Biblical Hebrew Forum

[K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Pere:

As a group we discussed this issue before, what was the difference between
Piel and Qal? When reading the unpointed text, it is usually impossible
from the form to distinguish between the two, except the participle shows
the difference. How many Qals were wrongly pointed at Piels by the
Masoretes? How many Piels were wrongly pointed as Qals by the Masoretes?
Are there any contextual clues that would help us recognize when a Piel is
meant, or a Qal? For example, Proverbs 31:19 example you list below looks
like a mispointing of a Qal as a Piel, as the context indicates simple
action.

At that time, it was generally acknowledged (if my memory is correct) that
the Piel was not an intensified Qal. The one that seemed to make the most
sense is that the Piel was stative verb, while Qal simple active.

An example of that is מכתש (Piel participle) is the place where grain was
pounded into flour, another example being מכתת the place where repeated
hammering is done, namely a metal smithy. Both are Piel participles
understood as nouns, where the location is the stative of the action. Same
with מועד place where a meeting is held.

Even so, there seems to be a fine line between simple active and stative
uses, as can be seen in “to express” often written in a participle as מדבר
Piel though also found as a participle דבר Qal.

Karl W. Randolph.

On Wed, Dec 7, 2011 at 7:30 AM, Pere Porta <pporta7 AT gmail.com> wrote:

> Do you know the difference between the qal (pa'al) and the pi'el?
> Briefly summing it up:
> Qal ---------- plain -------- to send (look at Gn 42:4 [masculine sing]
> Pi'el --------- intensive --- to send away -- in Pr 31:19, she stretches
> out her hands (to the distaff) (NAS), namely with decision, with strength,
> making her mind up...
>
> The dagesh in the L is the sign of the pi'el, so that readers not to
> mistake for the qal form of verb $LX.
>
> Regards
>
>
>
> Pere Porta
>
>
>