44:10 | final tsere + silent א | |||||
| III-א · Imperfect · 3ms · מָצָא — "let it be found"; the tsere ends the syllable but the א following is silent | ||||||||
| 3 | וַיִּמָּצֵא | Gen 44:12 | wayyiqtol prefix + dagesh in R1 + final silent א | |||||
| III-א · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · מָצָא — "and it was found"; narrative climax of the cup-in-the-sack scene | ||||||||
| 4 | הִמָּצֵא | Exo 22:3 | הִ prefix + dagesh in R1 + final silent א; imperative or inf. construct | |||||
| III-א · Inf. Absolute (also = Inf. Construct) · — · מָצָא — used here as inf. absolute in the emphatic construction הִמָּצֵא יִמָּצֵא; "is actually found" | ||||||||
| 5 | הַנִּמְצָא | Gen 47:14 | article (הַ) + נִ prefix; final silent א — substantival participle | |||||
| III-א · Participle · ms · מָצָא — "that which was found [in the land of Egypt]"; article + Niphal participle functioning as a noun | ||||||||
| # | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | נִגְלָה | Isa 40:5 | final ָה — it is the root ending, not the 3fs suffix | |||||
| III-ה · Perfect · 3ms · גָּלָה — "the glory of the LORD will be revealed" | ||||||||
| 7 | יִגָּלֶה | Isa 53:1 | final ֶה instead of tsere + consonant — III-ה imperfect marker | |||||
| III-ה · Imperfect · 3ms · גָּלָה — "to whom has it been revealed?" | ||||||||
| 8 | וַיִּגָּל | Num 24:4 | apocopated wayyiqtol — the ה is completely dropped; form ends abruptly | |||||
| III-ה · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · גָּלָה — "whose eyes are unveiled"; Balaam's oracle — the apocopated form is the signature III-ה wayyiqtol signal | ||||||||
| 9 | לְהִגָּלוֹת | Isa 49:9 | הִ + dagesh + וֹת suffix — the ת distinguishes inf. construct from imperative | |||||
| III-ה · Inf. Construct · — · גָּלָה — "to show themselves" (the prisoners appearing); inf. construct with לְ preposition | ||||||||
| 10 | וַיֵּרָא | Gen 12:7 | apocopated + וַיֵּ (not וַיִּ) — ר rejects dagesh; compensatory tsere; ה dropped | |||||
| III-ה · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · רָאָה — "and the LORD appeared to Abram"; doubly weak: III-ה + ר compensatory lengthening | ||||||||
| # | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | נֶאֱמַר | Exo 5:13 | נֶ prefix + composite shewa (hateph-seghol) under א | |||||
| I-guttural · Perfect · 3ms · אָמַר — "it was said to you [finish your daily quota]"; passive of אָמַר | ||||||||
| 12 | יֵאָמֵר | Num 21:14 | יֵ prefix (not יִ); no dagesh in א | |||||
| I-guttural · Imperfect · 3ms · אָמַר — "as it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD"; impersonal passive | ||||||||
| 13 | וַיֵּאָמֵר | Gen 10:9 | וַיֵּ prefix (not וַיִּ); no dagesh in א — the most common I-guttural Niphal wayyiqtol in the OT | |||||
| I-guttural · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · אָמַר — "it was said of him: a mighty hunter before the LORD"; impersonal passive in a proverbial formula | ||||||||
| 14 | הֵעָמֵד | Exo 9:16 | הֵ prefix (not הִ); no dagesh in ע | |||||
| I-guttural · Inf. Construct · — · עָמַד — "for this purpose I have let you stand"; inf. construct with לְ in the plague speech | ||||||||
| 15 | נֶאֱמָן | Deu 7:9 | נֶ prefix + composite shewa; qamets under R2 — participle shape | |||||
| I-guttural · Participle · ms · אָמַן — "he is the faithful God who keeps covenant"; used here as a predicate adjective | ||||||||
| # | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | נִגַּשׁ | Gen 44:18 | נִ prefix; dagesh forte in ג (R2); נ of root invisible | |||||
| I-נ · Perfect · 3ms · נָגַשׁ — "then Judah drew near to him"; reflexive Niphal of approach | ||||||||
| 17 | וַיִּגַּשׁ | Gen 44:18 | wayyiqtol + dagesh forte in ג (R2) — no dagesh in prefix letter | |||||
| I-נ · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · נָגַשׁ — "and Judah drew near"; the wayyiqtol follows the perfect within the same verse | ||||||||
| 18 | נִצַּלְתֶּם | Exo 12:27 | נִ prefix; dagesh forte in צ (R2); 2mp suffix תֶּם | |||||
| I-נ · Perfect · 2mp · נָצַל — "your houses you spared / you were delivered"; the Passover institution speech | ||||||||
| 19 | הִנָּצֵל | Prov 6:3 | הִ prefix; dagesh forte in נּ (the root's own נ assimilates into R2); tsere | |||||
