CHAPTER TWO: Hebrew Verbal System: An Introduction

(1)

2

2.1

2.1 The most

The most important word in

important word in the sentence

the sentence is the verb

is the verb

(

ל

ַ

ע

ו

ֹ

ו

ֹ

פ

ַ

ה

). A verb in

Hebrew conveys four miens of information related to the verb: semantic

meaning, gender (masculine or feminine), number (singular or plural)

and tenses (or aspect).

2.2

2.2 Words in Hebrew (nouns, adjectives, and verbs) came mostly in a unit of

Words in Hebrew (nouns, adjectives, and verbs) came mostly in a unit of

three consonants, known as the root (

ש

ֵ

ר

ו

ֹ

ו

ֹ

ׁ

ש

. In language sciences, a more

technical word for

ש

ר

ו

ש

world be

lemma

lemma or word stem, referred to the

or word stem, referred to the

headword which is used in dictionary indexing. The

lemma

lemma is related to

is related to

lexeme, but it is not necessary to be over curious about it at this point. It

is onto the triconsonantal root specic dyads of default vowels (

ם

י

ִ

ד

ו

ּ

ְ

ק

י

ִ

נ

)

are to be uploaded to congure the root into various moods and tenses

of the verb. No doubt there are words that come in four consonants,

especially in Modern Hebrew.

2.3

2.3 Hebrew reads from right to left, each consonant of the root is named

Hebrew reads from right to left, each consonant of the root is named

after the sequence of the word

ל

ַ

ע

פ

ָ

←

(

(which means to operate, verb

which means to operate, verb

),

The Vowel Scheme in Verbal System

How does it work

םם שש הה ךך וו רר בב S S t t e e f f f f e e n n H H a a n n J J a a n n u u a a r r y y 2 2 0 0 1 1 1 1 r r e e v v i i s s e e d d . .

(2)

according to the order of the position the consonant occurs, so that the

rst position is termed as the

”

פ

(

א

פ

ֵ

פ

ֵ

)

position, the second as the

”

ע

(

ן

י

ַ

ע

) position, and the third and last is known as the

”

ל

(

ד

ֶ

מ

ָ

ל

) position.

Verbs in Hebrew are to be classied according to this taxonomy. There

are other systems to name each alphabet of the root, for sure.

2.4

2.4 Verbs in the Hebrew language are expressed across seven stems or

Verbs in the Hebrew language are expressed across seven stems or

binyanim

(

ם

י

נ

ִ

ָ

י

ְ

נ

ּ

ִ

ב

plural;

ן

י

ָ

י

ָ

ְ

נ

ּ

ִ

ב

singular), namely, the Pa’al (

ל

ַ

ע

ָ

ּ

פ

)

or

Qal (

ל

ַ

ַ

ק

), Niph’al (

ל

ע

ַ

ע

ַ

ְ

פ

ִ

נ

), Pi’el (

ל

ֵ

ע

ּ

ִ

פ

or in Modern Hebrew:

ל

ֵ

ע

י

ּ

ִ

פ

),

Pu’al (

ל

ַ

ע

ֻ

ּ

פ

or

ל

ָ

ע

ּ

ו

ּ

פ

), Hiphil (

ל

י

ִ

ע

ְ

פ

ִ

ה

), Hophal or Huphal (

ל

ַ

ע

פ

ְ

פ

ְ

ָ

ה

also

written as

ל

ַ

ע

ְ

פ

ו

ֹ

ו

ה

or

ל

ַ

ע

פ

ְ

ֻ

ה

), Hithpa’el (

ל

ַ

ע

פ

ַ

ּ

ַ

ְ

ת

ִ

ה

), grouped into three or

four major groupings: the

Simple stem, the Intensive stem, the Causative

stem and the Reflexive stem. There are some minor and rare stems as

well.

םם שש הה ךך וו רר בב

S

t

e

f

e

n

H

a

n

J

a

n

u

a

r

y

2

0

1

1 I

I

m

p

r

o

v

e

d

.

Name Calling

N

omenclature

and

terminology

would be among some of the

many obstacles the beginner students

of Hebrew language must overcome,

partly due to different textbooks used

different

nomenclature

system.

