BBH Chapter 29 — Hophal Weak Verbs (הֻפְעַל)¶
Apply Hophal stem markers to weak root classes: I-guttural, III-ה, hollow, and geminate roots. Because Hophal is less frequent than other derived stems, the focus is on recognition—identifying the Hophal preformative vowel pattern despite root-induced alterations—rather than on production. Students can compare Hophal weak forms with the Hiphil weak forms from Ch27 to reinforce the active/passive pairing.
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Basics of Biblical Hebrew, Pratico & Van Pelt, Chapter 29 Builds on Ch28 (Hophal Strong Verbs). Weak forms only — stem function not repeated.
Scope: This chapter extends the Hophal paradigm to weak root classes. The Hophal's single diagnostic — a u-class vowel (Shureq וּ or Qibbuts ֻ) under the prefix consonant — persists across every weak class. The weak modifications that affect each root class (quiescence, assimilation, contraction, apocopation) are layered on top of that constant marker.
1. The Eight Weak Classes — Overview¶
| Class | Label | Representative roots | What changes in Hophal | Key effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-guttural (Pe-Guttural) | pe-guttural |
עָמַד, אָכַל | Guttural under prefix takes composite shewa; no dagesh lost (Hophal has no dagesh to refuse) | Composite shewa under R1; prefix u-vowel intact |
| III-ח/ע (Lamed-Guttural) | lamed-guttural |
שָׁלַח, שָׁמַע | Patach furtive before word-final ח/ע; a-class vowel before guttural in closed syllable | Patach furtive in perfect 3ms, imperfect, participle |
| III-א (Lamed-Aleph) | lamed-aleph |
מָצָא, קָרָא | Final א quiesces; compensatory lengthening of preceding vowel | Long vowel before silent final א |
| III-ה (Lamed-He) | lamed-he |
גָּלָה, בָּנָה | Final ה is vowel letter; endings contract; wayyiqtol apocopates | Contracted endings; apocopated wayyiqtol |
| I-נ (Pe-Nun) | pe-nun |
נָגַד, נָכָה, נָקַם | Root נ assimilates into R2 with dagesh forte in imperfect, wayyiqtol | Dagesh in R2; no trace of נ in prefix conjugations |
| I-י/ו (Pe-Yod/Vav) | pe-yod |
יָלַד, יָצָא, בּוֹא | Hophal prefix vowel lengthens to Shureq (וּ) before quiesced yod/vav; yields הוּלַד / יוּלַד | Shureq under prefix consonant (overlaps Hophal strong marker) |
| Biconsonantal (II-ו/י) | biconsonantal |
קוּם, שִׂים, שׁוּב | Root's medial vowel letter merges with Hophal u-prefix; forms contract to two-syllable pattern | הוּקַם / יוּקַם; holem-vav under prefix |
| Geminate (Ayin-Doubled, II=III) | geminate |
קָלַל, שָׁמַם | R2 = R3; dagesh forte in final consonant; u-prefix preserved | הֻקַּל / יֻקַּל; dagesh forte in R2 (=R3) |
Key principle: The u-class prefix vowel never disappears in the Hophal regardless of weak class. What changes is how the root consonants — particularly the first and last — behave around that constant marker. Learn the Hophal u-vowel as the anchor; all weak modifications are phonologically regular additions.
2. I-guttural (Pe-Guttural) Verbs¶
Pattern¶
When R1 is a guttural (א, ע, ח, ה), the main effect on the Hophal is confined to the treatment of the shewa under R1. In the Hophal strong, R1 receives a vocal shewa (when in a prefix conjugation). A guttural in that position cannot take a plain vocal shewa and instead takes a composite shewa: hateph-patach (ֲ) for ע/ח, hateph-seghol (ֱ) for א/ה. The Hophal u-class prefix vowel (Shureq or Qibbuts) is entirely unaffected — gutturals occur at R1, not under the prefix letter.
In the perfect, the Hophal prefix הֻ or הוּ precedes R1 directly. The guttural takes its composite shewa without interacting with the prefix vowel at all. There is no dagesh-lengthening issue (unlike the Niphal or Hiphil) because the Hophal does not place dagesh forte under R1.
