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Grammar References Raw Data

Library Entries Read

Hiphil Stem (stem-hiphil.md)

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/grammar-reference/hebrew/stem-hiphil.md - The H-stem: primary causative. Subject causes the object to do/become the Qal action. - nazah (H5137) in Hiphil: the priest CAUSES the blood to spatter. This is active, deliberate, controlled sprinkling -- not accidental spattering (which would be Qal). - Form recognition: Hiphil Perfect hiqtil with hiriq + long i theme vowel; Imperfect yaqtil with patach preformative vowel. - Contrast with Piel (factitive/intensive) and Qal (basic action). - The Hiphil marks the priest as the instrumental causer of the sprinkling action -- blood does not just spatter; it is made to spatter by priestly agency.

Niphal Stem (stem-niphal.md)

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/grammar-reference/hebrew/stem-niphal.md - The N-stem: simple passive, reflexive, or tolerative. - nislach (Niphal of salach): the passive of forgiveness. It shall be forgiven -- the subject (the offerer) receives forgiveness. - Critical observation: God is the unspoken agent in the divine passive. The Niphal does not say who forgives; the context makes clear only God can forgive (salach is God-exclusive). - All 13 Niphal occurrences of salach are in Levitical sacrificial formulae (Lev 4:20,26,31,35; 5:10,13,16,18; 6:7; 19:22; Num 15:25,26,28). - Form: niqtal (Perfect), yiqqatel (Imperfect with dagesh in first root letter).

Key Grammatical Observations for This Study

  1. The three blood verbs represent three different stems/conjugations:
  2. nazah: HIPHIL (causative) -- priest causes sprinkling
  3. nathan: QAL (simple active) -- priest puts/gives blood

  4. shaphakh: QAL IMPERFECT (simple active, imperfective aspect) -- priest pours blood

  5. The result formula uses two distinct stems:

  6. kaphar: PIEL (factitive/intensive) -- priest makes/effects atonement

  7. nislach: NIPHAL (passive) -- it shall be forgiven (divine passive)

  8. In Lev 15:31, betammeam is PIEL INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT of tame -- causative defilement. Israel causes the tabernacle to become unclean. This is not accidental contact contamination but active moral/ritual pollution.

  9. In Lev 10:17, the two purpose infinitives are both INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT:

  10. laset (Qal InfCon of nasa): to bear

  11. lekapper (Piel InfCon of kaphar): to make atonement These mark the two purposes for which God gave the chattat flesh to the priests: bearing sin and making atonement.

  12. In Lev 16:16, hakkohen + kipper (Piel) acts on haqqodesh (the holy place) -- the priest atones FOR the sanctuary itself, not just for the people. The preposition al (upon) with haqqodesh makes the sanctuary the direct object of the atoning action.