Chapter 35 — Hithpael Semantic Function Sorting (Weak Roots)

BBH Chapter 35 · Hithpael Weak Verbs

Classify each Hithpael verb as R (Reflexive), Re (Reciprocal), I (Intensive/Iterative), or SA (Simple Action). All forms use weak roots. Type your answer, then click ▶ Answer to check.

Code	Function	Diagnostic question
R	Reflexive	Is the subject doing the action to or for itself? (Subject = object)
Re	Reciprocal	Are multiple subjects acting on one another mutually?
I	Intensive/Iterative	Is the action repeated, habitual, or intensified?
SA	Simple Action	Is the Hithpael the primary lexical form with no Qal/Piel reflexive force visible?

Code

Function

Diagnostic question

Reflexive

Is the subject doing the action to or for itself? (Subject = object)

Reciprocal

Are multiple subjects acting on one another mutually?

Intensive/Iterative

Is the action repeated, habitual, or intensified?

Simple Action

Is the Hithpael the primary lexical form with no Qal/Piel reflexive force visible?

Tip: Subject acts on itself → Reflexive. Subjects act on one another → Reciprocal. Action repeated/intensified → Intensive. Hithpael = the standard word for this meaning → Simple Action.

#	Hebrew	Conjugation	Root	Ref	Gloss
1	הִתְגַּלָּה	Perfect 3ms	גלה	Gen 35:7	"God revealed himself"

2	הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה	Perfect 3ms	שׁחה	Gen 22:5	"we will worship / bow down"

3	הִתְהַלֵּל	Perfect 3ms	הלל	Jer 9:23	"let him not boast"

4	הִתְפַּלֵּל	Perfect 3ms	פלל	Gen 20:7	"he prayed"

5	הִתְעַנָּה	Perfect 3ms	ענה	Ezr 8:21	"we afflicted ourselves / fasted"

6	יִתְגַּלֶּה	Imperfect 3ms	גלה	—	"he will reveal himself / it will be revealed"

7	יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה	Imperfect 3ms	שׁחה	—	"he will bow down"

8	יִתְהַלֵּל	Imperfect 3ms	הלל	Jer 9:23	"let him boast"

9	יִתְפַּלֵּל	Imperfect 3ms	פלל	—	"he will pray"

10	וַיִּתְגַּל	Wayyiqtol 3ms	גלה	Gen 9:21	"he uncovered himself"

11	וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ	Wayyiqtol 3ms	שׁחה	Gen 22:5	"and he bowed down"

12	וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל	Wayyiqtol 3ms	פלל	Gen 20:17	"Abraham prayed"

13	הִתְנַבֵּא	Perfect 3ms	נבא	1 Sam 10:10	"he prophesied"

14	הִתְחַזֵּק	Perfect 3ms	חזק	2 Sam 10:12	"take courage! / be strong!"

15	הִתְנַחֵם	Perfect 3ms	נחם	Gen 24:67	"Isaac was comforted"

16	הִתְבָּרֵךְ	Perfect 3ms	ברך	Gen 22:18	"all nations will bless themselves"

17	הִצְטַדֵּק	Perfect 3ms	צדק	—	"he justified himself"

18	הִתְרַגֵּז	Perfect 3ms	רגז	—	"he trembled / was agitated"

19	הִתְחַנֵּן	Perfect 3ms	חנן	—	"he pleaded for mercy / implored"

20	הִתְנַהֵג	Perfect 3ms	נהג	—	"he conducted himself / behaved"

Hebrew

Conjugation

Root

Ref

Gloss

Function

הִתְגַּלָּה

Perfect 3ms

גלה

Gen 35:7

"God revealed himself"

הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה

Perfect 3ms

שׁחה

Gen 22:5

"we will worship / bow down"

הִתְהַלֵּל

Perfect 3ms

הלל

Jer 9:23

"let him not boast"

הִתְפַּלֵּל

Perfect 3ms

פלל

Gen 20:7

"he prayed"

הִתְעַנָּה

Perfect 3ms

ענה

Ezr 8:21

"we afflicted ourselves / fasted"

יִתְגַּלֶּה

Imperfect 3ms

גלה

—

"he will reveal himself / it will be revealed"

יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה

Imperfect 3ms

שׁחה

—

"he will bow down"

יִתְהַלֵּל

Imperfect 3ms

הלל

Jer 9:23

"let him boast"

יִתְפַּלֵּל

Imperfect 3ms

פלל

—

"he will pray"

וַיִּתְגַּל

Wayyiqtol 3ms

גלה

Gen 9:21

"he uncovered himself"

וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ

Wayyiqtol 3ms

שׁחה

Gen 22:5

"and he bowed down"

וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל

Wayyiqtol 3ms

פלל

Gen 20:17

"Abraham prayed"

הִתְנַבֵּא

Perfect 3ms

נבא

1 Sam 10:10

"he prophesied"

הִתְחַזֵּק

Perfect 3ms

חזק

2 Sam 10:12

"take courage! / be strong!"

הִתְנַחֵם

Perfect 3ms

נחם

Gen 24:67

"Isaac was comforted"

הִתְבָּרֵךְ

Perfect 3ms

ברך

Gen 22:18

"all nations will bless themselves"

הִצְטַדֵּק

Perfect 3ms

צדק

—

"he justified himself"

הִתְרַגֵּז

Perfect 3ms

רגז

—

"he trembled / was agitated"

הִתְחַנֵּן

Perfect 3ms

חנן

—

"he pleaded for mercy / implored"

הִתְנַהֵג

Perfect 3ms

נהג

—

"he conducted himself / behaved"

Discussion Questions

Items 2, 7, and 11 all use root שׁחה. The forms show sibilant metathesis (הִשְׁתַּ– / יִשְׁתַּ–) plus III-ה endings (apocopation in wayyiqtol). Why is bowing down classified as Reflexive? What is the subject doing "to itself"?
Items 4, 9, and 12 (root פלל) are all classified as Simple Action. How does this illustrate the lexicalization of the Hithpael, where the original reflexive force becomes conventionalized and disappears from view?
Item 15 (הִתְנַחֵם, "was comforted") vs. item 14 (הִתְחַזֵּק, "took courage"): both describe an inner state. What is the difference between "comforted himself" and "was comforted" as translations of הִתְנַחֵם? Which is more accurate?
Items 16 (הִתְבָּרֵךְ, Gen 22:18) and 17 (הִצְטַדֵּק) both involve the subject acting on itself. What is the theological difference between blessing oneself and justifying oneself? Why might the second carry a negative connotation in the OT?