Skip to content

Hiphil Weak Verbs — I-נ and I-י Paradigms

Full conjugation tables for Pe-Nun and Pe-Yod roots in the Hiphil stem. Part 1: I-נ (Pe-Nun) — roots נָגַשׁ (bring near) and נָפַל (cause to fall) Part 2: I-י (Pe-Yod/Vav) — roots יָרַד (bring down) and יָצָא (bring out) Each section shows the strong root (קטל) alongside the weak paradigm for direct comparison. Attested forms drawn from MACULA Hebrew WLC.


Part 1 — I-נ (Pe-Nun) Hiphil

In the Hiphil, I-נ roots show assimilation of the root נ (R1) into R2 in the conjugations where the Hiphil prefix brings the נ into contact with R2. This occurs in the imperfect, wayyiqtol, imperative, and infinitive construct. In the perfect and participle, the הִ/מַ prefix insulates R1, so no assimilation occurs — the נ is visible.


Perfect (Qatal) — I-נ

The Pattern

The perfect prefix הִ precedes R1 directly. With R1 = נ, the נ is NOT assimilated in the perfect: the full root is visible. The characteristic chiriq-yod appears in the penultimate syllable: הִגִּישׁ / הִפִּיל — wait, in the perfect the נ IS assimilated because it stands between the הִ prefix and R2 (the dagesh-prone position). The נ assimilates into R2 with dagesh forte across the full perfect paradigm.

Clarification: I-נ assimilation occurs throughout the Hiphil, including the perfect. The הִ prefix + נ + R2 cluster causes the נ to assimilate into R2: הִנְגִּישׁ → הִגִּישׁ. The dagesh forte in R2 is therefore the defining marker in every conjugation.

Person Strong (קטל) I-נ (נגשׁ) I-נ (נפל)
3ms הִקְטִיל הִגִּישׁ הִפִּיל
3fs הִקְטִילָה הִגִּישָׁה הִפִּילָה
3cp הִקְטִילוּ הִגִּישׁוּ הִפִּילוּ
2ms הִקְטַלְתָּ הִגַּשְׁתָּ הִפַּלְתָּ
2fs הִקְטַלְתְּ הִגַּשְׁתְּ הִפַּלְתְּ
2mp הִקְטַלְתֶּם הִגַּשְׁתֶּם הִפַּלְתֶּם
2fp הִקְטַלְתֶּן הִגַּשְׁתֶּן הִפַּלְתֶּן
1cs הִקְטַלְתִּי הִגַּשְׁתִּי הִפַּלְתִּי
1cp הִקְטַלְנוּ הִגַּשְׁנוּ הִפַּלְנוּ

Key: Dagesh forte in R2 throughout the entire Hiphil paradigm — נ has fully assimilated. If you see הִגִּישׁ and wonder why R2 has dagesh, the root is נגשׁ.

Attested passages: - הִגִּישׁ (Amos 9:13) — "the one who plows shall overtake the reaper" - הִפִּיל (Gen 2:21) — "the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man" - הִגַּשְׁתֶּם (Mal 1:7) — "by offering polluted food upon my altar"


Imperfect (Yiqtol) — I-נ

The Pattern

The prefix יַ + נ + R2 sequence assimilates the נ into R2. Same as the perfect: dagesh forte in R2. No trace of the root נ in the spelling.

Person Strong (קטל) I-נ (נגשׁ) I-נ (נפל)
3ms יַקְטִיל יַגִּישׁ יַפִּיל
3fs תַּקְטִיל תַּגִּישׁ תַּפִּיל
3mp יַקְטִילוּ יַגִּישׁוּ יַפִּילוּ
3fp תַּקְטֵלְנָה תַּגֵּשְׁנָה תַּפֵּלְנָה
2ms תַּקְטִיל תַּגִּישׁ תַּפִּיל
2mp תַּקְטִילוּ תַּגִּישׁוּ תַּפִּילוּ
1cs אַקְטִיל אַגִּישׁ אַפִּיל
1cp נַקְטִיל נַגִּישׁ נַפִּיל

Key: Patach prefix (יַ) + dagesh forte in R2 + chiriq-yod — clean three-marker pattern.

