An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

of[Page 361] probability in favor of the more or less traditional view that it is a
Hithpael from the root החשׁ 35 In any case the unusual shape of the word hints at its
extraordinary cultural significance.
e A statistical summary of the uses of the verb stems may be useful. 36
Occurrences Roots used 37
N % N %
Qal 49,180 68.8 1,115 71.2
Niphal 4,140 5.8 435 27.8
Piel 6,450 9.0 415 26.5
Pual 460 0.6 190 12.1
Hithpael 830 1.2 175 11.2
Hiphil 9,370 13.1 505 32.2
Hophal 400 0.6 100 6.4
Other 680 0.9 130 8.3
Total 71,510 1,565
The statistics do not provide any direct clues to the stem system, but they do
afford a rough overview of how it is used.
[Page 362] 22 Qal Stem
22.1 Introduction
22.2 Semantics
2.1 Fientive and Stative Verbs
2.2 Stative Verbs and Adjectives
2.3 Fientive and Stative with the Same Root
22.3 Morphology
22.4 Verb Classes
22.5 Denominatives
22.6 Qal Passive
22.7 Qal Impersonal Constructions
-t- in Biblical Hebrew,” Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society 3 (1970–71) 20–
31. On s̆ causatives, see, in addition to Soggin, L. Wächter, “Reste von Săf˓el-
Bildungen im Hebräischen,” Zeitschrift für die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 83
(1971) 380–89.
35
J. A. Emerton, “The Etymology of hištaḥawāh,” Oudtestamentische Studiën 20
(1977) 41–55; cf. GKC §75kk / p. 215. The existence of a root šḥy ‘to bow’ is not in
question; what is in question is whether it is primary (so Emerton) or secondary to
hštḥwy; for the verb see Isa 51:23, Prov 12:25.
36
From SA/THAT.
37
The number 1,565 represents the total number of verbal roots used in Biblical
Hebrew; since many roots occur in more than one stem (though only a few occur in
all seven stems), this number is substantially less than the sum of the roots used in
each stem. The figures in the last column represent the percentage of all verbal roots
(that is, of 1,565) used in each stem.