Article
The Hithpael stem is formed from the Piel stem
by adding the reflexive prefix (הִתְ) and changing the vowel under the
1st radical. Like the Piel and Pual
stems,
it usually has a daghesh in the 2nd radical of the
verb.
Generally speaking, the Hithpael stem expresses the reflexive voice of
the meaning of a verb in the Piel stem. However, the Hithpael stem is
quite flexible in its use and can express other kinds of verbal action,
depending on the context and the specific verb.
Note
It is recommended to always check a dictionary or lexicon for
the meaning of a specific verb, because this stem may express
many different kinds of action in different contexts.
Function
The Hithpael stem can express any of the following kinds of verbal
action:
Expresses the reflexive voice of the Piel stem
For most verbs that appear in both the Piel and Hithpael stems in Biblical Hebrew, the Hithpael stem expresses the same kind of
action as the Piel stem (simple, intensive,
resultative, causative, etc.) but in
reflexive voice. A good example is the verb
יָדַע. In the Qal stem, the verb יָדַע means “to know” (simple action,
active voice). But in the Piel stem, the verb יָדַע means “to make
known” (causative action, active voice). Thus, in the Hithpael stem, the
verb יָדַע means “to make oneself known” (causative action, reflexive
voice).
Example: GEN 45:1
| בְּהִתְוַדַּ֥ע יוֹסֵ֖ף אֶל־אֶחָֽיו |
| behithwadda’ yosef ‘el-‘ehayw |
| when-making-himself-known Joseph to_his-brothers |
| when Joseph made himself known to his brothers |
Example: ISA 8:9 –– direct reflexive action, meaning that the verbal subject
is also the direct object of the verb
| הִתְאַזְּר֣וּ וָחֹ֔תּוּ |
| hith’azzeru wahottu |
| gird-yourselves and-be-dismayed |
| arm yourselves and be broken in pieces |
Example: 1SA 18:4 –– indirect reflexive action, meaning that the verbal
subject is also the indirect object of the verb
| וַיִּתְפַּשֵּׁט יְהוֹנָתָן אֶת־הַמְּעִיל |
| wayyithpashet yehonathan ‘eth-hamme’il |
| And-he-stripped-off Jonathan [dir.obj]_the-robe |
| Jonathan took off the robe |
Expresses simple reflexive action
The Hithpael stem can be used to express simple reflexive action in two
ways. First, the Hithpael stem can express a simple action in reflexive
voice. In these cases, usually the Hithpael stem functions as the
reflexive voice of the Qal (or perhaps Niphal) stem rather than the
Piel stem. This is the case with the verb אָבַל (“to mourn”), as shown
in the example below. Secondly, the Hithpael stem can also express
simple action of a verb that is reflexive by its very nature. In these
rare cases, usually the verb appears only in the Hithpael stem in
Biblical Hebrew. This is the case with the verb אָפַק (“to constrain
oneself”), as shown in the example below.
Example: GEN 37:34 –– expressing simple action “to mourn” (in reflexive voice,
meaning to mourn physically via bodily actions)
| וַיִּתְאַבֵּ֥ל עַל־בְּנ֖וֹ יָמִ֥ים רַבִּֽים |
| wayyith’abbel ‘al-beno yamim rabbim |
| And-he-mourned over_his-son days many |
| He mourned for his son many days. |
Example: ISA 45:1 –– expressing simple action “to constrain oneself”
| וְלֹֽא־יָכֹ֨ל יוֹסֵ֜ף לְהִתְאַפֵּ֗ק |
| welo-yakhol yosef lehith’appeq |
| And-not_he-was-able Joseph to-restrain-himself |
| Then Joseph could not control himself |
Expresses various other kinds of verbal action
Sometimes the Hithpael form functions in ways that do not follow the
strictly the reflexive conventions of the Hithpael stem as listed above.
Some verbs use the Hithpael stem to describe reciprocal voice, middle
voice, passive voice, as well as stative or other kinds of
verbal action. A dictionary or
lexicon will indicate the correct meaning in these instances of the
Hithpael stem.
Example: GEN 42:1 –– expressing reciprocal action
| לָ֫מָּה תִּתְרָאוּ׃ |
| lammah tithra’u |
| Why you-look-at-each-other |
| Why do you look at one another? |
Example: PRO 31:30 –– expressing passive (or possibly stative) action
| הִיא הִתְהַלָּל׃ |
| hi hithhallal |
| she is-praised. |
| she will be praised. |
Example: Gen 3:8 –– the Hithpael form of the verb הָלַךְ expresses
reciprocating action (meaning, going back and forth)
| וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֞וּ אֶת־ק֨וֹל יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהִ֛ים מִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בַּגָּ֖ן |
| wayyishme’u ‘eth-qol yehwah ‘elohim mithhallekh baggan |
- And-they-heard [dir.obj]_sound-of Yahweh God
- going-back-and-forth in-the-garden
|
| They heard the sound of Yahweh God walking in the garden |
Example: DEU 1:37 –– the Hithpael form of the verb אָנַף (“to be angry”) is
always used in reference to Yahweh
| גַּם־בִּי֙ הִתְאַנַּ֣ף יְהוָ֔ה בִּגְלַלְכֶ֖ם |
| gam-biy hith’annaf yehwah biglalkhem |
| Also_with-me he-was-angry Yahweh on-your-account |
| Also Yahweh was angry with me because of you |