A remark on the הפעיל hif'il verb form

Classical Hebrew morphology and syntax, aspect, linguistics, discourse analysis, and related topics
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Isaac Fried
Posts: 1783
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:32 pm

A remark on the הפעיל hif'il verb form

Post by Isaac Fried »

This form, or BINYAN, is a root augmented by the two personal pronouns היא HI, 'he', one external and one internal–––one for the performer and one for the beneficiary of the act, for instance, Judges 5:25
בספל אדירים הקריבה חמאה
NIV: "in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk." Here, the first, outer, HI of HI-QR-IY-B-AH (of the root QRB) is for Yael, and the second, the inner, HIY (contacted to a mere IY to avoid a non radical inner consonant) is for the bowl.

But, it is found to function also as a mere "qal", for instance, Ex. 14:10
ופרעה הקריב
NIV: "As Pharaoh approached." Namely, he carried himself nearer.

The same may be true of והגביר of Daniel 9:27
והגביר ברית לרבים


Isaac Fried, Boston University
Isaac Fried
Posts: 1783
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:32 pm

Re: A remark on the הפעיל hif'il verb form

Post by Isaac Fried »

Another example is the השכים HI$KIYM of Job 1:5
והשכים בבקר
KJV: "(and he) rose up early in the morning"

Isaac Fried, Boston University
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