Lesson 4 | Stems in the Imperfect
[2] Qal and Niphal
It is now time to see how the different stems work out in full paradigms. Let’s begin with the qal and niphal stems, using the word מָצָא.
(As in the Hebrew II lesson on stems, certain forms are left blank because those forms appear less than three times in the entire Hebrew Bible for any root.)
qal & niphal imperfect for מָצָא
| 1cs | אֶמְצָא | אֶמָּצֵא | I will find / be found |
| 1cp | נִמְצָא | נִמָּצֵא | we will find / be found |
| 2ms | תִּמְצָא | תִּמָּצֵא | you [sir] will find / be found |
| 2fs | תִּמְצְאִי | תִּמָּצְאִי | you [ma’am] will find / be found |
| 2mp | תִּמְצְאוּ | תִּמָּצְאוּ | you all will find / be found |
| 2fp | תִּמְצֶאנָה | [ladies] you all will find | |
| 3ms | יִמְצָא | יִמָּצֵא | he will find / be found |
| 3fs | תִּמְצָא | תִּמָּצֵא | she will find / be found |
| 3mp | יִמְצְאוּ | יִמָּצְאוּ | they will find / be found |
| 3fp | תִּמְצֶאנָה | תִּמָּצֶאנָה | [those ladies] will find / be found |
As in the perfect form, the inflected suffixes and prefixes work the same in all stems. Now notice the identifying features listed below in the paradigm above.
Identifying features (qal):
- The chirik vowel under the prefix (except for the 1cs)
- The shva vowel under the first letter of the root
Identifying features (niphal):
- The chirik vowel under the prefix (except for the 1cs)
- A dagesh and/or an a-class vowel under the first letter of the root
Note: Those with keen eyes may have observed that the qal imperfect 1cp (“we will find”) is identical to the niphal perfect 3ms (“he was found”). As with other examples of identical forms we have seen, the intended meaning of the author must be discerned from the context.
Practice
In this step and the next three, we’ll give you some practice identifying the stems of imperfect verbs.
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וַ֠יֹּאמֶר
What is the root of וַ֠יֹּאמֶר? Instant feedback on
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Is וַ֠יֹּאמֶר derived from a hollow verb?Instant feedback on
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Does וַ֠יֹּאמֶר’s root begin or end with a weak letter, or is it לָקַח or a I-א?Instant feedback on
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What stem is וַ֠יֹּאמֶר conjugated in? Instant feedback on
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What is the person, gender, and number of וַ֠יֹּאמֶר? (use this format: e.g. 1cs) Instant feedback on
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Highlight and zigzag וַ֠יֹּאמֶר in the passage above according to its aspect and stem.
In light of these things, וַ֠יֹּאמֶר could be translated .Instant feedback on
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יִמָּצְא֥וּן
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Is יִמָּצְא֥וּן derived from a hollow verb?Instant feedback on
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Does יִמָּצְא֥וּן’s root begin or end with a weak letter, or is it לָקַח or a I-א?Instant feedback on
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What stem is יִמָּצְא֥וּן conjugated in? Instant feedback on
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What is the person, gender, and number of יִמָּצְא֥וּן? (ignore the final ן, and use this format: e.g. 1cs) Instant feedback on
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Highlight and zigzag יִמָּצְא֥וּן in the passage above according to its aspect and stem.
In light of these things, יִמָּצְא֥וּן could be translated .Instant feedback on
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אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה
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Does אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה’s root begin or end with a weak letter, or is it לָקַח or a I-א?Instant feedback on
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What stem is אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה conjugated in? Instant feedback on
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What is the person, gender, and number of אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה? (use this format: e.g. 1cs) Instant feedback on
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Highlight and zigzag אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה in the passage above according to its aspect and stem.
In light of these things, אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה could be translated .Instant feedback on
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אֶמְצָ֥א
What is the root of אֶמְצָ֥א? Instant feedback on
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Is אֶמְצָ֥א derived from a hollow verb?Instant feedback on
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Does אֶמְצָ֥א’s root begin or end with a weak letter, or is it לָקַח or a I-א?Instant feedback on
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What stem is אֶמְצָ֥א conjugated in? Instant feedback on
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What is the person, gender, and number of אֶמְצָ֥א? (use this format: e.g. 1cs) Instant feedback on
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Highlight and zigzag אֶמְצָ֥א in the passage above according to its aspect and stem.
In light of these things, אֶמְצָ֥א could be translated .Instant feedback on
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Niphal imperfect forms in the songs we’ve learned
We have only seen one niphal imperfect in the songs we have learned to this point in Hebrew I–III.
The niphal imperfect appears as the last word in this song, and, as expected, carries a simple passive meaning.
וּכְבוֹדוֹ עָלַיִךְ יֵרָאֶה — “and his glory upon you will be seen”