Chapter 29 — "Spot the Hophal Weak" Passage Exercise

Stem: Hophal (הֻפְעַל) — Weak Verbs | Passages: Gen 39 + 43 (Joseph) · Exo 40 + Num 9 (Tabernacle) · Gen 38 + 43 + Exo 5 + 14 (Scattered) · Gen 4 + 22 + Exile context (Weak class coverage)

Instructions: For each numbered verb, fill in: (1) Is it Hophal? (Yes/No) (2) Conjugation (3) PGN (4) Root. Four verbs in this exercise are not Hophal — drawn from Qal and Hiphil already studied. Click ▶ Answer to reveal the key for that row.

Key diagnostic: Hophal prefix vowel is always u-class: הוּ- or הֻ- (Perfect), יוּ-/יֻ- (Imperfect), מוּ- (Participle). For I-guttural roots, the Perfect prefix is הֶ- (Seghol) instead of הֻ-. Compare: Hiphil prefix = i-class (הִ-/הֵ-/הָ-). If you see וּ, ֻ, or an unexpected הֶ- under the prefix consonant, suspect Hophal.

Passage A — Genesis 39:1 + 43:18

Context: Joseph is taken to Egypt; his brothers fear being taken as slaves.

הוּרַד [1] יוֹסֵף מִצְרָיְמָה וַיִּקְנֵהוּ פּוֹטִיפַר

"Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar … bought him." (Gen 39:1)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
1	הוּרַד
1	הוּרַד	Yes	Perfect	3ms	ירד	Hophal — "was brought down." I-י root: Hiphil הוֹרִיד → Hophal הוּרַד. The הוּ prefix (u-class Shureq) marks Hophal; I-י collapses before the prefix.

וַיִּירְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים כִּי הוּבְאוּ [2] בֵּית יוֹסֵף

"And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house." (Gen 43:18)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
2	הוּבְאוּ
2	הוּבְאוּ	Yes	Perfect	3cp	בוא	Hophal — "they were brought." I-ו/י root בוא: Hiphil הֵבִיא → Hophal הוּבָא (3ms) / הוּבְאוּ (3cp). The הוּ prefix + I-ו collapse; 3cp suffix וּ follows the III-א final consonant.

Distractor alert — Qal: Verb 3 (הַשָּׁב) looks passive but is actually a Qal Participle ms with the definite article הַ. The Hophal Participle of שׁוב requires the מוּ- prefix: הַמּוּשָׁב (see Gen 43:12!). No u-class vowel under שׁ → not Hophal. Verb 4 (מוּבָאִים) shows the true Hophal Participle mp (מוּ- prefix visible).

עַל דְּבַר הַכֶּסֶף הַשָּׁב [3] בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵינוּ בַּתְּחִלָּה אֲנַחְנוּ מוּבָאִים [4]

"…because of the silver that returned in our sacks the first time, we are being brought in." (Gen 43:18)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
3	הַשָּׁב
3	הַשָּׁב	No	Participle	ms	שוב	NOT Hophal — Qal Participle ms "the (silver) that returned." The הַ is the definite article (dagesh in שׁ from article assimilation). Hophal Ptc. of שׁוב would be הַמּוּשָׁב (מוּ- prefix). No u-class vowel → not Hophal.
4	מוּבָאִים
4	מוּבָאִים	Yes	Participle	mp	בוא	Hophal Ptc. mp — "being brought in." The מוּ- prefix (u-class) is the Hophal Participle marker. Same root as #2 but Participle vs. Perfect. Contrast with #3 (הַשָּׁב, Qal): no מוּ- → not Hophal.

כִּי יוּבָא [5] אִתָּנוּ אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ

"…because he will be brought into his house with us." (Gen 43:18)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
5	יוּבָא
5	יוּבָא	Yes	Imperfect	3ms	בוא	Hophal Impf. — "will be brought." I-ו/י root בוא: יוּ prefix (Shureq = u-class) = Hophal Imperfect marker. Compare: Qal יָבֹא vs. Hophal יוּבָא. Same root as #2 and #4; third conjugation form.

