Lesson 9 | Stems | [6] Hithpael

The final stem—hithpael—does not have an active or passive counterpart because it itself lies somewhere between active and passive. That is, it is reflexive. In other words, the actor of the action is acting upon himself. At least that is the idea in theory. In reality, hithpael verbs often have a reflexive meaning with respect to the base meaning of the word, but a simple active or passive meaning when the final inflection is considered.

The best way to understand what this means is by examining the the most common hithpael verbs in the Hebrew Bible.

הִתְפַּלֵּל — “he intervened for himself (i.e. prayed)” הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ — “they bowed themselves down” הִתְהַלֶּךְ — “he walked about” הִֽתְיַצְּב֥וּ — “they stabilized themselves (i.e. stood)” הִתְקַדָּשׁוּ — “they consecrated themselves” הִתְחַזַּ֖ק — “he strengthened himself (i.e. withstood)”

With regard to the first example above, any sane translator will translate הִתְפַּלֵּל as “he prayed” and not “he intervened for himself.” Thus, you could say that this hithpael verb has a simple active meaning. However, we point out the “he intervened for himself” translation to demonstrate for you that, in fact, this hithpael form does have a reflexive meaning with respect to the base meaning of this word: “intervene.”

The same simple vs reflexive idea can be seen in “הִֽתְיַצְּב֥וּ” and “הִתְחַזַּ֖ק.” Again, there are reflexive meanings to these hithpael verbs when their base meanings are considered. But the practical outcome are simple actions.

hithpael perfect for הָלַךְ

1cs	הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי	I walked about
1cp	הִתְהַלַּכְנוּ	we walked about

2ms	הִתְהַלַּכְתָּ	you [sir] walked about
2fs
2mp	הִתְהַלַּכְתֶּם	you all walked about
2fp

3ms	הִתְהַלֶּךְ	he walked about
3fs
3cp	הִתְהַלְּכוּ	they walked about

Identifying feature:
The –הִת prefix
Exceptions: (1) For roots that begin with ש or ס, the ת trades places with that first root letter. This explains הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ from the root שָׁחָה in example above. (2)
When a ט or ת begins a root, the ת is dropped. E.g. הִטֶּהָ֔רוּ (“they had cleansed themselves”) from the root טָהֵר (“be clean”).

Practice

הָכְלַ֨מְנוּ֙

Is הָכְלַ֨מְנוּ֙ derived from a hollow verb?

Yes

Does הָכְלַ֨מְנוּ֙’s root begin or end with a weak letter?

Yes

What is the person, gender, and number of הָכְלַ֨מְנוּ֙? (use this format: e.g. 1cs)

Highlight and zigzag הָכְלַ֨מְנוּ֙ in the passage above according to its aspect and stem.

כָּלַם — humiliate

In light of these things, הָכְלַ֨מְנוּ֙ could be translated in the verse above as .

פָקַ֣דְנוּ

Does פָקַ֣דְנוּ’s root begin or end with a weak letter?

Yes

What is the person, gender, and number of פָקַ֣דְנוּ? (use this format: e.g. 1cs)

Highlight and zigzag פָקַ֣דְנוּ in the passage above according to its aspect and stem.

פָּקַד — miss (in this context in particular)

In light of these things, פָקַ֣דְנוּ could be translated in the verse above as .

הִתְהַלַּ֣כְנוּ

Is הִתְהַלַּ֣כְנוּ derived from a hollow verb?

Yes

Does הִתְהַלַּ֣כְנוּ’s root begin or end with a weak letter?

Yes

What is the person, gender, and number of הִתְהַלַּ֣כְנוּ? (use this format: e.g. 1cs)

Highlight and zigzag הִתְהַלַּ֣כְנוּ in the passage above according to its aspect and stem.

Lesson 9 | Stems

[6] Hithpael

Identifying feature: