Chapter 27 — Niphal–Hiphil Contrast Drill

BBH Chapters 25 & 27 · Niphal and Hiphil Weak Verbs

For each form: (1) identify the stem (Niphal or Hiphil), (2) parse (conjugation + PGN), (3) give the root and weak class, (4) translate in context.

Part A — Roots with Contrasting Niphal and Hiphil Meanings

The same root produces distinct meanings depending on the stem. Niphal: passive or reflexive. Hiphil: causative.

#FormReferenceContextStemConjugationPGNRoot / Class
1נִשְׁמַעEst 1:20"the decree ___ throughout all the kingdom"
Niphal · Perfect · 3ms · שָׁמַע · III-ח/ע — "was heard"; נִ prefix + patach furtive before final ע = Niphal III-ח/ע perfect
2הִשְׁמִיעַIsa 48:6"I ___ you new things from this time"
Hiphil · Perfect · 3ms · שָׁמַע · III-ח/ע — "I caused you to hear / announced"; הִ prefix + chiriq-yod + patach furtive before ע = Hiphil III-ח/ע perfect
3יִמָּצֵאGen 44:10"he with whom it is ___ shall be my servant"
Niphal · Imperfect · 3ms · מָצָא · III-א — "is found"; יִמָּ — yiqtol prefix + dagesh in מ (Niphal assimilation) + tsere + silent final א
4הִמְצִיאNeh 9:15"You ___ them bread from heaven"
Hiphil · Perfect · 3ms · מָצָא · III-א — "provided / caused to find"; הִ prefix + chiriq-yod + silent final א = Hiphil III-א perfect
5נִגְלָהIsa 40:5"the glory of the LORD shall ___"
Niphal · Perfect · 3ms · גָּלָה · III-ה — "was revealed"; נִ prefix + final ָה (not ה suffix) = Niphal III-ה perfect
6הֶעֱלָהGen 8:20"Noah ___ burnt offerings on the altar"
Hiphil · Perfect · 3ms · עָלָה · III-ה + I-guttural — "offered up"; הֶ prefix (seghol under הֶ) + hateph-seghol under ע + qamets + ה ending = Hiphil III-ה perfect (also I-guttural)
7וַיִּגַּשׁGen 44:18"Judah ___ him and said"
Niphal · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · נָגַשׁ · I-נ — "drew near (reflexive)"; וַיִּ + dagesh in ג (R2) without הִ prefix = Niphal I-נ wayyiqtol (root נ assimilated)
8הִגִּישׁAmos 9:13"the one who ___ grain offering after grain offering"
Hiphil · Perfect · 3ms · נָגַשׁ · I-נ — "brought near"; הִ prefix + dagesh in ג (R2) = Hiphil I-נ perfect; contrast with Niphal וַיִּגַּשׁ (no הִ)
Key diagnostic — Parts A: Niphal perfect = נִ prefix (or נֶ with gutturals). Hiphil perfect = הִ prefix (or הֶ with I-gutturals, הוֹ with I-י, הֵ with Biconsonantal/Geminate). Both stems may show dagesh forte in a following consonant, but only Niphal uses it for assimilation from נ; Hiphil uses it for I-נ root assimilation.

Part B — Shared Roots, Weak-Class Focus

These forms involve weak roots that appear in both Niphal and Hiphil. Focus on the prefix vowels that distinguish the stems.