Attested passages: - יַפִּיל (Pro 19:15) — "slothfulness casts into a deep sleep" - יַגִּישׁ (Mal 1:8) — "when you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil?"


Wayyiqtol — I-נ

The Pattern

Standard Hiphil wayyiqtol pattern with dagesh forte in R2.

Person Strong (קטל) I-נ (נגשׁ) I-נ (נפל)
3ms וַיַּקְטֵל וַיַּגֵּשׁ וַיַּפֵּל
3fs וַתַּקְטֵל וַתַּגֵּשׁ וַתַּפֵּל
3mp וַיַּקְטִילוּ וַיַּגִּישׁוּ וַיַּפִּילוּ
2ms וַתַּקְטֵל וַתַּגֵּשׁ וַתַּפֵּל
1cs וָאַקְטֵל וָאַגֵּשׁ וָאַפֵּל

Key: וַיַּ prefix + dagesh forte in R2 + tsere final — the dagesh is the proof of I-נ.

Attested passages: - וַיַּגֵּשׁ (Gen 18:23) — "Abraham drew near and said" - וַיַּפֵּל (Gen 2:21) — "he caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man"


Weqatal — I-נ

The Pattern

Weqatal = וְ + perfect. Dagesh forte in R2 throughout.

Person Strong (קטל) I-נ (נפל)
3ms וְהִקְטִיל וְהִפִּיל
2ms וְהִקְטַלְתָּ וְהִפַּלְתָּ
1cs וְהִקְטַלְתִּי וְהִפַּלְתִּי

Imperative — I-נ

The Pattern

הַ prefix + dagesh forte in R2 + tsere (2ms).

Form Strong (קטל) I-נ (נגשׁ) I-נ (נפל)
2ms הַקְטֵל הַגֵּשׁ הַפֵּל
2fs הַקְטִילִי הַגִּישִׁי הַפִּילִי
2mp הַקְטִילוּ הַגִּישׁוּ הַפִּילוּ
2fp הַקְטֵלְנָה הַגֵּשְׁנָה הַפֵּלְנָה

Key: Dagesh forte in R2 across all imperative forms.

Attested passages: - הַגֵּשׁ (Gen 27:25) — "bring it to me, that I may eat of my son's game" - הַפֵּל (2 Sam 20:21) — "throw his head over the wall to us"


Infinitive Construct — I-נ

The Pattern

הַ prefix + dagesh forte in R2 + chiriq-yod final.

Form Strong (קטל) I-נ (נגשׁ) I-נ (נפל)
Base הַקְטִיל הַגִּישׁ הַפִּיל
With לְ לְהַקְטִיל לְהַגִּישׁ לְהַפִּיל

Key: Identical to the perfect 3ms in vocalization (הַגִּישׁ vs. הִגִּישׁ) — distinguished only by the prefix vowel (patach הַ in inf. construct, hiriq הִ in perfect).

Attested passages: - לְהַגִּישׁ (Mal 1:7) — "by offering polluted food on my altar" - לְהַפִּיל (Num 33:54) — "to divide the land as an inheritance"


Infinitive Absolute — I-נ

The Pattern

הַ prefix + dagesh forte in R2 + tsere final.

Form Strong (קטל) I-נ (נפל)
Standard הַקְטֵל הַפֵּל

Participle — I-נ

The Pattern

מַ prefix + dagesh forte in R2 + chiriq-yod.

Form Strong (קטל) I-נ (נגשׁ) I-נ (נפל)
ms מַקְטִיל מַגִּישׁ מַפִּיל
fs מַקְטֶלֶת מַגֶּשֶׁת מַפֶּלֶת
mp מַקְטִילִים מַגִּישִׁים מַפִּילִים
fp מַקְטִילוֹת מַגִּישׁוֹת מַפִּילוֹת

Key: מַ + dagesh forte in R2 — always reveals I-נ assimilation.