Diagnostic markers: - Perfect 3ms: הֶעֱמַד — Qibbuts/Shureq under הֻ/הוּ prefix; hateph-seghol under ע - Imperfect 3ms: יֻעֲמַד — Qibbuts under prefix consonant; hateph-patach under ע - Wayyiqtol 3ms: וַיֻּעֲמַד — doubled prefix consonant; composite shewa under guttural R1 - Participle ms: מֻעֲמָד — מֻ prefix; composite shewa under R1; Qamets under R2
Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)¶
| Conjugation | Hophal Strong (קטל) | I-guttural (עמד) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect (Qatal) | הֻקְטַל | הֻעֲמַד | Composite shewa under ע replaces plain shewa |
| Imperfect (Yiqtol) | יֻקְטַל | יֻעֲמַד | Qibbuts under prefix; composite shewa under ע |
| Wayyiqtol | וַיֻּקְטַל | וַיֻּעֲמַד | Same prefix doubling; composite shewa under guttural |
| Weqatal | וְהֻקְטַל | וְהֻעֲמַד | Weqatal = וְ + Perfect form |
| Inf. Construct | הֻקְטַל | הֻעֲמַד | Rare; same as Perfect 3ms |
| Inf. Absolute | הֻקְטֵל | הֻעֲמֵד | Tsere under R2 distinguishes from Perfect |
| Participle | מֻקְטָל | מֻעֲמָד | מֻ prefix; composite shewa under R1 |
Key Corpus Examples¶
- יֻעֲמַד (Ezr 2:63 / Neh 7:65) — "until a priest should stand up" — though this is Qal jussive in context, compare הֶעֱמַד patterns in related passages; Hophal of עָמַד = "to be stationed, set up"
- הֶעֱמַד (2 Chr 34:31) — the king stood/was made to stand (Hophal of עמד); hateph-seghol visible under א in similar roots (אָכַל → הֶאֱכַל, "was fed/caused to eat")
- הֻאֲכַל — "was fed, was made to eat" — Hophal of אָכַל; composite shewa (hateph-patach) under א; u-class prefix Qibbuts confirms Hophal
3. III-ח/ע (Lamed-Guttural) Verbs¶
Pattern¶
When R3 is ח or ע, the gutturals require an a-class vowel in their syllable. In the Hophal, the characteristic vowel under R2 is Patach (already an a-class vowel), so the conflict is minimal compared to the Hiphil. The main surface effect is a patach furtive before word-final ח or ע: this fleeting glide is inserted between the final vowel and the guttural when the guttural ends a stressed open syllable. The patach furtive is written below and to the right of the guttural, and is pronounced before the guttural (despite its written position).
In closed syllables (before suffixes), the patach furtive disappears; the guttural simply takes a regular Patach.
Diagnostic markers: - Perfect 3ms: הֻשְׁלַח — Patach furtive before final ח (if applicable to the Hophal vowel pattern) - Imperfect 3ms: יֻשְׁלַח — Qibbuts under prefix; Patach under R2; final ח may carry patach furtive - Participle ms: מֻשְׁלָח — מֻ prefix; Qamets under R2; patach furtive where applicable
Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)¶
| Conjugation | Hophal Strong (קטל) | III-ח/ע (שלח) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect (Qatal) | הֻקְטַל | הֻשְׁלַח | Final ח takes patach; patach furtive in stressed open syllable |
| Imperfect (Yiqtol) | יֻקְטַל | יֻשְׁלַח | Qibbuts prefix; Patach under R2; final ח |
| Wayyiqtol | וַיֻּקְטַל | וַיֻּשְׁלַח | Same contraction; final ח |
| Weqatal | וְהֻקְטַל | וְהֻשְׁלַח | וְ + Perfect form |
| Inf. Construct | הֻקְטַל | הֻשְׁלַח | Rare |
| Inf. Absolute | הֻקְטֵל | הֻשְׁלֵחַ | Tsere under R2; patach furtive before final ח |
| Participle | מֻקְטָל | מֻשְׁלָח | מֻ prefix; Qamets under R2 |
Key Corpus Examples¶
- יֻשְׁלַח (Job 18:8) — "he is cast into a net by his own feet" — Hophal Imperfect 3ms of שָׁלַח; Qibbuts under prefix, Patach under R2, final ח
- מֻשְׁלָח (Isa 27:10) — "a forsaken and deserted city" — Hophal Participle ms of שָׁלַח; מֻ prefix + Qamets
- הֻשְׁלַךְ (various) — Hophal of שָׁלַךְ "to be thrown/cast" (III-כ not guttural but similar pattern): הֻשְׁלַךְ "was thrown" (Jer 22:28; Eze 19:12) — compare with pure Lamed-Guttural forms above
4. III-א (Lamed-Aleph) Verbs¶
Pattern¶
Final א quiesces in word-final position: it becomes silent and the vowel before it lengthens compensatorily. In the Hophal, the characteristic vowel under R2 is Patach. Before a quiesced final א, this Patach lengthens to Qamets. The result is that Hophal III-א forms look very similar to their strong counterparts — the only difference is the silent final א and the slightly lengthened vowel.
Because the quiesced א is visually present in the spelling but phonetically absent, the form can initially appear difficult to identify as Hophal. The u-class prefix vowel remains the decisive diagnostic.
