Biblical Hebrew: 10. Weak Verbs: first-א, third-א, third-ה

Weak Verbs In General

As already noted in the previous lesson introducing verbs, regular Hebrew verbs consist of three consonants (radicals). If one or more of these consonants belongs to a special set of consonants it will behave irregularly. We call these irregular verbs weak. Namely, such verbs usually bear these characteristics:

• one or more of their letters is guttural (א ,ה ,ח ,ע)
• the middle vowel is a consonant (either ו or י)
• they begin with נ or י
• the third and second consonant are the same

Weak verbs contain within their root a weak consonant. To organize these verbs the letters of the verb פָּעַל are used (this word is traditionally used for verb paradigms). Weak verbs are therefore separated into classes on the basis of how their weak consonant is positioned within the word פָּעַל. In this sense, the first letter of the weak verb would be designated as pe-something, or the third letter as lamed-something. Besides that, the numerical designation is also used depending on the preference of a particular grammar. Here is the full list of the weak verbs:

Also, in Hebrew, there are some words that have more than one weak consonant.

In our further exposition of all of the weak verbs, we will shortly introduce a particular category. then, we will outline essential rules to help you recognize the irregularity. And at last, we will list the most common verbs falling into the class. If you need to dig more into some particular class to see its forms, please, follow the discussion in printed grammars.

First Alef (פ״א)

There are only a few verbs, usually with a high number of occurrences, falling into this class. Naturally, the א consonant is guttural, however, in some cases it behaves as quiescent, therefore falling into this special category.

The irregularity appears in the first person singular of imperfect, where there are two א side by side. The letters cannot stand like this. Therefore, what happens then is the omission of one of the two consonants (elision). This effect is marked by prolongation of the א into o (cholem):

Further, the second vowel in the stem is a or e.

Rules

• Imperfect of 1st pers. sg. has אֹ (elision of two א)
• The second vowel in the stem is a or e

Verbs

אבד perish (184×), אכל eat (814×), אמר say (5307×), אבה want (54×), אפה bake (13×), אהב love (215×), אסף gather (200×), אחז hold (63×).

Third Alef (ל״א)

The א in this class is silent (not pronounced) when it ends a verb form and is not standing before a consonantal ending. Therefore the syllable becomes open and must have a long vowel.

Rules

• It changes vocalization of the preceding consonant
• It can drop off before endings (מלתָ)
• It acts as a base for long vowels (נִמְלֵאתִי)

Verbs

ירא fear (334×), יצא come out (1067×), נשׂא carry (655×), ברא create (48×), טמא defile (162×), מלא fill (250×), קרא call (732×), חטא sin (237×), שֹנא hate (146×), מצא find (453×).

Third He (ל״ה)

This class drops off the root letter in some particular forms or changes to a different letter (namely ת or י). It is therefore sometimes difficult to identify the original form. What is interesting with this class is that in earlier developments of the language the ending consonant was not ה but י. This is why this consonant letter is manifested in some of the forms.

The very important verb היה is inflected by the rules of this class. This verb is used in the famous phrase “אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה (I am, that I am)” (Exodus 3:14) in Qal imperfect 1st pers. sg. form. The meaning of this phrase is not conclusive and is therefore debated.

Another such verb is שׁחה meaning “to bow down” expressing the idea of proskynesis (from προσκυνέω). This verb can be found, for example, in the decalogue in the second commandment “לֹא־תִשְׁתַּחְוֶה (you do not bow down)” (Exodus 20:5) in Hitpael imperfect 2nd pers. sg. m.  form (notice the metathesis of the consonants). In the spirit of the whole commandment, the phrase expresses the idea of divine worship which is reserved only for God.

Rules

• It drops off before:
  • vowel ending in all stems (גַלוּ)
  • pronominal suffixes (גַלַךָ)
  • in active participle of Qal (גֹלִים)
  • in narrative and jussive in all stems (וַיִּגַל and יִגַל)
• The original consonant י appears:
  • before syllable ending as a base (גַלִיתָ)
  • in passive participle of Qal (גַלוּי)
• The original consonant ו appears:
  • in Hitpael form of the verb שׁחה (e.g., הִשְׁתַחַוֶה)
• The consonant ה changes to ת:
  • in 3rd pers. sg. f. of perfect in all stems (גַלְתָה)
  • in the infinitive construct of all stems (גְלוֹת)
• In Hiphil there is no stem vocal í (יַגְלֶה)

Verbs

גלה uncover (188×), בנה build (376×), בכה weep (114×), חנה encamp (143×), כלה be finished (206×), כסה cover (152×), פנה turn (135×), צוה order (494×), רבה become numerous (224×), רעה shepherd (168×), שׁתה drink (217×), ראה see (1299×), היה be (3560×), חיה live (283×); שׁחה bow down (172×).