Hophal Paradigm Tables — הָקְטַל / הֻקְטַל¶
Hophal paradigm root: קטל — strong triconsonantal root (no weak letters) Both vowel patterns are attested OT-wide; see key below each table.
Perfect (Qatal)¶
Diagnostic marker: הָ or הֻ prefix (qamets hatuf o-class OR qibbuts u-class) + Patach under R2
| Person | Qal (ref.) | Hophal — o-class | Hophal — u-class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3ms | קָטַל | הָקְטַל | הֻקְטַל | o-class predominates in strong root OT forms |
| 3fs | קָטְלָה | הָקְטְלָה | הֻקְטְלָה | |
| 2ms | קָטַלְתָּ | הָקְטַלְתָּ | הֻקְטַלְתָּ | OT: הָשְׁלַכְתָּ (Isa 14:19) |
| 2fs | קָטַלְתְּ | הָקְטַלְתְּ | הֻקְטַלְתְּ | |
| 1cs | קָטַלְתִּי | הָקְטַלְתִּי | הֻקְטַלְתִּי | OT: הָשְׁלַכְתִּי (Psa 22:10) |
| 3cp | קָטְלוּ | הָקְטְלוּ | הֻקְטְלוּ | |
| 2mp | קְטַלְתֶּם | הָקְטַלְתֶּם | הֻקְטַלְתֶּם | |
| 2fp | קְטַלְתֶּן | הָקְטַלְתֶּן | הֻקְטַלְתֶּן | |
| 1cp | קָטַלְנוּ | הָקְטַלְנוּ | הֻקְטַלְנוּ |
Key markers — two forms of the Hophal Perfect: - o-class (הָ): qamets hatuf under prefix he — sounds like the vowel in "note." This is the predominant pattern for strong roots in the OT: הָשְׁלַכְתָּ (Isa 14:19), הָפְקַד (Lev 6:4), הָכְלַמְנוּ (1Sa 25:15). - u-class (הֻ): qibbuts under prefix he — sounds like the vowel in "put." Also attested: הֻשְׁלָכָה (Ezk 19:12), הֻכָּה, הֻגַּד. - Note: The shureq form (הוּ, as in hollow root הוּמַת) is characteristic of biconsonantal/hollow roots — see Ch29. Strong roots use הָ or הֻ. - Universal Hophal identifier: u-class OR o-class vowel under the prefix consonant in every form.
Imperfect (Yiqtol)¶
Diagnostic marker: יֻ / תֻּ prefix (qibbuts under prefix consonant) + Patach under R2
| Person | Qal (ref.) | Hophal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3ms | יִקְטֹל | יֻקְטַל | יֻ prefix; Patach under R2 |
| 3fs | תִּקְטֹל | תֻּקְטַל | |
| 2ms | תִּקְטֹל | תֻּקְטַל | |
| 2fs | תִּקְטְלִי | תֻּקְטְלִי | |
| 1cs | אֶקְטֹל | אֻקְטַל | |
| 3mp | יִקְטְלוּ | יֻקְטְלוּ | OT: יֻשְׁלָכוּ (Isa 34:3) |
| 3fp | תִּקְטֹלְנָה | תֻּקְטַלְנָה | |
| 2mp | תִּקְטְלוּ | תֻּקְטְלוּ | |
| 2fp | תִּקְטֹלְנָה | תֻּקְטַלְנָה | |
| 1cp | נִקְטֹל | נֻקְטַל |
Key marker: qibbuts (ֻ) under the imperfect prefix consonant. Strong roots show qibbuts in the Imperfect; hollow/weak roots may show shureq (יוּ). Contrast Hiphil יַ / תַּ prefix.
Wayyiqtol¶
Diagnostic marker: וַיֻּ prefix (vav + dagesh in prefix consonant + qibbuts)
| Person | Hophal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3ms | וַיֻּקְטַל | וַיּ + qibbuts under prefix consonant |
| 3fs | וַתֻּקְטַל | |
| 3mp | וַיֻּקְטְלוּ | |
| 3cp | וַיֻּקְטְלוּ |
Key marker: וַיּ + qibbuts under the prefix consonant. The doubled prefix consonant (dagesh) is the Wayyiqtol vav assimilation.