Diagnostic markers: - Perfect 3ms: הֻמְצָא — Qamets under R2 + silent final א (compensatory for quiesced א) - Imperfect 3ms: יֻמְצָא — Qibbuts under prefix; Qamets under R2; silent final א - Participle ms: מֻמְצָא — מֻ prefix; Qamets under R2; silent final א
Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)¶
| Conjugation | Hophal Strong (קטל) | III-א (מצא) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect (Qatal) | הֻקְטַל | הֻמְצָא | Patach → Qamets before quiesced final א |
| Imperfect (Yiqtol) | יֻקְטַל | יֻמְצָא | Qibbuts prefix; Qamets before silent א |
| Wayyiqtol | וַיֻּקְטַל | וַיֻּמְצָא | Standard contraction; Qamets + silent א |
| Weqatal | וְהֻקְטַל | וְהֻמְצָא | וְ + Perfect form |
| Inf. Construct | הֻקְטַל | הֻמְצָא | Rare; same as Perfect 3ms |
| Inf. Absolute | הֻקְטֵל | הֻמְצֵא | Tsere under R2; silent final א |
| Participle | מֻקְטָל | מֻמְצָא | מֻ prefix; Qamets before silent א |
Key Corpus Examples¶
- וַיֻּמְצְאוּ (2 Chr 36:8) — "and they were found" — Hophal Wayyiqtol 3mp of מָצָא; Qibbuts under prefix, Qamets under R2, plural suffix; u-class prefix decisive
- הֻמְצָא / יֻמְצָא — Hophal of מָצָא "to be found" — attested in legal and wisdom contexts; the form regularly appears where something is "found to be" the case
- וַיֻּקְרָא (Num 21:3) — "and it was called" — Hophal Wayyiqtol 3ms of קָרָא; Qibbuts under prefix; Qamets before silent א; "the place was called Hormah"
5. III-ה (Lamed-He) Verbs¶
Pattern¶
III-ה roots treat the final ה as a vowel letter (mater lectionis), not a true consonant. In the Hophal, this produces contracted endings throughout the paradigm. The u-class prefix vowel (Shureq or Qibbuts) is unaffected because it sits under the prefix consonant, not near R3. The main effects are:
- Perfect 3ms: ends in ָה (Qamets + ה) — the Hophal Patach under R2 is already Qamets in the III-ה perfect
- Imperfect 3ms: ends in ֶה (Seghol + ה mater) — contraction of the strong imperfect final syllable
- Wayyiqtol 3ms: apocopates — the final ה drops and the form ends in R2 with a short vowel
- Participle ms: ends in ֶה like the imperfect
This is one of the most practically important weak classes in the Hophal because key high-frequency roots (גָּלָה "exile," בָּנָה "build," נָכָה "strike") are III-ה.
Diagnostic markers: - Perfect 3ms: הֻגְלָה — Qibbuts prefix; Qamets + ה final - Imperfect 3ms: יֻגְלֶה — Qibbuts prefix; Seghol + ה final - Wayyiqtol 3ms: וַיֻּגֶל — apocopated; ה dropped; Seghol final - Participle ms: מֻגְלֶה — מֻ prefix; Seghol + ה
Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)¶
| Conjugation | Hophal Strong (קטל) | III-ה (גלה) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect (Qatal) | הֻקְטַל | הֻגְלָה | Qibbuts prefix; Qamets + ה mater |
| Imperfect (Yiqtol) | יֻקְטַל | יֻגְלֶה | Qibbuts prefix; Seghol + ה |
| Wayyiqtol | וַיֻּקְטַל | וַיֻּגֶל | Apocopated; ה dropped |
| Weqatal | וְהֻקְטַל | וְהֻגְלָה | וְ + Perfect form |
| Inf. Construct | הֻקְטַל | הֻגְלוֹת | Rare; ends in וֹת (standard III-ה infinitive suffix) |
| Inf. Absolute | הֻקְטֵל | הֻגְלֵה | Tsere + ה |
| Participle | מֻקְטָל | מֻגְלֶה | מֻ prefix; Seghol + ה |
Key Corpus Examples¶
- הֻגְלָה (Amos 1:5) — "the people of Aram shall go into exile to Kir" — Hophal Perfect 3ms of גָּלָה; Qibbuts prefix; Qamets + ה; "was exiled" (passive causative of Hiphil הֶגְלָה "to exile")
- הֻגְלוּ (Amos 1:6) — "they delivered up a whole people into exile" — Hophal Perfect 3cp of גָּלָה; plural suffix added to contracted stem; Amos uses this formula repeatedly for the nations
- הֻכָּה (Num 25:14) — "the one who was struck" — Hophal Perfect 3ms of נָכָה (III-ה); Qibbuts + dagesh forte in כ (Pe-Nun assimilation also at play since נָכָה is also I-נ; see section 6); "was struck down"
- יֻכֶּה (Deu 25:2) — "the guilty man shall be beaten" — Hophal Imperfect 3ms of נָכָה; Seghol + ה final; double weak class I-נ + III-ה
6. I-נ (Pe-Nun) Verbs¶
Pattern¶
Root נ assimilates into R2 with Dagesh forte whenever it stands in a syllable immediately before R2 without a supporting vowel. In the Hophal, this occurs in the imperfect, wayyiqtol, and infinitive construct — the same conjugations where the strong Hophal has a simple prefix before R1 (and the root נ therefore stands unsupported). In the perfect and participle, the prefix vowel (הֻ/מֻ) stabilizes R1, and assimilation does NOT occur.
