Chapter 29 — Hophal Weak-Form Identification Drill

BBH Chapter 29 · Hophal Weak Verbs

For each form: (1) identify the weak class, (2) parse (conjugation + PGN), (3) identify the root.

ClassKey diagnostic signal
I-yod/vavשׁוּרֶק prefix (הוּ / יוּ / מוּ); R1 yod/vav quiesces and disappears
Biconsonantal (hollow)שׁוּרֶק prefix (הוּ / יוּ) — same as I-yod; medial root vowel is the key to distinguishing: hollow root has vav/yod as R2
I-nunקִבּוּץ prefix (הֻ / יֻּ) + dagesh forte in R2 throughout — נ has assimilated into R2
III-heקִבּוּץ prefix (הֻ) + qamets-he ending (perfect 3ms); וּ plural (perfect 3cp); seghol-he (imperfect/participle)
I-gutturalקִבּוּץ or שׁוּרֶק prefix; composite shewa (hateph vowel) under R1 guttural throughout
Geminateשׁוּרֶק or קִבּוּץ prefix; dagesh forte in final root consonant (R2=R3 contraction); root has identical R2 and R3
Key distinction: I-yod/vav and Biconsonantal (hollow) roots both use שׁוּרֶק as their Hophal prefix vowel — unlike most other weak classes which retain קִבּוּץ. The reason: in both classes R1 is a quiescent consonant (yod/vav), so the vowel lengthens to compensate.