Attested passages: - מַגִּישׁ (Mal 1:7) — "you are defiling [the altar] when you say the table of the LORD may be despised" - מַפִּיל (†) — expected; attested in liturgical/poetic texts


Summary — I-נ Hiphil at a Glance

Conjugation Strong (קטל) I-נ (נגשׁ) Key feature
Perfect הִקְטִיל הִגִּישׁ Dagesh forte in R2; נ invisible
Imperfect יַקְטִיל יַגִּישׁ Patach prefix + dagesh in R2
Wayyiqtol וַיַּקְטֵל וַיַּגֵּשׁ Dagesh in R2 + tsere final
Weqatal וְהִקְטִיל וְהִגִּישׁ Same as perfect
Imperative הַקְטֵל הַגֵּשׁ Dagesh in R2 + tsere (2ms)
Inf. Construct הַקְטִיל הַגִּישׁ Patach under הַ distinguishes from perfect
Inf. Absolute הַקְטֵל הַגֵּשׁ Same as imperative 2ms
Participle מַקְטִיל מַגִּישׁ מַ + dagesh in R2 + chiriq-yod


Part 2 — I-י (Pe-Yod/Vav) Hiphil

Many Biblical Hebrew roots that appear as I-י in other stems are historically I-ו (Pe-Vav). In the Hiphil, these roots use הוֹ- as the perfect prefix (holem-vav under ה) and יוֹ- as the imperfect prefix. This is the single most reliable diagnostic for this class. A small group of true I-י roots (e.g., יָטַב → הֵיטִיב) use a different pattern, but הוֹ- / יוֹ- covers the majority of I-י/ו roots encountered in BBH Ch27.


Perfect (Qatal) — I-י

The Pattern

The strong Hiphil perfect prefix is הִ (hiriq). For I-י/ו roots, the prefix vowel is holem-vav: הוֹרִיד, הוֹצִיא. The root's first radical (י or ו) is suppressed — only R2 and R3 appear after the prefix. The characteristic Hiphil chiriq-yod appears in the final syllable.

Person Strong (קטל) I-י (ירד) I-י (יצא)
3ms הִקְטִיל הוֹרִיד הוֹצִיא
3fs הִקְטִילָה הוֹרִידָה הוֹצִיאָה
3cp הִקְטִילוּ הוֹרִידוּ הוֹצִיאוּ
2ms הִקְטַלְתָּ הוֹרַדְתָּ הוֹצֵאתָ
2fs הִקְטַלְתְּ הוֹרַדְתְּ הוֹצֵאת
2mp הִקְטַלְתֶּם הוֹרַדְתֶּם הוֹצֵאתֶם
2fp הִקְטַלְתֶּן הוֹרַדְתֶּן הוֹצֵאתֶן
1cs הִקְטַלְתִּי הוֹרַדְתִּי הוֹצֵאתִי
1cp הִקְטַלְנוּ הוֹרַדְנוּ הוֹצֵאנוּ

Key: הוֹ prefix (holem-vav) instead of הִ (hiriq) — the most distinctive marker of I-י/ו Hiphil. Once you see הוֹ-, identify the class immediately.

Attested passages: - הוֹצִיא (Gen 15:7) — "I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans" - הוֹרִיד (Gen 39:1) — "Joseph had been brought down to Egypt" (Hophal form; Hiphil הוֹרִיד attested at Gen 42:38) - הוֹצֵאתִי (Exo 20:2) — "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt" - הוֹרַדְתֶּם (Gen 44:29) — "you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol"


Imperfect (Yiqtol) — I-י

The Pattern

The imperfect prefix is יוֹ- (holem-vav under the prefix consonant): יוֹרִיד, יוֹצִיא. The R1 of the root is again suppressed. The Hiphil chiriq-yod appears in the final syllable.