#FormReferenceContextStemConjugationPGNRoot / Class
9נוֹלַדGen 21:3"a son ___ to Abraham"
Niphal · Perfect · 3ms · יָלַד · I-י — "was born"; נוֹ prefix (not הוֹ) = Niphal I-י perfect; patach under R2 (perfect, not participle)
10יּוֹלֶדGen 5:3"Adam ___ a son in his own likeness"
Hiphil · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · יָלַד · I-י — "fathered / begat"; וַיּוֹ prefix (dagesh in יּ + holem-vav) = Hiphil I-י wayyiqtol
11יִוָּלֵדGen 17:17"shall a child ___ to a man a hundred years old?"
Niphal · Imperfect · 3ms · יָלַד · I-י — "shall be born"; יִוָּ cluster (yiqtol prefix + vav with dagesh) = Niphal I-י imperfect; contrast Hiphil יוֹ (holem-vav, no dagesh in ו)
12יוֹרִיד1 Sam 2:6"the LORD ___ to Sheol and raises up"
Hiphil · Imperfect · 3ms · יָרַד · I-י — "brings down"; יוֹ prefix (holem-vav under imperfect prefix) = Hiphil I-י imperfect; contrast Niphal יִוָּ cluster
13וַיִּוָּדַעEst 2:22"the matter ___ to Mordecai"
Niphal · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · יָדַע · I-י — "became known"; וַיִּוָּ cluster = Niphal I-י wayyiqtol; the distinctive genealogical/narrative form
14הֵקִיםGen 6:18"I will ___ my covenant with you"
Hiphil · Perfect · 3ms · קוּם · Biconsonantal — "established"; הֵ prefix (tsere) = Hiphil Biconsonantal perfect; contrast Niphal נָקִים (qamets under נָ)
15נָכוֹןGen 41:32"the thing is ___ by God"
Niphal · Perfect · 3ms · כּוּן · Biconsonantal — "is established / firm"; נָ prefix (qamets) = Niphal Biconsonantal perfect; context confirms meaning (the doubling of Pharaoh's dream = it is settled)
Key diagnostic — Part B (I-י): Niphal perfect/participle = נוֹ prefix. Hiphil perfect = הוֹ prefix. Niphal imperfect/wayyiqtol = יִוָּ / וַיִּוָּ cluster (dagesh in ו). Hiphil imperfect/wayyiqtol = יוֹ / וַיּוֹ (holem-vav, no dagesh in ו). Biconsonantal: Niphal perfect = נָ (qamets). Hiphil perfect = הֵ (tsere).

Part C — Mixed Review

Forms from any class; identify the stem first, then parse fully.

#FormReferenceContextStemConjugationPGNRoot / Class
16וַיַּעַלGen 22:2"and he ___ him as a burnt offering"
Hiphil · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · עָלָה · III-ה + I-guttural — "offered up"; patach prefix (יַ) + composite shewa under ע + apocopated (ה dropped); contrast Niphal wayyiqtol וַיֵּ prefix (lengthened)
17וַיִּגָּלNum 24:4"who sees the vision of the Almighty, ___ eyes"
Niphal · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · גָּלָה · III-ה — "unveiled / were uncovered"; וַיִּ prefix + dagesh in ג (Niphal assimilation) + apocopated (ה dropped); the hiriq prefix (וַיִּ) identifies Niphal, not Hiphil
18הָסֵב2 Sam 2:22"___ from following me"
Hiphil · Imperative · 2ms · סָבַב · Geminate — "turn aside!"; הָ prefix (qamets) = Hiphil Biconsonantal/Geminate imperative; root ס-ב-ב has R2=R3 = Geminate
19מַעֲמִידִיםNeh 4:7"we who were ___ guard over them"
Hiphil · Participle · mp · עָמַד · I-guttural — "stationing / standing guard"; מַ prefix + composite shewa under ע + chiriq + ים plural; contrast Niphal participle נֶ prefix
20הֵרָאֵה1 Kgs 18:1"Go, ___ yourself to Ahab"
Niphal · Imperative · 2ms · רָאָה · III-ה — "show yourself!"; הֵ prefix (ר causes compensatory lengthening from הִ) + final ֵה retained (imperative does not apocopate) = Niphal III-ה imperative

Discussion Questions

  1. Items 1–2 (שָׁמַע) and items 3–4 (מָצָא): in each pair the Niphal and Hiphil forms share the same root but have opposite meanings. Pick one pair and explain in one sentence what the Niphal adds and what the Hiphil adds to the basic Qal meaning.
  2. Items 9–11 are all from the root יָלַד (I-י). Two are Niphal and one is Hiphil. Both stems use a holem-vav cluster, yet they are distinguishable. What is the precise difference between the Niphal perfect נוֹלַד and the Hiphil wayyiqtol וַיּוֹלֶד?
  3. Items 16 and 17 are both apocopated III-ה wayyiqtol forms. How do you determine from the pointing alone whether each is Niphal or Hiphil? What vowel under the prefix consonant is decisive?
  4. Item 18 (הָסֵב, Hiphil Geminate imperative) and item 20 (הֵרָאֵה, Niphal III-ה imperative) both begin with הֵ/הָ rather than the expected strong הַ. Explain why each has a long prefix vowel, identifying the phonological rule in each case.