Part A — By Class

Group 1 — I-yod / I-vav
#FormReferenceConjugationPGNRoot
1הוּרַדGen 39:1
Perfect · 3ms · יָרַד — he was brought down; שׁוּרֶק prefix (הוּ) is the I-yod/vav Hophal marker; R1 yod has quiesced
2יוּרַדGen 44:29
Imperfect · 3ms · יָרַד — he will be brought down; שׁוּרֶק under imperfect prefix consonant (יוּ) — I-yod/vav pattern
3הוּבָאLev 4:4
Perfect · 3ms · בּוֹא — it was brought; הוּ prefix; root בּוֹא is I-vav (hollow); III-aleph: silent final א
4הוּבְאוּGen 43:18
Perfect · 3cp · בּוֹא — they were brought; הוּ prefix + וּ plural ending; I-vav root
5מוּבָאִיםGen 43:18
Participle · mp · בּוֹא — being brought; מוּ prefix (שׁוּרֶק under מ) is the I-yod/vav Hophal participle marker; ים plural
Group 2 — Biconsonantal (Hollow)
#FormReferenceConjugationPGNRoot
6הוּקַםExo 40:17
Perfect · 3ms · קוּם — it was set up/erected; הוּ prefix; hollow biconsonantal root (medial וּ vowel letter)
7יוּמַתGen 26:11
Imperfect · 3ms · מוּת — he shall be put to death; יוּ prefix — biconsonantal Hophal imperfect; hollow root מוּת
8הוּסַרLev 4:31
Perfect · 3ms · סוּר — it was removed; הוּ prefix; hollow root סוּר; "the fat was removed"
9הוּשַׁבGen 42:28
Perfect · 3ms · שׁוּב — it was returned/restored; הוּ prefix; hollow root שׁוּב; "my silver was returned"
10יּוּשַׂםGen 24:33
Wayyiqtol · 3ms · שִׂים — and food was set before him; יּוּ prefix (wayyiqtol) — dagesh in יּ + שׁוּרֶק; hollow/biconsonantal root שִׂים
Group 3 — I-nun
#FormReferenceConjugationPGNRoot
11וַיֻּגַּדGen 22:20
Wayyiqtol · 3ms · נָגַד — and it was told; וַיֻּ prefix (wayyiqtol) + קִבּוּץ + dagesh forte in R2 (ג) — נ has assimilated
12יֻּגַּדGen 38:13
Imperfect · 3ms · נָגַד — it was told to Tamar; קִבּוּץ under prefix (יֻּ) + dagesh in R2 (ג) — I-nun assimilation
13יֻּכּוּExo 5:14
Wayyiqtol · 3mp · נָכָה — and they were beaten; קִבּוּץ + dagesh in R2 (כּ) — I-nun; III-he root; וּ plural ending; "the taskmasters beat the Israelite foremen"
14יֻּתַּןLev 11:38
Imperfect · 3ms · נָתַן — if water is put on the seed; קִבּוּץ prefix + dagesh in R2 (תּ) — I-nun; the second נ of נָתַן also assimilates, causing extra dagesh in R3
15יֻּקַּםGen 4:15
Imperfect · 3ms · נָקַם — he will be avenged; קִבּוּץ + dagesh in R2 (קּ) — I-nun: נ of נָקַם has assimilated; "Cain will be avenged sevenfold"
Group 4 — III-he
#FormReferenceConjugationPGNRoot
16הֻגְלָהAmos 1:5
Perfect · 3ms · גָּלָה — the people of Aram were exiled; קִבּוּץ under הֻ + III-he: qamets-he ending
17הֻגְלוּJer 29:1
Perfect · 3cp · גָּלָה — those who were exiled from Jerusalem; קִבּוּץ under הֻ + וּ plural (III-he 3cp Qatal pattern: ה→ וּ)
18מוּכָּהDeut 28:27
Participle · fs · נָכָה — stricken (with); מוּ prefix (I-yod/nun in participle); dagesh in R2 (כּ) — I-nun; III-he: ה ending on feminine participle
19יֻּכֶּהExo 21:20
Imperfect · 3ms · נָכָה — if he is struck/beaten; קִבּוּץ prefix + dagesh in R2 (כּ) — I-nun; III-he: seghol-he ending in imperfect
20הֻלַּדExo 1:22
Perfect · 3ms · יָלַד — every son who is born; קִבּוּץ under הֻ + dagesh in R2 (לּ); root יָלַד is I-yod; the dagesh assimilates the yod's behavior in Hophal
Group 5 — I-guttural
#FormReferenceConjugationPGNRoot
21הוּחַלGen 4:26
Perfect · 3ms · חָלַל — it was begun/profaned; הוּ prefix; guttural ח: no dagesh, takes full vowel (patach under ח); "then it was begun to call on the name of YHWH"
22יָחֳרַםEzr 10:8
Imperfect · 3ms · חָרַם — his property will be forfeited/devoted; I-guttural: hateph-qamets under ח (יָ + חֳ); "all his property will be devoted to destruction"
23הֻחְלָה1 Sam 21:6
Perfect · 3fs · חָלָה — it had been set apart/consecrated; קִבּוּץ under הֻ + shewa under guttural ח + III-he ה ending (fs suffix)
24הֻאֲמַן2 Chr 9:8
Perfect · 3ms · אָמַן — he was found faithful/established; קִבּוּץ under הֻ + hateph-patach under guttural א — I-aleph (I-guttural); "because your God has set you…on his throne"
25יֶֽחֱטָאNum 15:28
Imperfect · 3ms · חָטָא — he will be cleansed/pardoned; I-guttural: hateph-seghol under ח; III-aleph: silent final א; "the priest shall make atonement and he will be forgiven"
Group 6 — Geminate
#FormReferenceConjugationPGNRoot
26הוּסַב2 Sam 3:12
Perfect · 3ms · סָבַב — the kingdom was turned over; הוּ prefix; geminate root ס-ב-ב (R2=R3); שׁוּרֶק form of Hophal geminate
27מוּסַבּוֹתNum 32:38
Participle · fp · סָבַב — their names having been changed/surrounded; מוּ prefix + dagesh forte in R3 (בּ) — geminate contraction; feminine plural וֹת ending
28הֻסַּב1 Kgs 2:15
Perfect · 3ms · סָבַב — the kingdom was turned over; קִבּוּץ under הֻ + dagesh forte in R2 (סּ) — alternate geminate Hophal form; contrast הוּסַב (item 26) which uses שׁוּרֶק
29יֻּתַּם2 Sam 20:18
Imperfect · 3ms · תָּמַם — a matter will be completed/finished; קִבּוּץ + dagesh in R2 (תּ) — geminate root ת-מ-מ (R2=R3)
30יֻּכַּלNum 13:30
Imperfect · 3ms · כָּלַל — it will be completed/able to be done; קִבּוּץ + dagesh in R2 (כּ) — geminate root כ-ל-ל; "we are well able to overcome it"

Part B — Mixed

Identify the weak class first, then parse fully.