The combination of Hophal u-class prefix + Dagesh forte in R2 is the unmistakable signature of a Pe-Nun root in a prefix Hophal conjugation.
Diagnostic markers: - Perfect 3ms: הֻגַּד — Qibbuts prefix; Dagesh in R2 (ג); נ has assimilated even in perfect (because נָגַד also loses its נ in the Niphal/Hophal pattern — here the dagesh in ג is from the Hophal doubling context) - Imperfect 3ms: יֻגַּד — Qibbuts prefix; Dagesh forte in R2; no trace of root נ - Wayyiqtol 3ms: וַיֻּגַּד — contraction of prefix + Hophal u-vowel; Dagesh forte in R2 - Participle ms: מֻגָּד — מֻ prefix; Dagesh forte in R2 (from assimilation)
The נגד formula: וַיֻּגַּד לְ ("and it was told to…") is one of the most common narrative formulas in Genesis and the historical books. Recognizing this as Hophal Wayyiqtol 3ms of נָגַד is essential for fluent reading.
Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)¶
| Conjugation | Hophal Strong (קטל) | I-נ (נגד) | I-נ (נקם) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect (Qatal) | הֻקְטַל | הֻגַּד | הֻקַּם | Dagesh in R2 (nun assimilated) |
| Imperfect (Yiqtol) | יֻקְטַל | יֻגַּד | יֻקַּם | Qibbuts prefix; Dagesh forte in R2 |
| Wayyiqtol | וַיֻּקְטַל | וַיֻּגַּד | — | Contraction + Qibbuts + Dagesh |
| Weqatal | וְהֻקְטַל | וְהֻגַּד | — | וְ + Perfect form |
| Inf. Construct | הֻקְטַל | הֻגַּד | — | Same as Perfect 3ms |
| Inf. Absolute | הֻקְטֵל | הֻגֵּד | — | Tsere under R2 |
| Participle | מֻקְטָל | מֻגָּד | — | מֻ prefix; Dagesh in R2 |
Key Corpus Examples¶
- וַיֻּגַּד לְאַבְרָהָם (Gen 22:20) — "and it was told to Abraham" — Hophal Wayyiqtol 3ms of נָגַד; standard narrative report formula; Qibbuts under prefix consonant; Dagesh forte in ג
- וַיֻּגַּד לְרִבְקָה (Gen 27:42) — "and the words of Esau were told to Rebekah" — same formula; Hophal passivizes the Hiphil הִגִּיד "to tell/declare"
- הֻגַּד (Deu 17:4) — "and it has been told to you" — Hophal Perfect 3ms of נָגַד; Qibbuts + Dagesh forte in ג; the Weqatal form וְהֻגַּד also found here
- מֻגָּד (various) — Hophal Participle of נָגַד; "what is told/reported"
7. I-י/ו (Pe-Yod and Pe-Vav) Verbs¶
Pattern¶
I-י/ו roots in the Hophal produce the most visually distinctive forms of the entire chapter. The Hophal's u-class prefix vowel — normally Qibbuts (ֻ) — lengthens to Shureq (וּ) when the root's initial yod/vav quiesces into the prefix consonant. The result is a Shureq under the prefix consonant that is indistinguishable from the standard Hophal Shureq marker. This overlap is expected and intentional: the Hophal u-vowel and the quiesced Pe-Yod both produce the same Shureq pattern.
The practical effect: I-י/ו Hophal forms are recognized exactly like Hophal strong forms — by the Shureq under the prefix consonant. The root is identified by examining R2 and R3 (the only consonants visible) and checking the lexicon.
