36: The Niphal: Strong Roots

Question 1

What is the Niphal?

Answer 1

• The niphal is the fourth of the seven major verb patterns you will learn. The niphal makes up 6% of all verbs in the Hebrew Bible. The qal, piel, hiphil, and niphal make up 97% of all verbs.

Question 2

What are most niphal verbs?

Answer 2

• the passive of the qal

Question 3

What are the different options for the Niphal?

Answer 3

• Reflexive only
  
  • בָּרַר means “he purified” in the Qal, while נִבְרַר means “he purified himself,” in the Niphal
• Passive only.
  
  • שָּבַר means “he broke” in the Qal while נִשְבַר means “he was broken” in the Niphal.
• Reflexive or Passive.
  
  • שָּמַר means “he guarded,” in the Qal while נִשְמַר means “he was guarded” (passive) or “he guarded himself”(reflexive) in the Niphal.

Question 4

Sometimes the niphal can be what of the qal?

Answer 4

• the reflexive of the qal

Question 5

What are some verbs that occur mainly on the niphal without reference to the qal?

Answer 5

Question 6

What is the primary characteristic of the niphal?

Answer 6

• a prefixed nun

Question 7

Recite the Niphal Perfect form

Answer 7

Question 8

Recite the Niphal Imperfect form

Answer 8

Question 9

Recite Niphal Imperative form

Answer 9

Question 10

Recite the Niphal Infinitive form

Answer 10

Question 11

Recite the Niphal Participle form

Answer 11

Question 12

Recite the Niphal Cohortative form

Answer 12

Question 13

Recite the Niphal Jussive form

Answer 13

Question 14

Recite the Niphal Vav-relative form

Answer 14

Question 15

בַּרְזֶל

Answer 15

iron

Question 16

גִּבְעָה

Answer 16

hill

Question 17

גַּיְא

Answer 17

valley

Question 18

נָהָר

Answer 18

river

Question 19

נַחַל

Answer 19

wadi

(wadi means creek, stream that only has water during the rainy season)

Question 20

נְחֹשֶׁת

Answer 20

copper, bronze

Question 21

שֶׁמֶשׁ

Answer 21

sun

Question 22

נָבָא (th. qal)

נִבָּא

Answer 22

Niph: he prophesied

Question 23

קָבַץ

Answer 23

Qal: he gathered

Question 24

רָעָה

Answer 24

Qal: he pastured, tended