Stem Hithpalpel

Summary

The Hithpalpel is an extremely rare stem formation that is similar to the Hithpael. It expresses the reflexive voice of the Pilpel stem.

Article

The Hithpalpel stem is a variation of the Hithpael stem and expresses the reflexive voice of the verbal action of the Pilpel stem. The Hithpalpel stem is formed from the Hithpael by dropping the 2nd radical and repeating the 1st and 3rd radicals, thus making a form that appears to have 4 consonants. It is an extremely rare stem formation in Biblical Hebrew. Many of the verbs in the the Hithpalpel stem in the Hebrew Bible are from the root מָהַהּ (“to linger, delay”). It is recommended to always consult a dictionary or lexicon for the precise nuance of any verb in the Hithpalpel stem.

Form

From the root כּוּל, meaning “to sustain” in the Pilpel stem

Hithpalpel Paradigm

Conjugation	Parsing	Hebrew	Transliteration	Gloss
Perfect	masculine singular third person	הִתְכַּלְכֵּל	hithkalkel	he sustained himself
Imperfect	masculine singular third person	יִתְכַּלְכֵּל	yithkalkel	he will sustain himself
Participle	masculine singular absolute	מִתְכַּלְכֵּל	mithkalkel	sustaining himself / he who is sustaining himself

Examples

Example: DAN 11:11 –– יִתְמַרְמַר comes from the root מרר

וְיִתְמַרְמַר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ הַנֶּ֔גֶב

weyithmarmar melekh hannegev

And-he-will-be-very-angry king-of the-South

Then the king of the South will become very angry

Example: PSA 119:16 –– אֶשְׁתַּעֲשָׁ֑ע comes from the root שׁעע

בְּחֻקֹּתֶ֥יךָ אֶשְׁתַּעֲשָׁ֑ע

behuqqotheykha ‘eshta’asha’

In-your-statutes I-will-delight

I delight in your statutes