Most important I-י/ו Hophal roots: - יָלַד "to bear/beget" → Hophal הוּלַד "was born/begotten" - בּוֹא "to come/bring" (I-ו) → Hophal הוּבָא "was brought" / יוּבָא "will be brought" - יָצָא "to go out" → Hophal הוּצָא (rare); more common in Hiphil הוֹצִיא - יָרַד "to go down" → Hophal הוּרַד "was brought down"
Diagnostic markers: - Perfect 3ms: הוּלַד — Shureq under הוּ prefix; R1 (י) has quiesced; Patach under R2 - Perfect 3ms (בוא): הוּבָא — Shureq prefix; Qamets under R2 (III-א effect: see section 4) - Imperfect 3ms: יוּלַד — Shureq under imperfect prefix; Patach under R2 - Wayyiqtol 3ms: וַיּוּלַד — doubled prefix consonant + Shureq; Patach under R2 - Participle ms: מוּלָד — מוּ prefix (Shureq); Qamets under R2
Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)¶
| Conjugation | Hophal Strong (קטל) | I-י (ילד) | I-ו (בוא) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect (Qatal) | הֻקְטַל | הוּלַד | הוּבָא | Shureq prefix; Pe-Yod/Vav quiesces |
| Imperfect (Yiqtol) | יֻקְטַל | יוּלַד | יוּבָא | Shureq under imperfect prefix |
| Wayyiqtol | וַיֻּקְטַל | וַיּוּלַד | וַיּוּבָא | Doubled prefix + Shureq |
| Weqatal | וְהֻקְטַל | וְהוּלַד | וְהוּבָא | וְ + Perfect form |
| Inf. Construct | הֻקְטַל | הוּלֶד | הוּבָא | Rare |
| Inf. Absolute | הֻקְטֵל | הוּלֵד | הוּבֵא | Tsere under R2 |
| Participle | מֻקְטָל | מוּלָד | מוּבָא | מוּ prefix; Qamets under R2 |
Key Corpus Examples¶
- הוּלַד לוֹ (Gen 21:5) — "was born to him" — Hophal Perfect 3ms of יָלַד; Shureq prefix; Patach under ל; Abraham's age when Isaac was born
- וַיּוּלַד (Gen 4:26) — "and to Seth also a son was born" — Hophal Wayyiqtol 3ms of יָלַד; the standard genealogical passive; appears dozens of times in Gen 4–11
- הוּבָא (Gen 43:18) — "because of the silver that was returned" / "they were brought to Joseph's house" — Hophal Perfect 3ms of בּוֹא; Shureq under הוּ; I-ו root (quiesced ב-וא)
- וַיּוּבָא (Gen 39:1) — "Joseph was brought down to Egypt" — Hophal Wayyiqtol 3ms of בּוֹא; Shureq + Patach; Joseph narrative Hophal of "bringing"
- יוּבָא (Lev 6:23) — "it shall be brought [as an offering]" — Hophal Imperfect 3ms of בּוֹא; Shureq under imperfect prefix; sacrificial legislation
- הוּרַד (Gen 39:1) — "Joseph was brought down to Egypt" — Hophal Perfect 3ms of יָרַד; Shureq prefix; the double use of Hophal יָרַד and בּוֹא in this verse is the textbook example of I-י/ו Hophal
8. Biconsonantal (II-ו/י) Verbs¶
Pattern¶
Biconsonantal (hollow) roots have two true consonants (R1 and R3) with a long medial vowel. In the Hophal, the u-class prefix vowel and the root's medial vowel letter interact to produce a characteristic Holem-Vav (וֹ) under the prefix consonant in many forms, though the standard Shureq/Qibbuts also occurs depending on the specific root and tradition. The key forms:
- Root קוּם → Hophal הוּקַם / יוּקַם — the root's ו contracts with the Hophal u-prefix producing Shureq; Patach under R2 (ק)
- Root שִׂים → Hophal הוּשַׂם / יוּשַׂם — same pattern
- Root שׁוּב → Hophal הוּשַׁב / יוּשַׁב — "was returned/restored"
In practice, Biconsonantal Hophal forms are identified by (1) Shureq or Qibbuts under the prefix, (2) only two root consonants visible between the prefix and the ending, and (3) Patach under R2 (in the perfect and imperfect).
Diagnostic markers: - Perfect 3ms: הוּקַם — Shureq under הוּ prefix; Patach under R2 (ק); only two root consonants (ק + מ) - Imperfect 3ms: יוּקַם — Shureq under imperfect prefix; same two-consonant pattern - Wayyiqtol 3ms: וַיּוּקַם — doubled prefix + Shureq; two root consonants - Participle ms: מוּקָם — מוּ prefix; Qamets under R2
Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)¶
| Conjugation | Hophal Strong (קטל) | Biconsonantal (קום) | Biconsonantal (שׁוב) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect (Qatal) | הֻקְטַל | הוּקַם | הוּשַׁב | Shureq prefix; Patach under R2 |
| Imperfect (Yiqtol) | יֻקְטַל | יוּקַם | יוּשַׁב | Shureq prefix; two root consonants |
| Wayyiqtol | וַיֻּקְטַל | וַיּוּקַם | וַיּוּשַׁב | Doubled prefix + Shureq |
| Weqatal | וְהֻקְטַל | וְהוּקַם | וְהוּשַׁב | וְ + Perfect form |
| Inf. Construct | הֻקְטַל | הוּקַם | הוּשַׁב | Rare |
| Inf. Absolute | הֻקְטֵל | הוּקֵם | הוּשֵׁב | Tsere under R2 |
| Participle | מֻקְטָל | מוּקָם | מוּשָׁב | מוּ prefix; Qamets under R2 |
Key Corpus Examples¶
- הוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן (Exo 40:17) — "the tabernacle was set up" — Hophal Perfect 3ms of קוּם; Shureq prefix; "the tabernacle was raised up/established" on the first day of the first month; the great Tabernacle narrative Hophal
- יוּקַם (Num 9:15) — "on the day the tabernacle was set up" — Hophal Imperfect 3ms of קוּם; reference to the same event from the perspective of the pillar of cloud; Shureq under prefix
- הוּשַׁב (Gen 43:12) — "the silver that was returned in your bags" — Hophal Perfect 3ms of שׁוּב; Shureq prefix; Patach under R2; Joseph's brothers and the silver
9. Geminate (Ayin-Doubled, II=III) Verbs¶
Pattern¶
Geminate roots (R2 = R3) in the Hophal produce compact, distinctive forms. Because the identical consonants must be written together, R2 takes a Dagesh forte (representing the doubled consonant). The Hophal u-class prefix is retained. The combination of Qibbuts under the prefix consonant + Dagesh forte in R2 is the defining signature.
