Grammar Reference Data
Library Entries Read
Piel Stem (D:/bible/bible-studies/grammar-reference/hebrew/stem-piel.md)
- Factitive: makes something become the state described by the adjective
- Declarative: declares or pronounces a state (critical for tame/taher Piel)
- Causative: causes an action to occur
- For tame Piel: "pronounce unclean" — priestly diagnostic declaration (Lev 13:3,8,11,25)
- For taher Piel: "pronounce clean" — priestly restorative declaration (Lev 13:6,13,17; 14:7)
- For taher Piel with God as agent: "I will cleanse you" (Jer 33:8; Ezek 36:25; 37:23)
- For kaphar Piel: "make atonement" — the dominant cultric usage (92 of 102)
Hithpael Stem (D:/bible/bible-studies/grammar-reference/hebrew/stem-hithpael.md)
- Reflexive of Piel: do to oneself what the Piel does to others
- For tame Hithpael: "defile oneself" (12 occurrences)
- Almost exclusively idolatry context (Ezek 20:7,18,30,31; Lev 18:24)
- Voluntary, deliberate self-contamination
- The reflexive nature distinguishes this from involuntary defilement (Qal)
- For taher Hithpael: "purify oneself" (18 occurrences)
- Self-preparation for worship (Gen 35:2; Num 8:7; Neh 12:30)
- For chata Hithpael: "purify/de-sin oneself" (Num 19:12,13,20)
- Used specifically for the red heifer purification from corpse contamination
Niphal Stem (referenced)
- Passive: tame Niphal = "was defiled" (16 occurrences)
- Used in Lev 18:24: nations "were defiled" (nitme'u) — passive form showing they received defilement from their practices
- Ezek 22:26: va'echal = "and I am profaned" (Niphal of chalal) — God himself suffers the consequence
Hiphil Stem (referenced)
- Causative: badal Hiphil = "cause to distinguish/separate" (Lev 10:10; 20:25; Ezek 22:26)
- chaneph Hiphil = "cause to be polluted" (Num 35:33) — blood causes the land to be polluted