| I-נ · Imperative · 2ms · נָצַל — "deliver yourself! — go, humble yourself"; reflexive Niphal imperative; root נָצַל has נ as R1 | ||||||||
| 20 | וַיִּנָּצֵל | Gen 32:31 | wayyiqtol prefix + dagesh forte in נּ (R2 of נָצַל); tsere | |||||
| I-נ · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · נָצַל — "and Jacob was delivered / passed over [Peniel]"; the Peniel narrative; passive Niphal of נָצַל | ||||||||
| # | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | נוֹלַד | Gen 21:3 | נוֹ prefix + patach under R2 — perfect/weqatal pattern | |||||
| I-י · Perfect · 3ms · יָלַד — "for a son has been born to him"; Isaac's birth announcement | ||||||||
| 22 | וַיִּוָּלֵד | Gen 4:18 | וַיִּוָּ cluster — the visually distinctive genealogical form | |||||
| I-י · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · יָלַד — "and to Enoch was born Irad"; antediluvian genealogy; וַיִּוָּ is unmistakable | ||||||||
| 23 | יִוָּלֵד | Gen 17:17 | יִוָּ cluster; tsere under R2 | |||||
| I-י · Imperfect · 3ms · יָלַד — "shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old?" — Abraham's astonished question | ||||||||
| 24 | בְּהִוָּלֶד | Gen 21:5 | הִוָּ prefix + בְּ preposition; inf. construct of I-י | |||||
| I-י · Inf. Construct · — · יָלַד — "when Isaac was born to him"; temporal clause with בְּ + inf. construct | ||||||||
| 25 | נוֹלָד | 1 Kgs 13:2 | נוֹ prefix + qamets under R2 (vs. patach in perfect) | |||||
| I-י · Participle · ms · יָלַד — "a son shall be born to the house of David"; prophetic oracle; נוֹלָד (qamets) = participle; cf. נוֹלַד (patach) = perfect | ||||||||
| # | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | נִשְׁמַע | Est 1:20 | patach furtive beneath final ע in open stressed syllable | |||||
| III-ח/ע · Perfect · 3ms · שָׁמַע — "the decree will be heard throughout all his kingdom"; the patach furtive before final ע is the class marker | ||||||||
| 27 | יִשָּׁמַע | Exo 28:35 | patach under R3 (not tsere as in strong root); dagesh forte in שׁ (R1) | |||||
| III-ח/ע · Imperfect · 3ms · שָׁמַע — "its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place"; the guttural forces patach instead of tsere | ||||||||
| 28 | וַיִּשָּׁמַע | Gen 45:2 | wayyiqtol + patach before final ע; no patach furtive (short form) | |||||
| III-ח/ע · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · שָׁמַע — "and the sound was heard in Pharaoh's house"; Joseph's weeping when he revealed himself; patach before ע, no furtive | ||||||||
| 29 | הִשָּׁמַע | Deu 4:32 | הִ prefix + dagesh in שׁ + patach before final ע | |||||
| III-ח/ע · Imperative / Inf. Construct · 2ms / — · שָׁמַע — "has anything like this great thing been heard?"; Niphal of שמע used here as a reflexive/passive; same form for imperative and inf. construct | ||||||||
| 30 | נִשְׁמָע | Ecc 12:13 | נִ prefix + qamets + patach furtive before ע | |||||
| III-ח/ע · Participle · ms · שָׁמַע — "the end of the matter; all has been heard"; substantival participle closing Ecclesiastes; qamets under R2 + furtive before ע | ||||||||
| # | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | נָכוֹן | Gen 41:32 | נָ prefix (qamets under נ) + medial וֹ — perfect 3ms of biconsonantal | |||||
| Biconsonantal · Perfect · 3ms · כּוּן — "the thing is fixed (established) by God"; from כּוּן; the נָ prefix is the class marker | ||||||||
| 32 | יִכּוֹן | Psa 93:2 | dagesh forte in כּ (R1); contracted root כּוֹ; Niphal assimilation marker | |||||
| Biconsonantal · Imperfect · 3ms · כּוּן — "your throne is established from of old"; the dagesh forte in כּ (R1) marks the Niphal imperfect assimilation | ||||||||
| 33 | נָכוֹן | Psa 57:8 | same form as perfect 3ms; context (predicate to "my heart") reveals it as participial | |||||
| Biconsonantal · Participle · ms · כּוּן — "my heart is steadfast, O God"; נָ prefix + vocalic structure identical to perfect — only context distinguishes participle from perfect in biconsonantal Niphal | ||||||||
| 34 | וַיִּקּוֹם | (expected form) | וַיִּ + dagesh forte in ק (R1); contracted root קוֹ | |||||
| Biconsonantal · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · קוּם — "and it was established / raised up"; וַיִּ prefix + dagesh forte in R1 (Niphal assimilation) + contracted root | ||||||||
