Chapter 34 — "Spot the Hithpael" Passage Exercise

Stem: Hithpael (הִתְקַטֵּל) — Strong Verbs | Passages: 1 Kgs 8:28–30 · Gen 20:7 · Jos 3:5 · Exo 19:22 · Gen 22:17–18 · 2 Sam 10:12

Instructions: For each bolded/numbered verb, fill in: (1) Is it Hithpael? (Yes/No) (2) Conjugation (3) PGN (4) Root (5) Stem/Function. Distractors are drawn from stems already studied: Piel, Pual, and Hiphil. Click ▶ Answer to reveal the key for that row.

Hithpael diagnostic: Look for the הִתְ- prefix (perfect/imperative), יִתְ- prefix (imperfect), or מִתְ- prefix (participle), plus an i-class vowel under R1 and dagesh forte in R2 (same pattern as Piel, but preceded by the תְ infix).

Passage A — 1 Kings 8:28–30 · Genesis 20:7

Context: Solomon dedicates the Temple; God directs Abimelech to return Sarah.

וּפָנִ֗יתָ אֶל־תְּפִלַּ֤ת עַבְדְּךָ֙ וְאֶל־תְּחִנָּת֔וֹ יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהָ֑י לִשְׁמֹ֤עַ אֶל־הָרִנָּה֙ וְאֶל־הַתְּפִלָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר עַבְדְּךָ֛ מִתְפַּלֵּ֥ל [1] לְפָנֶ֖יךָ הַיּֽוֹם׃

"Turn to the prayer of your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying [1] before you today." (1 Kgs 8:28)

#	Verb	Hithpael?	Conjugation	PGN	Root	Stem / Function
1	מִתְפַּלֵּל
		✓ Yes	Participle	ms	פלל	Hithpael — Simple Action — "praying"; מִתְ- prefix marks Hithpael participle. BBH §34.2.4 uses this exact root as its own Simple Action example — no separate reflexive or reciprocal force.

וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֗ אֶל־תְּחִנַּ֤ת עַבְדְּךָ֙ וְעַמְּךָ֣ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִתְפַּלְּל֖וּ [2] אֶל־הַמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה

"…and listen to the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray [2] toward this place." (1 Kgs 8:30)

#	Verb	Hithpael?	Conjugation	PGN	Root	Stem / Function
2	יִתְפַּלְּלוּ
		✓ Yes	Imperfect	3mp	פלל	Hithpael — Simple Action — "they pray"; יִתְ- prefix + i-class vowel under R1 + dagesh forte in doubled ל (R2=R3 geminate: יִתְפַּלְּלוּ). The geminate doubling of ל ל is the hallmark of this root.

וְעַתָּ֗ה הָשֵׁ֤ב אֵֽשֶׁת־הָאִישׁ֙ כִּֽי־נָבִ֣יא ה֔וּא וְיִתְפַּלֵּ֥ל [3]־בַּעַדְךָ֖ וֶחְיֵ֑ה

"Now then, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray [3] for you, and you will live." (Gen 20:7)

#	Verb	Hithpael?	Conjugation	PGN	Root	Stem / Function
3	יִתְפַּלֵּל
		✓ Yes	Imperfect	3ms	פלל	Hithpael — Simple Action — "he will pray"; יִתְ- prefix + Pathach under R1 (פַּ) + Tsere + geminate ל ל; same root as #1–2 in imperfect 3ms.

הִתְפַּלֵּ֥ל [4] אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃

"Pray [4] to the LORD." (Gen 20:7b)

#	Verb	Hithpael?	Conjugation	PGN	Root	Stem / Function
4	הִתְפַּלֵּל
		✓ Yes	Imperative	2ms	פלל	Hithpael — Simple Action — "Pray!"; הִתְ- prefix + Pathach under R1 + Tsere + ל ל. Hithpael imperative looks exactly like the perfect 3ms (same form as #1 in some contexts) — context distinguishes them.