Passage B — Exodus 40:17 + Numbers 9:15–17

Context: The tabernacle is set up on the first day; the cloud descends.

וַיְהִי בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית הוּקַם [6] הַמִּשְׁכָּן

"And it came about in the first month of the second year — the tabernacle was set up." (Exo 40:17)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
6	הוּקַם
6	הוּקַם	Yes	Perfect	3ms	קום	Hophal — "was set up." Biconsonantal root קום: Hiphil הֵקִים → Hophal הוּקַם. The הוּ prefix (Shureq) marks Hophal; the ק-מ pattern is the collapsed biconsonantal stem. Pathach under ק (R2 with dagesh-reduced vav).

Distractor alert — Hiphil: Verb 7 uses the same root קום but in the Hiphil (active causative). Compare prefix vowels: Hiphil הָ- (i/a-class vowel + Hireq under ק) vs. Hophal הוּ- (u-class Shureq).

וּבְיוֹם הָקִים [7] אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן כִּסָּה הֶעָנָן אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן

"And on the day he set up the tabernacle, the cloud covered the tabernacle." (Num 9:15)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
7	הָקִים
7	הָקִים	No	Perfect	3ms	קום	NOT Hophal — Hiphil active: "he set up." The הָ- prefix (a-class) + Hireq under ק identifies Hiphil. Contrast: הוּקַם (Hophal, u-class, passive) vs. הָקִים (Hiphil, a-class, active). Same root; opposite stem.

בְּהֵעָלֹת הֶעָנָן מֵעַל הַמִּשְׁכָּן יִסְעוּ [8] בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

"Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel set out." (Num 9:17)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
8	יִסְעוּ
8	יִסְעוּ	No	Imperfect	3mp	נסע	NOT Hophal — Qal Impf. 3mp: "they set out." I-נ root: נ assimilates into dagesh forte in ס. The prefix vowel is יִ (Hireq) — not יוּ/יֻ (u-class) — so this is Qal, not Hophal.

Contrast — Biconsonantal Hophal Perfect vs. Imperfect: Verb 6 (הוּקַם) is the Perfect 3ms and verb 9 (יוּקַם) is the Imperfect 3ms of the same root קום. Both carry the Shureq (וּ) prefix — the diagnostic for biconsonantal Hophal. Do not confuse with יֻקַּם (Qibbuts + dagesh) from I-נ root נקם, "shall be avenged" — see verb 17.

וְאִם לֹא יוּקַם [9] הַמִּשְׁכָּן

"And if the tabernacle is not set up…" (cf. Num 9 context — biconsonantal Hophal Impf.)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
9	יוּקַם
9	יוּקַם	Yes	Imperfect	3ms	קום	Hophal Impf. — "will be set up." Biconsonantal root קום: יוּ prefix (Shureq) = Hophal Imperfect. Diagnostic: Shureq (וּ) maintained in Imperfect for biconsonantal roots. Compare: יֻקַּם (#17, root נקם, Qibbuts + dagesh — a different root entirely).

Passage C — Genesis 43:12 + 38:25 + Exodus 5 + 14:5

Context: The returned money; Tamar is brought out; Israel's labor; exodus is reported.

וְכֶסֶף מִשְׁנֶה קְחוּ בְיֶדְכֶם וְאֶת־הַכֶּסֶף הַמּוּשָׁב בְּפִי אַמְתְּחֹתֵיכֶם הוּשַׁב [10]

"…take double the money with you, and the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks — it was returned." (Gen 43:12)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
10	הוּשַׁב
10	הוּשַׁב	Yes	Perfect	3ms	שוב	Hophal — "was returned/brought back." Biconsonantal root שׁוב: Hiphil הֵשִׁיב → Hophal הוּשַׁב. The הוּ prefix + biconsonantal ש-ב pattern. Same verse also has הַמּוּשָׁב (Hophal Ptc. ms with article) — compare the two Hophal forms of שׁוב.

