CHAPTER VII.

§ 65. IRREGULAR VERBS.

1. We have already remarked (§ 31. 6.) that in denominating certain classes of Hebrew verbs irregular, we do not affix to the term the sense of arbitrary anomalies in the mode of flexion. The variations from the normal paradigm are all resolvable into the peculiar properties of certain letters, viz. the Quiescents *,, 1, ", and the Liquid 2, and are in fact the necessary results of the affections to which they are, from their very nature, occasionally sub. ject. As these peculiarities have been fully explained in previous parts of the Grammar (§§ 23, 31), it will be superfluous to repeat them here, and we proceed to specify the usual classification of this order of verbs. This is as follows:

(1.) Verbs whose first radical is 2, termed “′′, as why. (2.) Verbs whose first radical is ", termed "", as (3.) Verbs whose second radical is ", termed “">, as 177. Verbs whose second radical is 1, termed ', as Dip. (5.) Verbs whose second and third radicals are alike, termed y", as .

(6.) Verbs whose third radical is, termed No3, as x. (7.) Verbs whose third radical is ♬, termed n′′3, as 133.

1. The tendency of to assimilation has been already adverted to (§ 24. 4.); consequently the distinguishing characteristic of these verbs is, that in all the forms in which comes at the end of a syl. lable it is assimilated to the succeeding letter, and is expressed by a Dagesh forte; as Fut. Kal for ", Pret. Niph. for w, Pret. Hiph. for . In addition to this the Inf. Const. and the Imp. usually drop the initial Nun in the manner of verbs Pe Yod, as pr for p; iz for Niz. In this latter case, however, the Imp.

more commonly takes the paragogic form, as instead of wa; instead of . Still these modes very frequently preserve the radical even when the Fut. assimilates it; as Fut. p, Imp. p; Fut. 7, Inf. 7. Where the initial is dropped the Inf. usually takes a Segolate form in order to distinguish it from the Imperative; as n,, from and

2. Of the remaining forms, the Pret., Inf. Abs. and Part. of Kal, all Piel, Pual, and Hithpael, are entirely regular. It is to be observed, moreover, that verbs Pe Nun whose second radical is a Guttural are generally regular, or in other words exclude the peculiarities of this class. Thus 7, 3, &c., where the Dagesh compensative being necessarily excluded the remains. A few cases occur where the drops out from this class of verbs also; as

.2d pers תִּנְחַת but יִנְחַת for יֵחַת ; נִנְחַם for נִחַם .Niph

3. In Hophal, as in Kal, Niphil and Hiphil, the is assimilated to the letter following; but the preformative throughout takes u () instead of ŏ (+) §§ 47. 1, and 48. 1; as for 7,

for

4. The verb conforms strikingly to the analogy of this class of verbs, its first radical suffering assimilation and rejection in the same manner as ". Thus Imp. (seldom 3 Ex. 29. 1),

.Inf ;יְקַח .Kings 17. 11); Fut 1 לִקְחִי seldom) קְחוּ קְחִי קְחָה

Abs. ip, Const. p, once n 2 Kings 12. 9, with Inf.
Fut. Hoph. p, but Niph. invariably пp??.

A

1. INFINITIVE.

normal form with

REMARKS.

§ 67. KAL.

The usual form of the Const.

radical is most frequent, as y

Prov. 2. 8, p Ezek. 24. 8. In some verbs both

ash and my; and ; form with suffix inga

and

is, yet the

Gen. 20. 6,

forms are used,

(contr. for h). Fem.

2. FUTURE. The final vowel in this tense is sometimes Pattah and sometimes Holem, as a, Deut. 15. 2. p Lev. 24. 11, pr, Gen. 41. 40, Deut. 28. 30. Some verbs exhibit a twofold

נָתַן The verb יִנְטר and וְטוֹר ; יִנְדָּף and ידף form of the Fut. as

makes Fut. 37.

3. IMPERATIVE. The Imperative, like the Inf. and Fut., frequently drops its radical Nun, though the full regular form is not seldom met with; as b, 77, 7. The following are the most common apocopated forms; viz. a, a, (before Makkeph); (from 1). But Ruth 2. 14, and Josh. 3. 9, are

anomalies.

§ 68. NIPHAL.

and

1. PRETERITE. The Preter, from its dropping the radical inserting Dagesh, or prolonging the vowel, is identical in form with Piel, and can only be distinguished in many cases by the sense which the context requires; as Niph. and Pi. DP, Niph. and Pi. x. One instance occurs with final Holem, big, Gen. 17. 26; Also once Part. 7 with suff. 7,

.22 .34 .Gen פּוֹלִים .Part

Deut. 30. 4.

2. INFINITIVE. In the Inf. Abs. we have the following forms; i, Jud. 20. 39, 77 Ps. 68. 3, in Jer. 32. 4.

3. FUTURE. The Tseri termination is by no means of infrequent occurrence here, as 77, also ( omitted). With Guttu.

יַדָּה יַסַע יַגַע whence by contraction יַגִּיחַ rals we have the form