It

different

nomenclature

system.

It

seems there will be a long way to

go before attempt to consolidate the

diverse approaches into a unifying

system would come about. Specialist

terminology is useful only to the extent

that it does not in itself become a new

problem along side learning the already

difcult enough language.

It may appear too complex and,

at

times,

annoying,

but

different

at

times,

annoying,

but

different

nomenclatures

are

provided

here

nomenclatures

are

provided

here

to

facilitate

recognition

of

each

to

facilitate

recognition

of

each

part

of

the

grammatical

units.

part

of

the

grammatical

units.

In other areas lessspecialized word will

be used.

Before the emergence of modern

linguistic research, Hebrew grammarians

chose the verb

ל

ע

פ

, which has the

meaning “to do” as an operative concept

to express the morphology and paradigm

of Hebrew verbs. Unfortunately, the word

ל

ע

פ

has a guttural residing in the middle

position, which means that it could not be

doubled in the case with verbs in the Pi’el,

Pu’al and Hithpa’el stems. Nonetheless, it

has been in used over a long period of

time, and the method sticks deep into the

system, so modern research would just

tag along with it.

(3)

Meaning of the

ם

י

נ

י

נ

ב

2.5

2.5 The Simple

The Simple

binyan: Active - Qal

ל

ק

The Simple stem consists of: (i) The

ל

ק

and the

ל

ע

פ

נ

binyanim

.

ל

ַ

ק

verbs, an active voice, could be transitive or intransitive, as shown by

the sample word:

ד

ַ

ק

ּ

פ

ּ

ָ

he visited

(

(to visit

to visit

). The Qal

binyan

apart from

the triconsonantal root and the pronominal afxes, when under inflexion,

has no prosthesis in any verbal form of the

binyan

, not even in the

Participles. To each of its seven or so verbal forms, the Qal

binyan

is

given by default a pair of xed vowels, both the head vowel as well the

stem or theme vowel—hence rules pertaining to the topic and problems

of theme vowel that often appeared to be a difcult part of conjugation

of the Hebrew verb would not be applicable to the Qal

binyan

—to

compose the verb in its respective forms. Weak verbs, irregular verbs or

stative verbs in Qal

binyan

, however, would be given a v

owel [

○ ַ

ַ

○ ] (

] (

ח

ת

ַ

ּ

ַ

ּ

֫

פ

),

which in other non-Qal

binyan

would hint at passive or irregular verbs,

as stem vowel in the Qal Imperative, Qal Imperfect and Qal Perfect

Tense mainly in zero vowel sufformative conjugation and consonantal

sufformative conjugation. Vocalic (vowel) sufformative conjugation

of all

binyanim

would go through a process of abdication of the hind

consonant of the root and shortening of the stem vowel to

א

ו

ש

. The

Qal Participles, active as well as passive participle, have a separate set

of stem vowels each. Only in the simple

binyan

the passive participle

would utilise what is known as the alternative vocalic feminine ending,

namely, [

ה

ָ

---] (

א

ה

ֵ

־

ץ

מ

ק

) combination, for the declension of feminine

singular participle. The declension of the remaining three, namely, the

masculine singular, is a zero vowel sufformative conjugation, and the

others: (a) masculine plural would follow the usual plural declension

for masculine noun, which carried the [

ם

י

ִ

○

○ ] ending; and (b) the regular

] ending; and (b) the regular

plural declension for feminine nouns, which carried the [

ת

ֹ

ו

] ending.

Stative verb is available only in the Qal

banyan

, which stem or theme

vowel may have up to three vowel types. Verbs appearing in the Qal

binyan

would often be active, indicative in meaning.

(ii) Verb in the

ל

ַ

ע

ַ

פ

ְ

ִ

נ

ִ

binyan

is always headed by a [

נ

ְ

נ

ְ

]

(

ן

ו

ּ

ּ

ּ

נ

) where the

vowel [

○ ִ

] (

ק

י

ִ

ר

י

ה

ִ

) appearing beneath the [

ְ

נ

] (

ן

ּ

ו

ּ

נ

) in the nomenclature is

shortened from

ע

נ

א

ו

ש

in compliance with the rule of two contiguous

םם שש הה ךך  וו רר בב

S

t

e

f

e

n

H

a

n

J

a

n

u

a

r

y

2

0

1

1 I

I

m

p

r

o

v

e

d

.

