Page:Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar (1910 Kautzsch-Cowley edition).djvu/161

 Verba Derivativa, or Derived Conjugations.

1. The essential characteristic of this conjugation consists in a prefix to the stem. This exists in two forms: (a) the (probably original) prepositive nă, as in the Hebrew perfect and participle, although in the strong verb the ă is always attenuated to ĭ: for original nă-qăṭăl, participle, infinitive absolute sometimes ; (b) the (later) proclitic in (as in all the forms of the corresponding Arabic conjugation vii. ʾinqătălă), found in the imperfect  for yinqāṭēl, in the imperative and infinitive construct, with a secondary  added,  (for hinqāṭēl), and in the infinitive absolute  The inflexion of  is perfectly analogous to that of Qal.

The features of are accordingly in the perfect and participle the prefixed Nûn, in the imperative, infinitive, and imperfect, the  in the first radical. These characteristics hold good also for the weak verb. In the case of an initial guttural, which, according to, cannot take , the emission of the strengthening invariably causes the lengthening of the preceding vowel (see ).

2. As regards its meaning, bears some resemblance to the Greek middle voice, in being—(a) primarily  of Qal, e.g.  (against),, φυλάσσεσθαι, , ; cf. also. Equally characteristic of is its frequent use to express emotions which react upon the mind;,  (to bemoan oneself, cf. ὀδύρεσθαι, lamentari, contristari); as well as to express actions which the subject allows to happen to himself, or to have an effect upon himself (Niphʿal tolerativum), e.g. , Niph. to allow oneself to be inquired of,, , &c.; so the Niph. of, , , , &c.

(b) It expresses reciprocal or mutual action, e.g., Niph. to speak to one another;, Niph. to go to law with one another;, Niph. to take counsel, cf. the middle and deponent verbs βουλεύεσθαι, μάξεσθαι , altercari, luctari proeliari.

(c) It has also, like  and the Greek middle, the meaning of the active, with the addition of to oneself (sibi), for