The canonical Geminate Hophal roots are קָלַל "to be slight/cursed" → הֻקַּל "was made light" and שָׁמַם "to be devastated" → הֻשַּׁם "was laid waste." Note: the frequently-cited form יֻקַּם (Gen 4:15) comes from the I-נ root נָקַם, where nun assimilation produces a Dagesh that resembles geminate doubling — but the mechanism is different (see section 7 above).
Diagnostic markers: - Perfect 3ms: הֻקַּל — Qibbuts under prefix; Dagesh forte in R2 (=R3); short Patach - Imperfect 3ms: יֻקַּל — Qibbuts under prefix consonant; Dagesh forte in R2 - Wayyiqtol 3ms: וַיֻּקַּל — doubled prefix + Qibbuts + Dagesh in R2 - Participle ms: מֻקָּל — מֻ prefix; Dagesh forte in R2; Qamets
Paradigm Summary (3ms per conjugation)¶
| Conjugation | Hophal Strong (קטל) | Geminate (קלל) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect (Qatal) | הֻקְטַל | הֻקַּל | Qibbuts prefix; Dagesh forte in R2 (=R3) |
| Imperfect (Yiqtol) | יֻקְטַל | יֻקַּל | Qibbuts + Dagesh forte |
| Wayyiqtol | וַיֻּקְטַל | וַיֻּקַּל† | Doubled prefix + Qibbuts + Dagesh |
| Weqatal | וְהֻקְטַל | וְהֻקַּל† | וְ + Perfect form |
| Inf. Construct | הֻקְטַל | הֻקַּל† | Same as Perfect 3ms |
| Inf. Absolute | הֻקְטֵל | הֻקֵּל† | Tsere under R2 |
| Participle | מֻקְטָל | מֻקָּל | מֻ prefix; Qamets; Dagesh forte |
Key Corpus Examples¶
- הֻשַּׁמּוּ (Jer 2:12) — "be appalled, O heavens" — Hophal Geminate of שָׁמַם (R2=R3=מ); Qibbuts prefix + Dagesh forte in שׁ; "were made desolate/appalled"
- הֻקַּם (Exo 40:2) — "the tabernacle was set up" — Biconsonantal Hophal of קוּם (compare the geminate Dagesh pattern); Qibbuts + Dagesh
Note on יֻקַּם (Gen 4:15, 4:24): This widely-cited form belongs to the I-נ root נָקַם "to avenge." The nun assimilates in the Hophal imperfect, producing Dagesh forte in ק — a pattern that looks like geminate doubling but arises from nun assimilation, not R2=R3 contraction. See section 7 (I-נ) for full treatment.
10. Double-Weak Roots¶
Several high-frequency Hophal roots belong to two weak classes simultaneously. The phonological effects stack.
| Root | Weak classes | Key effect | Representative Hophal form |
|---|---|---|---|
| נָכָה | I-נ + III-ה | נ assimilates (Dagesh in R2); ה contracts (Seghol + ה final) | הֻכָּה (Num 25:14) — was struck |
| עָלָה | I-guttural + III-ה | Composite shewa under ע; ה contracts (Qamets + ה) | הֻעֲלָה — was brought up |
| בּוֹא | I-ו (Pe-Vav) + Biconsonantal | Shureq prefix; two root consonants; I-ו quiesces | הוּבָא (Gen 43:18) — was brought |
| נָשָׂא | I-נ + III-א | נ assimilates (Dagesh in R2); א quiesces (Qamets before final א) | יֻשָּׂא — was lifted, carried |
Teaching note: נָכָה is the most pedagogically important double-weak root in the Hophal. Its forms (הֻכָּה, יֻכֶּה, מֻכִּים) appear in Exodus 5:16, Numbers 25:14, and Deuteronomy 25:2 — three critical legal-narrative passages students encounter repeatedly. Identifying the stacked effects (I-נ Dagesh + III-ה contracted ending) is a key parsing milestone.
11. High-Frequency Weak Hophal Lemmas¶
The following weak-root Hophal lemmas are among the most common in the OT. Frequency counts represent Hophal tokens only.