(4)

ם

י

א

ו

ש

occurring in a row (

occurring in a row (more about this rule later

more about this rule later

). In the Innitive

Absolute, the Niph’al has two formats of prosthesis: (a) the [

ְ

נ

ְ

] (

ן

ו

ּ

ּ

ּ

נ

) type,

as the [

ְ

נ

ְ

] (

ן

ּ

ו

ּ

ּ

נ

) in the two sample words:

ב

ֹ

ו

ת

כ

ְ

כ

ְ

ִ

נ

to be written

,

ל

ו

ֹ

ט

ְ

ק

ִ

נ

to

be murdered

.

_{The vowel composition of this Niph’al format is similar}

to the vowel pattern used in the Qal Innitive Construct but with the

addition of the [

ְ

נ

ְ

] (

ן

ו

ּ

ּ

ּ

נ

) prosthesis which together with the default vowels

make up a base unit that would be used only by the Niph’al Innitive

Absolute; and (b) the [

ח

]

(

א

ֵ

ח

) type, as the prosthesis in the sample

words:

ב

ֹ

ו

ת

כ

ּ

ָ

ּ

ִ

ה

to be written

,

ל

ֹ

ו

ט

ק

ָ

ּ

ִ

ח

to be killed, to be murdered,

where

the signatory [

ְ

נ

]

(

ן

ּ

ּ

ו

נ

) is assimilated into the head consonant of the root

leaving the [

ח

]

(

א

ח

ֵ

) visible, hence the presence of a

ש

ג

ד

in the rst

letter of the

ש

ר

ו

ש

.

Once again,

Once again, this format

this format is quite si

is quite similar to t

milar to the vowel

he vowel

pattern of the Qal Innitive Absolute with the addition of [

ְ

נ

ִ

ה

] playing

the role of default prosthesis. When the prosthesis of this Niph’al format

is teamed up with a vowel [

ֵ

○

○ ]

]

(

י

ר

צ

) in the pillion syllable, apart from

being an alternative format of Niph’al Innitive Absolute, it formed the

default base,

template

unit which would

be used to i

nstall the N

nstall the Niph’al

iph’al

Innitive Construct, the Niph’al Imperative and the Niph’al Imperfect,

as the vowels shown in the following two sample words:

ב

ֵ

ת

כ

ּ

ָ

ּ

ִ

ה

,

ל

ֵ

ט

ק

ָ

ּ

ִ

ח

,

while the other format:

ל

ֹ

ו

ט

ק

ְ

ק

ְ

ִ

נ

, with the adoption of the vowel [

○

○ ַ

ַ

] (

ח

ּ

ת

ּ

ַ

ּ

֫

פ

)

as the theme vowel, is used to congure the rest of other verbal forms

for the Niph’al

banyan

, such as the Niph’al Perfect and the Niph’al

(passive) Participle. Basically,

ל

ַ

ע

פ

ְ

פ

ְ

ִ

נ

is a passive voice verb but it

assumes the vowel [

ֵ

○

○ ] (

] (

י

ר

צ

)—a vowel when in the role of theme vowel

is closely linked with the active voice of a verb in non-Qal

binyanim

—as

stem vowel in zero vowel sufformative conjugation to run the Niph’al

Innitive, Niph’al Imperative and Niph’al Imperfect while the Niph’al

Perfect would load a [

ַ

○

○ ]

]

(

ח

ת

פ

)—a vowel which is more akin to the

passive voice of a verb in non-Qal

binyanim

—as the theme vowel in the

counterpart conjugation. The [

ְ

נ

]

(

ן

ּ

ּ

ו

נ

) in the prosthesis of

ל

ַ

ע

פ

ְ

פ

ְ

ִ

נ

would

be assimilated during conjugation in the Niph’al Imperfect Tense as the

case shown in the sample word:

כ

ֵ

ת

כ

ּ

ָ

ִ

י

it would be written

or

ל

ֵ

ט

ק

ּ

ָ

ֶ

א

I

would/will be killed

, where the vowel [

ִ

○

○ ]

]

(

ק

י

ִ

ר

י

ה

ִ

) is reduced from a

ע

נ

א

ו

ש

. The vowel [

○ ַ

]

(

ח

ת

פ

) is also used in all cases of consonantal

sufformative conjugation in the Niph’al

binyan

.