Distractor alert — Piel: The next verb is a Piel, NOT a Hithpael. Look carefully at what is (and is not) on the prefix.

וְטִהֲר֥וֹ [5] לְכַפֵּ֖ר עָלָֽיו׃

"…and purify [5] it to make atonement for it." (Exo 29:36)

#	Verb	Hithpael?	Conjugation	PGN	Root	Stem / Function
5	וְטִהֲרוֹ
		✗ No	Weqatal	3ms + 3ms suffix	טהר	Piel — Piel — Factitive — "he shall purify it"; Piel pattern: Hireq under R1 (טִ) + R2 guttural ה rejects dagesh (compensatory lengthening: Pathach → Qamets). No הִתְ prefix = NOT Hithpael.

Passage B — Joshua 3:5 · Exodus 19:22

Context: Israel prepares to cross the Jordan; priests prepare to approach the LORD.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ אֶל־הָעָ֖ם הִתְקַדְּשׁ֑וּ [6] כִּ֣י מָחָ֔ר יַעֲשֶׂ֧ה יְהוָ֛ה בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֖ם נִפְלָאֽוֹת׃

"And Joshua said to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves [6], for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.'" (Jos 3:5)

#	Verb	Hithpael?	Conjugation	PGN	Root	Stem / Function
6	הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ
		✓ Yes	Imperative	2mp	קדש	Hithpael — Reflexive — "consecrate yourselves!"; הִתְ- prefix + Pathach under R1 (קַ) + dagesh forte in R2 (דּ) + Shewa + שׁ + 2mp suffix וּ. Reflexive: they bring themselves to a state of holiness.

וְגַ֣ם הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים הַנִּגָּשִׁ֛ים אֶל־יְהוָ֥ה יִתְקַדָּ֖שׁוּ [7] פֶּן־יִפְרֹ֥ץ בָּהֶֽם׃

"And also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves [7], lest the LORD break out against them." (Exo 19:22)

#	Verb	Hithpael?	Conjugation	PGN	Root	Stem / Function
7	יִתְקַדָּשׁוּ
		✓ Yes	Imperfect	3mp	קדש	Hithpael — Reflexive — "let them consecrate themselves"; יִתְ- prefix + Pathach under R1 (קַ) + Qamets under R2 (דָּ, lengthened in pause/stressed form) + שׁ + 3mp suffix וּ. Same root as #6 — compare imperative vs. imperfect prefix.

Distractor alert — Pual: The next verb looks like it could be Piel or Hithpael, but it is neither. The u-class vowel under R1 is the giveaway.

קֻדַּ֥שׁ [8] הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ

"The altar was consecrated [8]." (Lev 8:15)

#	Verb	Hithpael?	Conjugation	PGN	Root	Stem / Function
8	קֻדַּשׁ
		✗ No	Perfect	3ms	קדש	Pual — Pual — Passive — "was consecrated"; Qibbuts (u-class vowel) under R1 (קֻ) + dagesh forte in R2 (דּ) = Pual passive. No הִתְ prefix. Compare: Hithpael reflexive הִתְקַדֵּשׁ vs. Pual passive קֻדַּשׁ — same root, opposite in agency.

Passage C — Genesis 22:17–18 · 2 Samuel 10:12

Context: the Abrahamic oath of blessing; Joab's battle speech.

וְהִתְבָּרֲכ֣וּ [9] בְזַרְעֲךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל גּוֹיֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ עֵ֕קֶב אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ בְּקֹלִֽי׃

"…and in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall bless themselves [9], because you have obeyed my voice." (Gen 22:18)

#	Verb	Hithpael?	Conjugation	PGN	Root	Stem / Function
9	וְהִתְבָּרֲכוּ
		✓ Yes	Weqatal	3cp	ברך	Hithpael — Reflexive — "shall bless themselves" (or "shall be blessed" — a passive-like reading also occurs, see Discussion Q3); הִתְ- prefix + R2=ר rejects dagesh (compensatory lengthening: Pathach → Qamets הִתְבָּ). 3cp suffix וּ. Weqatal = result/consequence of the promise.

