An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

comparably (see 4.4.1). 14 Not all the patterns are equally common. The
reduplicating patterns, for example, are rare, but they may be usefully studied
because of their distinctiveness. Major patterns are semantically more diverse as
well as more common.
5.3 Simple Patterns
a The qātēl pattern is generally adjectival (## 1–3; see also 22.3–4); it also occurs
with substantives, especially body parts (## 4–5).
1.
שׁ ֵבָ י dry
2.
3.
4.
5.
ףֵי ָע exhausted
ו ֵל ָשׁ unconcerned
ךְרָי ֵ (upper) thigh
ףתֵ ָכּ upper arm
b The qôtēl/qōtēl pattern is used for substantives referring to professions or
occupations (for examples see 5.2). An English counterpart is the -er/-or suffix,
for example, ‘fisher, overseer, actor, counselor.’ Other active participles than the
Qal can designate a profession. This is most common with the participles of the
Piel (## 6–7; cf. 24.5c) and Poel (# 8).
[Page
דמֵּ לַ ְמ teacher
88] 6.
7.
8.
לגֵּ רַ ְמ spy
קקֹח ֵ ְמ commander
c The qātîl pattern 15 shapes adjectives (## 9–11) as well as substantives. The
pattern is used for professional terms, some passive in sense (## 12–14), some
stative or active (## 15–17), 16 although the distinctions should not be pressed. The
words for certain agricultural activities also employ this pattern (## 18–22).
9.
10.
11.
רי ִע ָצ little
י ִק ָ
ינִ ָע poor
נ pure 17
14
The patterns are described in more or less their actual shape, rather than in an
underlying or historical form, as in many grammars.
15
This pattern is similar to that of various passive participles in Aramaic dialects.
16
See K. D. Sakenfeld, The Meaning of Ḥesed in the Hebrew Bible (Missoula:
Scholars Press, 1977) 241–45.
17
The root of ## 10–11 is a final -he or -yod root, and the last radical shows up in
these forms as a yod.