The

The vocalic

vocalic sufformative

sufformative

conjugation of all verbs would go through the process of abdication of

the hind consonant and shortening the stem vowel to

a

א

ו

ש

. The Niph’al

םםשש

הה ךך וו רר בב

S

t

e

f

e

n

H

a

n

J

a

n

u

a

r

y

2

0

1

1 I

I

m

p

r

o

v

e

d

.

(5)

Passive Participle takes the vowel [

ָ

○

○ ]

]

(

ץ

מ

ק

) to form a combination of

[

ה

ָ

---] (

א

ה

־

ץ

מ

ק

), which is immutable, as the stem vowel in all its four

forms of declension to the participles. In the case of feminine singular

in Niph’al Passive Participle, it assumes the alternative vocalic feminine

noun ending thus adding another [

ָ

○

○ ] (

] (

ץ

מ

ק

), tailing at the rear of the root,

as the vowels in the sample word:

ה

ָ

ב

ּ

ת

ּ

ָ

ְ

כ

ִ

נ

, (

, (take note that this word might

take note that this word might

not be found in use in the

ך

”

נ

ת

). The vowel [

○ ֵ

] (

י

ר

צ

) is usually reserved

for an active stem and hence sometimes the Niph’al could be either active

or passive, and occasionally reflexive, as the meaning expressed by the

sample word:

ר

ַ

מ

ש

ׁ

ְ

ִ

נ

to guard oneself

. Properly understood, the Niph’al

in Hebrew is quite akin to a middle voice, which is passive in form but

active in meaning. As the Niph’al

binyan

is passive voice verb, there is

no Niph’al Active Participle.

2.6

2.6 The Intensive

The Intensive

binyan

The Intensive stem consists of: (i)

ל

ע

י

פ

and

ל

ע

ּ

ו

פ

binyanim

. Generally,

ל

ֵ

ע

ּ

ִ

פ

is active voice transitive verb (Actualy, this word is in the Perfect

Tense of masculine third person singular). In cases when the verbs in the

ל

ַ

ק

binyan

are intransitive or stative, as the sample words:

ש

ׁ

ַ

ד

ָ

ק

to be

(

(it was

it was

)

holy

,

ׁ

ש

ד

ּ

ֵ

ּ

ִ

ק

to sanctify (it sanctied)

, would assume a dynamic

nature in Pi’el; thus there would be no more distinction between dynamic

verbs and stative verbs outside the Qal

binyan

. Sometimes

ל

ע

י

פ

is

intransitive, as shown by the sample word:

ד

ֵ

ח

פ

ַ

ּ

ַ

to fear

. There are two

patterns of Pi’el Innitive Absolute, as could be seen from the samples:

(a)

ב

ֹ

ו

ת

ַ

ּ

כ

, which is used only by the Pi’el Innitive Absolute; and (b)

ב

ֵ

ּ

ת

ֵ

ַ

ּ

כ

. It is the second pattern headed by a [

○ ַ

]

(

ח

ת

פ

) in partnership

with [

ֵ

○

○ ]

]

(

י

ר

צ

) and a

ׁ

ש

ֵ

ג

ָ

ד

is placed in the middle consonant of the

ש

ר

ו

ש

, a pairing of [

○

○ ֵ

ֵ

ּ

+

ַ

○

○ ]

]

(

ש

ג

ד

+

י

ר

צ

+

ח

ת

פ

)—the default combination

for Pi’el forming a sort of default, base template (as the case in the

Niph’al

binyan

) which is immutable, and its relation with Aramaic has

been explained in the previous chapter—is used to congure practically

all other Pi’el verbal forms: the Pi’el Innitive Construct, the Pi’el

Imperative, the Pi’el Imperfect, the Pi’el Active Participle and the Pi’el

Perfect Tense: but the Pi’el Perfect Tense is headed by a [

ִ

○

○ ]

]

(

ק

י

ִ

ר

י

ִ

ה

)

partnering a [

ֵ

○

○ ]

]

(

י

ר

צ

) loaded with

ׁ

ש

ֵ

ג

ָ

ד

in the pillion syllable instead.