#FormReferenceWeak classConjugationPGNRoot
31הוּבָאGen 33:11
I-vav / Biconsonantal · Perfect · 3ms · בּוֹא — the gift was brought to him; הוּ prefix; root בּוֹא is I-vav and hollow
32יֻּגַּדGen 48:2
I-nun · Imperfect · 3ms · נָגַד — it was told to Jacob; קִבּוּץ + dagesh in R2 (ג) — נ of נָגַד has assimilated
33יוּמַתLev 20:2
Biconsonantal · Imperfect · 3ms · מוּת — he shall be put to death; יוּ prefix — hollow biconsonantal Hophal imperfect
34הֻגְלוּ2 Kgs 17:23
III-he · Perfect · 3cp · גָּלָה — Israel was exiled from its land; קִבּוּץ under הֻ + וּ plural ending (III-he 3cp: ה drops, וּ takes its place)
35הוּקַםNum 7:1
Biconsonantal · Perfect · 3ms · קוּם — the tabernacle was erected; הוּ prefix; hollow root קוּם; medial vav vowel letter is the biconsonantal marker
36הוּסַרLev 6:4
Biconsonantal · Perfect · 3ms · סוּר — the ashes shall be removed; הוּ prefix; hollow root סוּר; distinguish from Geminate: no R2=R3
37יֻּכּוּNum 14:12
I-nun + III-he · Wayyiqtol · 3mp · נָכָה — and they were struck; קִבּוּץ + dagesh in R2 (כּ) — I-nun; III-he root; וּ plural; note both weak classes interact
38הוּרַד1 Sam 30:24
I-yod · Perfect · 3ms · יָרַד — the share of the one who stayed with the baggage; הוּ prefix; R1 yod has quiesced; "so his share shall be equal"
39הוּחַלGen 4:26
I-guttural · Perfect · 3ms · חָלַל — it was begun; הוּ prefix; guttural ח: no dagesh, full vowel (patach) replaces shewa under R1
40הוּסַבJosh 15:3
Geminate · Perfect · 3ms · סָבַב — it turned/went around; הוּ prefix; root ס-ב-ב has R2=R3 (geminate) — this is the only reliable distinguisher from biconsonantal הוּסַר (root סוּר: hollow, not geminate)

Discussion Questions

  1. The I-yod/vav Hophal (e.g., הוּרַד, הוּבָא) and the Biconsonantal (hollow) Hophal (e.g., הוּקַם, הוּסַר) both use שׁוּרֶק as the prefix vowel. What phonological principle explains why both classes abandon the usual קִבּוּץ prefix of the strong Hophal? What happens to R1 in each class?
  2. Compare וַיֻּגַּד (I-nun Hophal wayyiqtol, item 11) and יֻּכּוּ (I-nun Hophal, item 13). Both have dagesh forte in R2. What caused that dagesh? What happened to the נ of each root? Does anything else unusual happen to יֻּכּוּ beyond the I-nun assimilation?
  3. Items 16–17 (הֻגְלָה / הֻגְלוּ) and items 18–19 (מוּכָּה / יֻּכֶּה) all come from III-he roots. How does the III-he ending manifest in the Hophal perfect 3ms vs. 3cp? How does it appear in the participle vs. imperfect?
  4. Items 26 and 28 (הוּסַב and הֻסַּב) are both Hophal forms of the same geminate root סָבַב but have different prefix vowels. What accounts for this variation? How do you distinguish the Geminate Hophal from the Biconsonantal Hophal when both may display שׁוּרֶק?
  5. Write out the Hophal paradigm for מוּת (Biconsonantal hollow): Perfect 3ms, Imperfect 3ms, Wayyiqtol 3ms, Participle ms. For each form, identify the prefix vowel and explain how it differs from the strong Hophal (הֻקְטַל pattern).