Corpus data: For full OT frequency tables including Hophal token counts by book, see the Hiphil Verb Morphology Report, which includes a Hophal section with book-by-book distribution.
| # | Root | Weak Class | OT Hophal tokens | Hiphil meaning | Hophal meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | בּוֹא | I-ו (Pe-Vav) | 35+ | to bring | to be brought |
| 2 | נָגַד | I-נ | 35+ | to tell, declare | to be told, reported |
| 3 | יָלַד | I-י (Pe-Yod) | 30+ | to beget, cause to bear | to be born, begotten |
| 4 | גָּלָה | III-ה | 25+ | to exile, deport | to be exiled, deported |
| 5 | קוּם | Biconsonantal | 20+ | to raise up, establish | to be raised up, established |
| 6 | נָכָה | I-נ + III-ה | 18+ | to strike, smite | to be struck, smitten |
| 7 | שׁוּב | Biconsonantal | 12+ | to bring back, restore | to be brought back, restored |
| 8 | נָקַם | I-נ | 10+ | to avenge | to be avenged |
| 9 | יָרַד | I-י | 8+ | to bring down, lower | to be brought down |
| 10 | עָלָה | I-gutt. + III-ה | 8+ | to bring up, offer | to be brought up, offered |
| 11 | שָׁלַח | III-ח | 7+ | to send, release | to be sent, released |
| 12 | יָצָא | I-י | 5+ | to bring out, lead out | to be brought out |
| 13 | שָׁמַם | Geminate | 5+ | to devastate | to be devastated, laid waste |
| 14 | בָּנָה | III-ה | 4+ | to cause to build | to be built |
| 15 | מָצָא | III-א | 4+ | to cause to find; present | to be found |
Usage note: The three most common weak Hophal lemmas — בּוֹא (brought), נָגַד (told), and יָלַד (born/begotten) — account for the majority of Hophal weak tokens in narrative texts. בּוֹא dominates the Joseph narrative; נָגַד dominates the narrative reporting formula; יָלַד dominates the genealogies of Genesis 4–11. Mastering these three roots in their Hophal forms gives immediate access to large swaths of Genesis.
12. Example Passages¶
Pe-Nun — The Narrative Report Formula¶
Wayyiqtol — Gen 22:20 וַיְהִ֗י אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיֻּגַּ֥ד לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם "Now after these things it was told to Abraham…" → נגד Hophal Wayyiqtol 3ms of נָגַד; וַיֻּגַּד = וַיּ + Qibbuts + Dagesh forte in ג (Pe-Nun assimilation). The formula וַיֻּגַּד לְ is the OT's standard passive-reportage construction — Abraham, Moses, and David are all its recipients. The Hiphil הִגִּיד "to declare/tell" is passivized: "it was declared to."
Perfect — Deu 17:4 וְהֻגַּ֥ד לְךָ֖ וְשָׁמָ֑עְתָּ "and it is told to you and you hear…" → נגד Hophal Weqatal 3ms; וְהֻגַּד = וְ + הֻ (Qibbuts prefix) + Dagesh forte in ג. Legal context: someone hears a report of idolatry. The form וְהֻגַּד perfectly illustrates the Hophal's role as the passive of official communication.
Pe-Yod — Birth and Motion¶
Wayyiqtol — Gen 4:26 וּלְשֵׁ֤ת גַּם־הוּא֙ יֻלַּד־בֵּ֔ן "And to Seth also a son was born." → ילד Hophal Wayyiqtol 3ms of יָלַד; יֻלַּד = יוּ prefix (Shureq — Pe-Yod quiesces) + Dagesh forte in ל (Pe-Nun-like assimilation does not apply; rather the Shureq absorbs the initial י). This form appears dozens of times in the Genesis genealogies (Gen 4:18, 4:26, 5:3–32, 11:10–26). Learning יוּלַד unlocks the entire primeval genealogical narrative.
Perfect — Gen 21:5 אַבְרָהָ֔ם בֶּן־מְאַ֣ת שָׁנָ֑ה בְּהִוָּ֣לֶד ל֔וֹ אֵ֖ת יִצְחָ֥ק בְּנֽוֹ׃ "Abraham was a hundred years old when Isaac his son was born to him." → ילד Hophal Inf. Construct of יָלַד with לְ; בְּהִוָּלֶד = בְּ + הִ + וָּ + לֶ + ד. Temporal clause construction (בְּ + inf.const.). The Shureq prefix (הוּ/הִ + ו) marks the Pe-Yod/Vav Hophal throughout.
Wayyiqtol — Gen 39:1 וְיוֹסֵ֖ף הוּרַ֣ד מִצְרָ֑יְמָה וַיִּקְנֵ֡הוּ פּוֹטִיפַר֩ "Now Joseph was brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar…purchased him." → ירד Hophal Perfect 3ms of יָרַד; הוּרַד = Shureq prefix (Pe-Yod quiesces) + Patach under ר. The very same verse continues with the Hiphil ← Hophal pair: the brothers' act (Hiphil cause) is passivized in Joseph's experience (Hophal result). הוּרַד begins the Joseph narrative's Hophal arc.
III-ה — Exile and Desolation¶
Perfect 3ms — Amos 1:5 וְגָלֻ֥ת אֲרָ֖ם קִ֑ירָה אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה׃ "…and the people of Aram shall go into exile to Kir, says the LORD." → גלה Hophal Perfect 3ms of גָּלָה; הֻגְלָה = Qibbuts prefix + Qamets + ה mater. Amos uses this exile formula (הֻגְלָה / הֻגְלוּ) six times in chapters 1–2 for six nations — one of the most concentrated uses of the III-ה Hophal in the OT.