Verbs in Pi’el

binyan

are known for the

ׁ

ש

ג

ֵ

ג

ֵ

ָ

ד

present in the middle

consonant of the root in all verbal forms of Pi’el

binyan

, which would

םם שש הה ךך  וו רר בב

S

t

e

f

e

n

H

a

n

J

a

n

u

a

r

y

2

0

1

1 I

I

m

p

r

o

v

e

d

.

(6)

be omitted in verbal roots where a guttural consonant sits in the middle

position of the

ש

ר

ו

ש

. When this happens, the rules for compensatory

lengthening the vowel of the preceding syllable or virtual doubling

without lengthening the vowel beneath the preceding consonant while

rejecting the

ש

ג

ד

, in both cases, would be applicable. In the matter of

stem or theme vowel, in zero vowel sufformative conjugation as well

as all consonantal sufformative conjugations for all verbal forms in

the Pi’el

binyan

, covering Pi’el Innitive construct, Pi’el Imperative,

Pi’el Imperfect, Pi’el Active Participle and even Pi’el Perfect Tense,

a combination of [

ֵ

ּ

○

○ ]

]

(

ש

ג

ד

+

י

ר

צ

) tailing after the head [

ַ

○

○ ]

]

(

ח

ת

פ

) (the

default base template for Pi’el

binyan

,

as noted in the previous chapter)

would be used: the whole affair is rather consistent, except for the

consonantal sufformative conjugation of Pi’el Perfect Tense, in which

case, the vowel [

ַ

○

○ ]

]

(

ח

ת

פ

), and like wise, loads a (

ש

ג

ד

), is used as the

theme vowel next after the vowel [

ִ

○

○ ִ

] (

ק

י

ר

ִ

י

ִ

ה

), which is the default head

vowel for Pi’el Perfect Tense, as the vowels in the sample word:

ן

ּ

ֶ

ת

ְ

ב

ת

ּ

ַ

ּ

ִ

כ

;

and of course, there is no consonantal sufformative conjugation for Pi’el

Participle, and there is no Passive Participle for Pi’el

binyan

, too. In

vocalic sufformative conjugation, the pillion syllable would go through

the process of abdication of the hind consonant but to be reused to form

a new, rare syllable with the vowel coming from the sufformative, and

shortening the stem vowel to a

א

ו

ש

in all Pi’el verbs except the Pi’el

Active Participle. The vocalic sufformative conjugation in Pi’el Active

Participle would assume a pattern resembles plural feminine noun ending;

whereas for the singular, it is segholate noun ending, and masculine plural

noun ending for masculine plural active participle. Hebrew participles

outside the Simple

binyanim

would prex a consonant [

ְ

מ

]

(

ם

ֵ

מ

), which

is immutable and universal (everyone has one), as signatory prosthesis

for Participles outside the Qal

binyan

.

(ii) The

ל

ַ

ע

ֻ

ּ

פ

binyan

is the passive voice of

ל

ע

י

פ

verbs as shown by

the sample word:

ׁ

ש

ׁ

ּ

ַ

ד

ק

ֻ

to be sanctied

.

As

a

member

of the

of the Intensive

Intensive

binyan

, the Pu’al like wise totes a

ש

ג

ד

in the middle consonant of the

ש

ר

ו

ש

, a common feature found in the Intenvive

binyan

and, again, the

rules related to compensatory lengthening and virtual doubling of the

vowel in the preceding syllable shall be applicable to a verbal root which

has a guttural residing in the

has a guttural residing in the middle position. The head vowel [

middle position. The head vowel [

ֻ

○

○ ] (

] (

ץ

ו

ּ

ּ

ב

ֻ

ק

)

S

t

e

f

e

n

H

a

n

J

a

n

u

a

r

y

2

0

1

1 I

I

m

p

r

o

v

e

d

.