Person Strong (קטל) I-י (ירד) I-י (יצא)
3ms יַקְטִיל יוֹרִיד יוֹצִיא
3fs תַּקְטִיל תּוֹרִיד תּוֹצִיא
3mp יַקְטִילוּ יוֹרִידוּ יוֹצִיאוּ
3fp תַּקְטֵלְנָה תּוֹרֵדְנָה תּוֹצֶאנָה
2ms תַּקְטִיל תּוֹרִיד תּוֹצִיא
2fs תַּקְטִילִי תּוֹרִידִי תּוֹצִיאִי
2mp תַּקְטִילוּ תּוֹרִידוּ תּוֹצִיאוּ
1cs אַקְטִיל אוֹרִיד אוֹצִיא
1cp נַקְטִיל נוֹרִיד נוֹצִיא

Key: יוֹ- / תּוֹ- / אוֹ- / נוֹ- prefix (holem-vav) — immediately identifies I-י/ו Hiphil imperfect.

Attested passages: - יוֹרִיד (1 Sam 2:6) — "the LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up" - יוֹצִיא (Exo 6:7) — "I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians" - אוֹצִיא (†) — expected 1cs form


Wayyiqtol — I-י

The Pattern

The wayyiqtol of I-י/ו Hiphil contracts further: וַיּ + holem-vav → וַיּוֹ. The dagesh forte in י results from the contraction of וַ + י. Final tsere is standard Hiphil wayyiqtol.

Person Strong (קטל) I-י (ירד) I-י (יצא)
3ms וַיַּקְטֵל וַיּוֹרֶד וַיּוֹצֵא
3fs וַתַּקְטֵל וַתּוֹרֶד וַתּוֹצֵא
3mp וַיַּקְטִילוּ וַיּוֹרִידוּ וַיּוֹצִיאוּ
2ms וַתַּקְטֵל וַתּוֹרֶד וַתּוֹצֵא
1cs וָאַקְטֵל וָאוֹרֶד וָאוֹצֵא

Key: וַיּוֹ- prefix (dagesh in י + holem-vav) is unique to I-י/ו Hiphil wayyiqtol.

Attested passages: - וַיּוֹצֵא (Gen 1:12) — "the earth brought forth vegetation" - וַיּוֹרֶד (Gen 42:38) — "you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol"


Weqatal — I-י

The Pattern

Weqatal = וְ + perfect. הוֹ prefix pattern throughout.

Person Strong (קטל) I-י (יצא)
3ms וְהִקְטִיל וְהוֹצִיא
2ms וְהִקְטַלְתָּ וְהוֹצֵאתָ
1cs וְהִקְטַלְתִּי וְהוֹצֵאתִי

Imperative — I-י

The Pattern

The strong Hiphil imperative 2ms is הַקְטֵל. For I-י/ו: הוֹרֵד / הוֹצֵא (holem-vav under ה + tsere final).

Form Strong (קטל) I-י (ירד) I-י (יצא)
2ms הַקְטֵל הוֹרֵד הוֹצֵא
2fs הַקְטִילִי הוֹרִידִי הוֹצִיאִי
2mp הַקְטִילוּ הוֹרִידוּ הוֹצִיאוּ
2fp הַקְטֵלְנָה הוֹרֵדְנָה הוֹצֶאנָה

Key: הוֹ prefix in imperative (not הַ) — strong diagnostic distinguishing I-י/ו from strong Hiphil imperative.

Attested passages: - הוֹצֵא (Exo 12:31) — "Rise up, go out from among my people" - הוֹרֵד (Gen 42:37) — "Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you"


Infinitive Construct — I-י

The Pattern

הוֹרִיד / הוֹצִיא — identical in form to the perfect 3ms. Context distinguishes.