חֲזַ֤ק וְנִתְחַזְּקָ֙ה [10]֙ בְּעַ֣ד עַמֵּ֔נוּ וּבְעַ֖ד עָרֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וַיהוָ֖ה יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה הַטּ֛וֹב בְּעֵינָֽיו׃

"Be strong, and let us be courageous [10] for our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in his sight." (2 Sam 10:12)

#	Verb	Hithpael?	Conjugation	PGN	Root	Stem / Function
10	וְנִתְחַזְּקָה
		✓ Yes	Cohortative	1cp	חזק	Hithpael — Reflexive — "let us strengthen ourselves / be courageous"; נִתְ- prefix is the Hithpael cohortative form (נ + יִתְ contracted); + Pathach under R1 (חַ) + dagesh forte in R2 (זּ) + Qamets + ה cohortative ending. Compare Hiphil of חזק = הֶחֱזִיק (causative "to strengthen someone else").

Distractor alert — Hiphil: The next verb begins with הִ- but has NO תְ after it. That tells you immediately it is NOT Hithpael.

הִצְדִּ֥יק [11] אֶת־הָרָשָׁ֖ע

"He declared the wicked righteous [11]." (Prov 17:15, excerpt)

#	Verb	Hithpael?	Conjugation	PGN	Root	Stem / Function
11	הִצְדִּיק
		✗ No	Perfect	3ms	צדק	Hiphil — Hiphil — Declarative — "declared righteous / justified"; הִ- prefix (no תְ) + Hireq-Yod under R2 (דִּי) = classic Hiphil perfect pattern. Contrast with Hithpael הִצְטַדֵּק (Ch35 — I-צ metathesis form of "justify oneself").

Reflection Questions

In Passage A, verbs 1–4 all come from the root פלל. Walk through each conjugation form and identify the diagnostic Hithpael marker in each (prefix for participle, imperfect, and perfect/imperative). BBH §34.2.4 classifies פלל as Simple Action, not Reflexive — what does it mean for a Hithpael verb to lose its reflexive coloring and become the standard lexical form for a meaning?
Verb 8 (קֻדַּשׁ) has Qibbuts under R1 and dagesh in R2 — it looks similar to a Piel. What single vowel under the prefix preformative most quickly distinguishes a Pual perfect from a Piel perfect? From a Hithpael perfect?
Verb 9 (וְהִתְבָּרֲכוּ, Gen 22:18) is sometimes translated "shall be blessed" (passive) and sometimes "shall bless themselves" (reflexive). Which translation does the Hithpael stem favor, and why does the distinction matter theologically?

Quick Answer Key

#	Verb	Hithpael?	Conjugation	PGN	Root	Stem / Function
1	מִתְפַּלֵּל	Yes	Participle	ms	פלל	Hithpael — Simple Action
2	יִתְפַּלְּלוּ	Yes	Imperfect	3mp	פלל	Hithpael — Simple Action
3	יִתְפַּלֵּל	Yes	Imperfect	3ms	פלל	Hithpael — Simple Action
4	הִתְפַּלֵּל	Yes	Imperative	2ms	פלל	Hithpael — Simple Action
5	וְטִהֲרוֹ	No	Weqatal	3ms	טהר	Piel — Factitive
6	הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ	Yes	Imperative	2mp	קדש	Hithpael — Reflexive
7	יִתְקַדָּשׁוּ	Yes	Imperfect	3mp	קדש	Hithpael — Reflexive
8	קֻדַּשׁ	No	Perfect	3ms	קדש	Pual — Passive
9	וְהִתְבָּרֲכוּ	Yes	Weqatal	3cp	ברך	Hithpael — Reflexive
10	וְנִתְחַזְּקָה	Yes	Cohortative	1cp	חזק	Hithpael — Reflexive
11	הִצְדִּיק	No	Perfect	3ms	צדק	Hiphil — Declarative