(7)

is immutable, but the head consonant of verbal root would just sit on it

while the preformative pronominal the

ן

”

ת

י

א

for the Imperfect Tense

would be attached to the front of the base unit as shown in the sample

word:

ב

ּ

ת

ּ

ַ

ֻ

כ

ְ

י

it would be written

, and the vowel [

ַ

○

○ ] (

] (

ח

ת

פ

) would be used

as stem vowel in all cases of zero vowel sufformative conjugation and

consonantal sufformative conjugation in Pu’al verbs, which is a passive

voice. The vocalic sufformative conjugation would go through the same

process of abdication of the hind consonant as that of the Pi’el verbs.

T

here is no Active Participle for Pu’al

binyan

, and the Pu'al Passive Participle

is headed by the consonant

[

ְ

מ

]

] (

(

ם

ֵ

מ

)

, the prosthesis for participle outside the

Qal

binyan

, as the case with the Pi’el Active Participle.

The next instance

of similar mechanical use of vowel [

ֻ

○

○ ]

]

(

ץ

ו

ּ

ּ

ב

ֻ

ק

) in the conjugation of a

passive voice of a

binyan

binyan would be in the Hophal

would be in the Hophal

binyan

, which employs

[

ֻ

ה

] instead.

2.7

2.7 The Reflexive

The Reflexive

binyan

The Reflexive stem consists of only the

ל

ע

פ

ת

ה

binyan

, which sometimes

could be passive or intransitive, as shown by the sample words:

ׁ

ש

ׁ

ּ

ֵ

ד

ק

ַ

ק

ַ

ְ

ת

ִ

ה

to make oneself ready

,

to consecrate oneself

,

ר

ֵ

ּ

פ

כ

ַ

ּ

ַ

ְ

ת

ִ

ה

be propitiated

,

ך

ּ

ִ

ל

ּ

ַ

ה

ת

ְ

ת

ְ

ִ

ה

to walk

. Nevertheless, the Hithpa’el sometimes could function

as a passive verb, and the Niph’al could resume a Reflexive function.

The inflexion of all three forms of conjugation would be identical as that

of the Pi’el

binyan

while the signatory head syllable

ְ

ת

ִ

ה

is immutable

and might require metathesis in certain cases.

2.8

2.8 The Causative

The Causative

binyan

The Causative stem, an active voice, consists of: (i)

ל

י

ע

ִ

ְ

פ

ה

ִ

and

ל

ע

ַ

ְ

פ

ָ

ה

or

ל

ַ

ע

פ

ְ

ֻ

ה

binyanim

, which sometimes could be intransitive, as shown by

the sample words:

ן

י

ִ

ז

א

ֱ

ֶ

ה

to listen

,

ש

ׁ

ש

ׁ

י

ּ

ִ

ד

ק

ְ

ק

ְ

ִ

ח

to declare holy

. The passive

of Hiphil has two formats: the

ל

ַ

ע

ְ

פ

ָ

ה

or

ל

ַ

ע

פ

ְ

פ

ְ

ֻ

ה

as the vowels shown

in the sample word:

ׁ

ש

ׁ

ּ

ַ

ד

פ

ְ

פ

ְ

ָ

ה

to be declared holy

. The Hiphil Innitive

Absolute is headed by a prosthetic syllable [

ַ

ה

], the key signature in

Hiphil

binyan

binyan at the head of a deuce with [

at the head of a deuce with [

ֵ

○

○ ] (

] (

י

ר

צ

) placed in the pillion

syllable as

syllable as stem vowel forming

stem vowel forming

a default base

a default base unit.

unit.

The prosthetic

[

ַ

ה

]

when acting with the head consonant of the root closes the rst syllable,

as the vowels shown in the sample word:

ב

ֵ

ּ

ת

כ

ְ

ַ

ה

to write

. NOTE:

The

ש

ג

ד

is used because it is at the beginning of another syllable for the

S

t

e

f

e

n

H

a

n

J

a

n

u

a

r

y

2

0

1

1 I

I

m

p

r

o

v

e

d

.