| 35 | הִקּוֹם | (expected form) | הִ prefix + dagesh forte in ק (R1) + contracted root | |||||
| Biconsonantal · Imperative · 2ms · קוּם — "be established! / rise up!"; הִ + dagesh forte in R1 + contracted root; same shape as inf. construct — context identifies | ||||||||
| # | Form | Reference | Diagnostic Signal | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | נָסַב | Josh 15:3 | נָ prefix (qamets) — same as Biconsonantal; root is ס-ב-ב (three consonants, R2=R3) not hollow | |||||
| Geminate · Perfect · 3ms · סָבַב — "the border went around toward Azmon"; נָ prefix (qamets) is identical to Biconsonantal — only the root structure reveals the class | ||||||||
| 37 | וַיִּסֹּב | 1 Sam 7:16 | וַיִּ prefix + dagesh forte in ב (R2=R3 doubled) + holem | |||||
| Geminate · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · סָבַב — "he went on circuit year by year"; Samuel's judicial rounds; dagesh forte in ב marks the doubled consonant | ||||||||
| 38 | יִסֹּב | Josh 19:34 | dagesh forte in ב; holem in contracted root | |||||
| Geminate · Imperfect · 3ms · סָבַב — "the border turns toward the west"; the dagesh forte in ב signals the doubled root consonant | ||||||||
| 39 | הִסֹּב | 2 Sam 18:30 | הִ prefix + dagesh forte in ב (R2=R3); holem | |||||
| Geminate · Imperative · 2ms · סָבַב — "turn aside, stand here"; Joab commands; הִ + dagesh forte in R2 + holem | ||||||||
| 40 | נָסַב | Psa 26:6 | same form as perfect 3ms — context (parallel with "I go around") reveals participial use | |||||
| Geminate · Participle · ms · סָבַב — "I go around your altar, O LORD"; נָ prefix identical to perfect 3ms — the perfect/participle ambiguity is the same challenge as the Biconsonantal class | ||||||||
No diagnostic hints — identify the class first, then parse.
| # | Form | Reference | Class | Conjugation | PGN | Root | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | תֵרָאֶה | Gen 1:9 | |||||
| III-ה · Imperfect/Jussive · 3fs · רָאָה — "let the dry land appear"; ר causes compensatory lengthening (תֵ not תִ); final ֶה = III-ה imperfect | |||||||
| 42 | וַיִּוָּדַע | Est 2:22 | |||||
| I-י · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · יָדַע — "and the matter became known to Mordecai"; וַיִּוָּ cluster; patach under R2 (יָדַע class vs. tsere in יָלַד class) | |||||||
| 43 | נֶעֱמַד | 1 Sam 17:16 | |||||
| I-guttural · Perfect · 3ms · עָמַד — "the Philistine took his stand"; נֶ prefix + composite shewa under ע | |||||||
| 44 | וַיִּמָּצְאוּ | Gen 47:14 | |||||
| III-א · Wayyiqtol · 3mp · מָצָא — "and all the silver was gathered"; 3mp ending + final silent א | |||||||
| 45 | נוֹדַע | Gen 41:21 | |||||
| I-י · Perfect · 3ms · יָדַע — "it was not known that they had entered"; נוֹ prefix + patach under R2 = perfect 3ms of I-י | |||||||
| 46 | וַיִּגַּשׁ יְהוּדָה | Gen 44:18 | |||||
| I-נ · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · נָגַשׁ — "then Judah drew near to him"; dagesh forte in ג (R2) signals I-נ; root's own נ is completely invisible | |||||||
| 47 | הֵרָאֵה | 1 Kgs 18:1 | |||||
| III-ה · Imperative · 2ms · רָאָה — "go, show yourself to Ahab"; הֵ prefix (ר compensatory) + final ֵה = III-ה imperative; contrast with inf. construct הֵרָאוֹת | |||||||
| 48 | נִשְׁלַח | Est 3:13 | |||||
| III-ח/ע · Perfect · 3ms · שָׁלַח — "letters were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces"; נִ prefix + patach furtive before final ח | |||||||
| 49 | נָכוֹן | Exo 34:2 | |||||
| Biconsonantal · Perfect/Participle · 3ms/ms · כּוּן — "be ready by morning"; נָ prefix (qamets) + medial וֹ vowel letter = Biconsonantal (not Geminate which lacks the hollow vowel) | |||||||
| 50 | וַיִּסֹּב | 2 Sam 5:23 | |||||
| Geminate · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · סָבַב — "circle around behind them"; וַיִּ + dagesh forte in ב (R2=R3); root ס-ב-ב has identical R2 and R3 = Geminate class | |||||||
| 51 | נִמְצְאוּ | Exo 12:19 | |||||
| III-א · Perfect · 3cp · מָצָא — "whoever is found eating leaven"; 3cp ending + final silent א | |||||||
| 52 | יֵעָמְדוּ | Num 27:22 | |||||
| I-guttural · Imperfect · 3mp · עָמַד — "they shall stand before Eleazar the priest"; יֵ prefix (no dagesh in ע) + 3mp ending | |||||||