Form Strong (קטל) I-י (ירד) I-י (יצא)
Base הַקְטִיל הוֹרִיד הוֹצִיא
With לְ לְהַקְטִיל לְהוֹרִיד לְהוֹצִיא
With בְּ בְּהַקְטִיל בְּהוֹרִיד בְּהוֹצִיא

Key: הוֹ prefix + chiriq-yod — same shape as perfect 3ms; preposition prefix context identifies as inf. construct.

Attested passages: - לְהוֹצִיא (Exo 3:10) — "I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people out of Egypt" - לְהוֹרִיד (†) — expected form


Infinitive Absolute — I-י

The Pattern

הוֹרֵד / הוֹצֵא (holem-vav + tsere final).

Form Strong (קטל) I-י (ירד) I-י (יצא)
Standard הַקְטֵל הוֹרֵד הוֹצֵא

Participle — I-י

The Pattern

The strong Hiphil participle is מַקְטִיל (מַ prefix). For I-י/ו: מוֹרִיד / מוֹצִיא (מוֹ prefix — holem-vav under מ).

Form Strong (קטל) I-י (ירד) I-י (יצא)
ms מַקְטִיל מוֹרִיד מוֹצִיא
fs מַקְטֶלֶת מוֹרֶדֶת מוֹצִיאָה
mp מַקְטִילִים מוֹרִידִים מוֹצִיאִים
fp מַקְטִילוֹת מוֹרִידוֹת מוֹצִיאוֹת

Key: מוֹ prefix (not מַ) — holem-vav under מ uniquely identifies I-י/ו Hiphil participle.

Attested passages: - מוֹצִיא (Deu 8:14) — "the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt" - מוֹרִיד (1 Sam 2:6) — "he brings down to Sheol and raises up"


Summary — I-י Hiphil at a Glance

Conjugation Strong (קטל) I-י (ירד) Key feature
Perfect הִקְטִיל הוֹרִיד הוֹ prefix (holem-vav)
Imperfect יַקְטִיל יוֹרִיד יוֹ prefix (holem-vav)
Wayyiqtol וַיַּקְטֵל וַיּוֹרֶד וַיּוֹ — dagesh in י + holem-vav
Weqatal וְהִקְטִיל וְהוֹרִיד וְ + הוֹ prefix
Imperative הַקְטֵל הוֹרֵד הוֹ prefix (not הַ); tsere final
Inf. Construct הַקְטִיל הוֹרִיד Same form as perfect 3ms
Inf. Absolute הַקְטֵל הוֹרֵד הוֹ + tsere
Participle מַקְטִיל מוֹרִיד מוֹ prefix (not מַ)


Overall Comparison — I-נ vs. I-י Hiphil

Conjugation Strong (קטל) I-נ (נגשׁ) I-י (ירד) I-י (יצא)
Perfect הִקְטִיל הִגִּישׁ הוֹרִיד הוֹצִיא
Imperfect יַקְטִיל יַגִּישׁ יוֹרִיד יוֹצִיא
Wayyiqtol וַיַּקְטֵל וַיַּגֵּשׁ וַיּוֹרֶד וַיּוֹצֵא
Weqatal וְהִקְטִיל וְהִגִּישׁ וְהוֹרִיד וְהוֹצִיא
Imperative הַקְטֵל הַגֵּשׁ הוֹרֵד הוֹצֵא
Inf. Construct הַקְטִיל הַגִּישׁ הוֹרִיד הוֹצִיא
Inf. Absolute הַקְטֵל הַגֵּשׁ הוֹרֵד הוֹצֵא
Participle מַקְטִיל מַגִּישׁ מוֹרִיד מוֹצִיא

Distinguishing I-נ from I-י: - I-נ: dagesh forte in R2 (the assimilated נ is hidden inside R2); prefix vowels are otherwise standard Hiphil (hiriq perfect, patach imperfect) - I-י: holem-vav (וֹ) in the prefix syllable throughout the paradigm — הוֹ, יוֹ, מוֹ