Weqatal¶
Diagnostic marker: וְ + Hophal Perfect form
| Person | Hophal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3ms | וְהָקְטַל | וְ + Perfect form |
| 3fs | וְהָקְטְלָה | |
| 2ms | וְהָקְטַלְתָּ | |
| 3cp | וְהָקְטְלוּ |
Key marker: וְ + Hophal Perfect form. The הָ/הֻ prefix is preserved from the Perfect.
Imperative¶
Diagnostic marker: הָ prefix + Patach under R2 (identical in form to Perfect 3ms and Infinitive Construct)
| Person | Hophal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2ms | הָקְטַל | Same form as Perfect 3ms and Inf. Construct |
| 2fs | הָקְטְלִי | |
| 2mp | הָקְטְלוּ | OT: הָפְנוּ (Jer 49:8 — Hophal Imper. 2mp of פנה) |
| 2fp | הָקְטַלְנָה |
The Hophal Imperative exists — but is extremely rare (1–2 tokens in the entire OT). The form is identical to the Perfect 3ms and the Infinitive Construct; only context distinguishes them. The Hophal Imperative carries the nuance "cause yourself to be [acted upon]" — a passive command. The sole clear OT example is הָפְנוּ (Jer 49:8): "Turn back! / Be turned back!" (Hophal of פנה, 2mp). The rarity reflects the semantic tension between passivity and command, not a grammatical impossibility.
Infinitive Construct¶
Diagnostic marker: הָ prefix + same vocalization as Perfect 3ms
| Form | Hophal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base | הָקְטַל | Identical in form to Perfect 3ms and Imperative 2ms |
| + לְ | לְהָקְטַל |
Key marker: Same form as Perfect 3ms and Imperative 2ms. Context distinguishes. Hophal Inf. Construct is rare (≤10 tokens OT-wide).
Infinitive Absolute¶
| Form | Hophal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | הָקְטֵל | Tsere (ֵ) under R2 — contrast Patach (ַ) in Perfect and Inf. Construct |
Hophal Inf. Absolute takes Tsere under R2, distinguishing it from the Perfect (Patach) and Inf. Construct (Patach). Very rare (≤10 tokens OT-wide).
Participle¶
Diagnostic marker: מֻ prefix (mem + qibbuts) + Qamets under R2
| Form | Hophal (passive) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ms | מֻקְטָל | מ prefix + qibbuts under R1 + qamets under R2 |
| fs | מֻקְטֶלֶת | |
| mp | מֻקְטָלִים | OT: מֻפְקָדִים (2Ki 22:5) — "those appointed" |
| fp | מֻקְטָלוֹת |
Key marker — Hophal Participle: מ prefix + qibbuts (ֻ) under R1 + qamets (ָ) under R2. Distinguished from Pual Participle (which also has מ prefix + u-vowel) by: Hophal Participle = passive of Causative (Hiphil); Pual = passive of Intensive (Piel). The Dagesh Forte in R2 marks Pual; Hophal has no Dagesh in R2 (unless from root assimilation).
Summary: Hiphil vs. Hophal at a Glance¶
| Feature | Hiphil (active causative) | Hophal (passive causative) |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect prefix | הִ (Hireq) | הָ (o-class) or הֻ (u-class) |
| Imperfect prefix vowel | יַ / תַּ (Patach) | יֻ / תֻּ (qibbuts) |
| Wayyiqtol prefix | וַיַּ | וַיֻּ |
| Participle prefix | מַ (Patach) | מֻ (qibbuts) |
| Imperative | Yes — הַקְטֵל | Extremely rare; הָקְטַל (identical to Perfect 3ms) |
| Meaning | Causes action | Passive: caused to undergo action |
The single most reliable Hophal identifier: u-class vowel (qibbuts ֻ) or o-class (qamets hatuf ָ) under the prefix consonant — every conjugation.