הִוא מוּצֵאת [11] וְהִיא שָׁלְחָה אֶל־חָמִיהָ לֵאמֹר

"She was being brought out, and she sent word to her father-in-law, saying…" (Gen 38:25)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
11	מוּצֵאת
11	מוּצֵאת	Yes	Participle	fs	יצא	Hophal Ptc. fs — "being brought out." I-י root יצא (also III-א doubly weak): Hiphil הוֹצִיא → Hophal Ptc. ms מוּצָא / fs מוּצֵאת. The מוּ- prefix (u-class) is the Hophal Participle marker; ת marks feminine singular.

וַיִּשְׁלַח יְהוּדָה אֶת־גְּדִי הָעִזִּים וְלֹא מְצָאָהּ [12]

"And Judah sent the young goat, but he did not find her." (Gen 38:20)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
12	מְצָאָהּ
12	מְצָאָהּ	No	Perfect	3ms + 3fs obj.	מצא	NOT Hophal — Qal Perfect 3ms + 3fs obj. suffix: "he found her." The מְ is the Qal Perfect 3ms vowel pattern (Shewa), not the Hophal Ptc. מוּ-. No u-class vowel under the prefix → not Hophal.

הוּצָא [13] הַחֹמֶר מֵהֶם

"The straw was taken away from them." (cf. Exo 5 context)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
13	הוּצָא
13	הוּצָא	Yes	Perfect	3ms	יצא	Hophal — "was taken/brought out." I-י root יצא (also III-א): Hiphil הוֹצִיא → Hophal הוּצָא. The הוּ prefix marks Hophal; I-י collapses. Compare: מוּצֵאת (Ptc. fs, #11) vs. הוּצָא (Pf. 3ms, here).

הֻגַּד [14] לְמֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם כִּי בָרַח הָעָם

"It was told to the king of Egypt that the people had fled." (Exo 14:5)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
14	הֻגַּד
14	הֻגַּד	Yes	Perfect	3ms	נגד	Hophal — "it was told/reported." I-נ root נגד: נ assimilates → dagesh forte in גּ. Qibbuts (ֻ) under הּ = Hophal prefix for I-נ class. Hiphil הִגִּיד (to tell/declare) → Hophal = was told. Compare: Wayyiqtol form at #16.

Passage D — Weak-Class Coverage: III-ה · I-גuttural · I-נ Wayyiqtol · I-נ/Geminate

Context: Genesis 4 + 22 · Exile context · Paradigm forms for rare Hophal classes.

New weak classes: Verbs 15–18 extend coverage to weak classes missing from Passages A–C. Note how the Hophal prefix vowel shifts by class: Shureq (הוּ/יוּ) for I-י/ו and Biconsonantal; Qibbuts (הֻ/יֻ) for I-נ, III-ה, III-ח/ע, III-א, and Geminate; Seghol (הֶ) for I-guttural Perfect only.

הֻגְלָה [15] עַמִּי מִן הָאָרֶץ

"My people was exiled from the land." (paradigm form — III-ה Hophal; cf. Kings/Amos exile context)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
15	הֻגְלָה
15	הֻגְלָה	Yes	Perfect	3ms	גלה	Hophal — "was exiled." III-ה root גלה: Qibbuts prefix הֻ (standard for III-ה class) + Qamets-ה mater ending (characteristic III-ה Perfect 3ms). Hiphil הִגְלָה (to exile/deport) → Hophal הֻגְלָה (was exiled). Wayyiqtol would be וַיֻּגֶל (apocopated, ה drops).

וַיֻּגַּד [16] לְאַבְרָהָם לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה יָלְדָה מִלְכָּה גַּם הִוא

"And it was told to Abraham, saying, 'Behold, Milcah has also borne children.'" (Gen 22:20)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
16	וַיֻּגַּד
16	וַיֻּגַּד	Yes	Wayyiqtol	3ms	נגד	Hophal Wayyiqtol — "and it was told." I-נ root נגד: וַ + יֻ (Qibbuts Wayyiqtol prefix) + גַּד (dagesh forte in גּ from assimilated נ). Same root as #14 (Perfect הֻגַּד) — contrasts the Perfect and Wayyiqtol conjugation of the same Hophal form.