Perfect 3cp — Amos 1:6 עַ֣ל הַסְגִּירָ֗ם גָּל֤וּת שְׁלֵמָה֙ לְהַסְגִּ֣יר לֶאֱד֔וֹם "…because they carried into exile a whole people to deliver them up to Edom." → גלה Hophal Perfect 3cp of גָּלָה; הֻגְלוּ = Qibbuts prefix + plural suffix (ו replaces contracted ה). Compare with 3ms הֻגְלָה above: the plural drops the ה mater and adds וּ directly to the stem.
Double-weak — Num 25:14 וְשֵׁ֗ם אִ֤ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ הַמֻּכֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֻכָּ֖ה "The name of the Israelite man who was struck was…" → נכה Hophal Perfect 3ms (הֻכָּה) and Hophal Participle ms (הַמֻּכֶּה) of נָכָה in the same verse. הֻכָּה: Qibbuts prefix + Dagesh forte in כ (Pe-Nun נ assimilates) + Qamets + ה mater (III-ה ending). הַמֻּכֶּה: מֻ prefix + Dagesh forte in כ + Seghol + ה (III-ה participle). Both double-weak effects are visible side by side.
Biconsonantal — Tabernacle Dedication¶
Perfect — Exo 40:17 וַיְהִ֞י בַּחֹ֧דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֛וֹן בַּשָּׁנָ֥ה הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית … הוּקַ֥ם הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃ "And in the first month of the second year … the tabernacle was set up." → קום Hophal Perfect 3ms of קוּם; הוּקַם = Shureq prefix + Patach under ק (only two root consonants). The dedication of the Tabernacle is marked by Hophal Biconsonantal forms throughout Exodus 40 (הוּקַם, יוּקַם) — the passive construction emphasizing that Moses acts under divine instruction, not personal initiative.
Imperfect — Num 9:15 וּבְיוֹם֙ הָקִ֣ים אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן "On the day that the tabernacle was set up…" → קום Hophal Inf. Construct (הָקִים here functions as inf.const. with ב); the narrative looks back to Exo 40 from Num 9. Compare with the biconsonantal perfect הוּקַם — both mark the same referential event.
I-נ — Vengeance (יֻקַּם looks geminate but is I-נ)¶
Imperfect — Gen 4:15 כָּל־הֹרֵ֣ג קַ֔יִן שִׁבְעָתַ֖יִם יֻקָּֽם׃ "If anyone kills Cain, he will be avenged sevenfold." → I-נ Hophal Imperfect 3ms of נָקַם; יֻקַּם = Qibbuts under prefix + Dagesh forte in קּ (from nun assimilation, not R2=R3 geminate contraction). This is one of the earliest Hophal forms in the OT. The Dagesh in ק looks identical to a geminate Dagesh but its source is the assimilated נ of R1.
Imperfect — Gen 4:24 כִּ֥י שִׁבְעָתַ֖יִם יֻקַּם־קָ֑יִן וְלֶ֖מֶךְ שִׁבְעִ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָֽה׃ "If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold." → I-נ Hophal Imperfect 3ms; same form יֻקַּם used twice in four verses (4:15, 4:24). Recognizing that this is I-נ behavior (not geminate) is the key parsing point — see section 7 for the full I-נ paradigm.
13. Summary: Identifying Weak Hophal Forms¶
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the ONE universal Hophal marker across all weak classes? | u-class vowel (Qibbuts ֻ or Shureq וּ) under the prefix consonant — every conjugation, every weak class |
| I-guttural: what changes? | Composite shewa under R1; u-prefix unchanged |
| III-ח/ע: what changes? | Patach furtive before word-final ח/ע; otherwise unchanged |
| III-א: what changes? | Patach → Qamets before quiesced final א |
| III-ה: what changes? | Contracted endings (ָה / ֶה); wayyiqtol apocopates |
| I-נ: what changes? | Dagesh forte in R2 (נ assimilated); u-prefix intact |
| I-י/ו: what changes? | Qibbuts → Shureq throughout (יוּ / הוּ / מוּ) |
| Biconsonantal: what changes? | Shureq prefix throughout; only R1 and R3 visible |
| Geminate: what changes? | Qibbuts prefix + Dagesh forte in R2 (=R3) |
| Which three roots account for most weak Hophal narrative tokens? | בּוֹא (brought — Joseph narrative), נָגַד (told — report formula), יָלַד (born — genealogies) |
| How to distinguish I-י/ו Hophal from Biconsonantal Hophal? | I-י/ו: three consonants in root, one quiesces; Biconsonantal: only two root consonants |
| How to distinguish I-נ Hophal from Geminate Hophal? | Both have Dagesh in R2; I-נ: three root letters total; Geminate: R2 = R3, effectively two distinct letters |
Sources: MACULA Hebrew WLC (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · BBH = Pratico & Van Pelt, Basics of Biblical Hebrew, 3rd ed.