An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

ֵ ֱ ֵ ְ ַ
֑ ֵ ָ
a The Hophal forms of roots that are transitive in Qal are passive causatives. In
addition to the examples in 28.1, consider these.
[Page יהלֹא תא וּארִיּו And they saw (Qal) the God of Israel.
451]
1a.
לאר ְשִׂי
1b. האֶ רְ ַמ ינִ א ֲ ר ֶשׁ א ֲ לֹכ ְכּ
ךָתוֹא ְ
1c. האֶ רְ ָמ התָּ א־ר ַ ֶשׁ אֲ
׃רהָ ָבּ
2a. ן ֶמ ֶשׁ־ת ֫ א ֶ תָּ חְ קַ ָלוְ תָּ ְק ַצָי ו ְ החָ ְשׁ מִּ הַ
וֹ ֑שׁאֹ ר־ל ַע
2b.
׃תקֶ ָצוֹמ ֫ איהִ ְ
2c. וֹשׁאֹ ר־ל ַע ק ַצוּי־ר ֶשׁ אֲ
החָ ְשׁ מִּ ה ַ ן ֶמ ֶשׁ ֫
Exod 24:10
according to all that I show you (Hiphil) (lit., cause you
to see)
Exod 25:9
which you were shown (Hophal) (lit., were caused to
see) on the mount 5
Exod 25:40
And you shall take the anointing oil and pour (Qal) [it]
on his head.
Exod 29:7
ו And she kept on pouring (Hiphil) [the oil] (lit., causing
[the oil] to be poured).
2 Kgs 4:5 Qere
upon whose head the anointing oil was poured
(Hophal) (lit., was caused to be poured)
Lev 21:10
28.4 Denominative and Isolated Hophals
a The denominative role of the Hiphil is also found with the Hophal. Consider these
sets, from דגֶ ֶנ ֫ ‘before,’ םוֹל ָשׁ ‘peace,’ and ח ַל ֶמ ֫ ‘salt’; for the last, no Hiphil forms
are attested.
1a. תי ָ ִשׂ ֫ ָע ה ֶמ י ִל אנ־ד ָ גֶּ הַ ְ
1b.
2a.
2b.
ךָידֶ֫ בָ ֲע ַל דגַּ ה ֻ דגֵּ ֻ
ו Tell (Hiphil) me what you have done.
Josh 7:19
ה Your servants were clearly told (Hophal).
Josh 9:24
ם֑ לָ ְשׁוּ And be at peace (Qal).
Job 22:21
ךְמָּ ִע םי ִל ְשׁ ת ַ אֹ ל־םאִ וְ
And if it will not make peace (Hiphil) with you (lit.,
will not cause to be at peace with you [as an event])…
5 T. O. Lambdin uses the example hor˒â hā˒îš˒et-hā˒ôr, ‘The man was shown the light,’
but such Hophal clauses are rare at best; see Introduction to Biblical Hebrew (New
York: Scribner, 1971) 244.