כָּל הֹרֵג קַיִן שִׁבְעָתַיִם יֻקָּם [17]

"Whoever kills Cain, sevenfold shall he be avenged." (Gen 4:15)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
17	יֻקָּם
17	יֻקָּם	Yes	Imperfect	3ms	נקם	Hophal Impf. — "shall be avenged." I-נ root נקם (Pe-Nun): נ assimilates → dagesh forte in קּ; Qibbuts (ֻ) under יּ prefix. Hiphil נִקַּם / Hophal passive. Contrast with #9 (יוּקַם, root קום, Shureq prefix): same surface letters ק-מ but entirely different roots and prefix vowels.

הֶעֱמַד [18] שָׁם לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ

"He was stationed there before the king." (paradigm form — I-guttural Hophal)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
18	הֶעֱמַד
18	הֶעֱמַד	Yes	Perfect	3ms	עמד	Hophal — "was stationed/stood." I-guttural root עמד: the key diagnostic — Hophal Perfect prefix is הֶ (Seghol) instead of normal הֻ (Qibbuts), because ע cannot take simple Shewa. Hateph-Seghol appears under ע. Imperfect would be יֻעֲמַד (Qibbuts resumes in Impf). Hiphil הֶעֱמִיד → Hophal הֶעֱמַד.

Reflection Questions

Verbs 6 (הוּקַם) and 9 (יוּקַם) and verb 17 (יֻקָּם) all show a consonantal sequence that includes ק and מ. Why are #6 and #9 from root קום while #17 is from root נקם? What is the morphological difference in the prefix that tells you which root is in view?
Verb 3 (הַשָּׁב) and verb 10 (הוּשַׁב) both come from root שׁוב. One is Hophal and one is Qal. Explain what feature of each form tells you the stem, and why the dagesh in שׁ of הַשָּׁב does not indicate Hophal.
Verb 14 (הֻגַּד) and verb 16 (וַיֻּגַּד) come from the same root (נגד) and both are Hophal. What is the conjugation difference between them, and what does the וַ prefix on verb 16 signal about narrative function?
Verb 18 (הֶעֱמַד) has Seghol under the prefix (הֶ-) rather than Qibbuts (הֻ-). Why does the I-guttural class produce this prefix change in the Perfect, and what happens in the Imperfect (יֻעֲמַד)?

Answer Key — 14 Hophal · 4 Non-Hophal = 18 total

Non-Hophal (distractors): #3 (Qal Ptc.), #7 (Hiphil Pf.), #8 (Qal Impf.), #12 (Qal Pf. + suffix)

#	Verb	Hophal?	Conjugation	PGN	Root
1	הוּרַד	Yes	Perfect	3ms	ירד
2	הוּבְאוּ	Yes	Perfect	3cp	בוא
3	הַשָּׁב	No	Participle	ms	שוב
4	מוּבָאִים	Yes	Participle	mp	בוא
5	יוּבָא	Yes	Imperfect	3ms	בוא
6	הוּקַם	Yes	Perfect	3ms	קום
7	הָקִים	No	Perfect	3ms	קום
8	יִסְעוּ	No	Imperfect	3mp	נסע
9	יוּקַם	Yes	Imperfect	3ms	קום
10	הוּשַׁב	Yes	Perfect	3ms	שוב
11	מוּצֵאת	Yes	Participle	fs	יצא
12	מְצָאָהּ	No	Perfect	3ms + 3fs obj.	מצא
13	הוּצָא	Yes	Perfect	3ms	יצא
14	הֻגַּד	Yes	Perfect	3ms	נגד
15	הֻגְלָה	Yes	Perfect	3ms	גלה
16	וַיֻּגַּד	Yes	Wayyiqtol	3ms	נגד
17	יֻקָּם	Yes	Imperfect	3ms	נקם
18	הֶעֱמַד	Yes	Perfect	3ms	עמד