Guttural verbs פְּעָלִים גְּרוֹנִיִּים pe‘alim geroniyyim
The gutturals א ה ח ע, together with ר, are sounded deep in the throat, so they are hard to double or to clip with a sheva the way other letters are. Verbs with one of these letters in the root keep all three root letters, but their vowels differ a little from the model verb. There are only four reasons for the changes. This page shows those four, with Genesis words, for a guttural in the first, middle and last position of the root.
“throat letters” — from גָּרוֹן (throat)
Colour key blue = added at the front · orange = added at the end · purple = a mark inside (dot · doubled letter · changed vowel) · underline = the word this page is about
1What guttural verbs are
These are verbs with one of the gutturals א ה ח ע among the three root letters. ר shares one of their properties (it cannot take a dot). Genesis 1–2 alone has עָשָׂה (make) · עָבַד (work) · זָרַע (sow, yield seed) · צָמַח (sprout) · בָּרַךְ (bless) · רָחַף (hover).
Guttural verbs do not lose or assimilate root letters, unlike I-Nun or hollow verbs, whose letters disappear. All three letters stay; only the vowels around them change. That is why they are named separately and placed first among the weak verbs.
Verbs whose last letter is א or ה have changes of their own and are treated on the III-Aleph and III-He pages.
2Where the name comes from — גְּרוֹנִיּוֹת geroniyyot
Hebrew grammar calls the gutturals גְּרוֹנִיּוֹת (geroniyyot, “throat letters”), from גָּרוֹן (garon, throat). English “guttural” likewise comes from Latin guttur, throat.
The positions of the root are named with the letters of the model verb פ-ע-ל (do): first position = פ (pe), middle = ע (ayin), last = ל (lamed). So a guttural first letter makes a “pe-guttural” (I-guttural) verb, a guttural middle letter an “ayin-guttural” (II-guttural), and a guttural last letter a “lamed-guttural” (III-guttural).
Examples: עָבַד (work), first letter ע → I-guttural · שָׁחַט (slaughter), middle ח → II-guttural · זָרַע (sow), last ע → III-guttural.
3At a glance — the four traits of the gutturals
Every change in a guttural verb comes from these four.
- (1) No dot (dagesh)Gutturals and ר cannot be doubled. Where a dot should be, the vowel before it either lengthens (וַיְבָרֶךְ Gen 2:3) or simply stays short (מְרַחֶפֶת Gen 1:2).
- (2) Hateph instead of shevaWhere a vocal sheva (short “e”) should be, a hateph comes instead (ֲ short a · ֱ short e · ֳ short o) — לַעֲבֹד (Gen 2:5).
- (3) A liking for “a”Around a guttural, “a” (ַ) readily replaces “i, o, e” — יִצְמָח (Gen 2:5; the model יִקְטֹל has “o”).
- (4) A hidden “a” at the endWhen a long vowel other than “a” stands before a final ח or ע, a short “a” (ַ) slips in between — זֹרֵעַ (zorea‘, Gen 1:29). This is the furtive patah.
4Beside the model verb — what changes
On the left, the model קטל (a verb with no changes); on the right, a guttural verb in the same form. Every word on the right is used in Genesis; the colored parts are what changed.
| Position · form | Model קטל | Guttural verb (Genesis) | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| first · Qal imperfect (we) | נִקְטֹל niqtol | נַעֲשֶׂה na‘aseh (1:26) | (2) hateph · (3) prefix “a” too |
| first · לְ + infinitive | לִקְטֹל liqtol | לַעֲבֹד la‘avod (2:5) | (2) hateph · לְ “a” too |
| first · Qal perfect (you pl.) | קְטַלְתֶּם qetaltem | עֲשִׂיתֶם ‘asitem (44:5) | (2) hateph for sheva |
| middle · wayyiqtol (they) | וַיִּקְטְלוּ vayyiqtelu | וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ vayyishḥatu (37:31) | (2) hateph for sheva |
| middle · Piel wayyiqtol | וַיְקַטֵּל vayqattel | וַיְבָרֶךְ vayvarekh (2:3) | (1) vowel lengthens for the dot |
| middle · Piel participle (f) | מְקַטֶּלֶת meqattelet | מְרַחֶפֶת meraḥefet (1:2) | (1) stays short, no dot |
| last · Qal imperfect (he) | יִקְטֹל yiqtol | יִצְמָח yitsmaḥ (2:5) | (3) “a” for “o” |
| last · Qal active participle | קֹטֵל qotel | זֹרֵעַ zorea‘ (1:29) | (4) furtive patah |
Every change is a vowel. Not one of the root letters (ע-שׂ-ה ש-ח-ט ב-ר-ך צ-מ-ח ז-ר-ע) is lost.
5When the first letter is a guttural (I-guttural) — real examples from the Bible
The first root letter takes a hateph instead of a sheva, and a prefix or preposition in front matches the hateph’s vowel.
na‘aseh — let us make
נַ (we) + the root ע-שׂ-ה (make). On the model it would be נִ (ni) + sheva, as in נִקְטֹל, but the first root letter ע is a guttural, so it takes hateph patah עֲ (short a) instead of a sheva (2), and the prefix matches that “a” as נַ (na) (3).
YLVAnd God said, "Let us make man (adam) in our image, after our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the beast, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."
la‘avod — to work
לַ (to) + the Qal infinitive עֲבֹד (root ע-ב-ד). On the model it would be לִקְטֹל (liqtol); ע takes hateph patah and לְ matches it as לַ. The same verb is in 2:15, לְעָבְדָהּ (to work it).
YLVAnd every shrub of the field was not yet in the earth, and every herb of the field had not yet sprouted, for YHWH God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man (adam) to work (avad) the ground (adamah).
‘asitem — you have done
Qal perfect 2mp: the root ע-שׂ-ה + תֶם (you pl.). The model קְטַלְתֶּם (qetaltem) has a sheva on the first letter; ע takes עֲ instead. The ִי in the middle is the III-He pattern.
YLVIs not this the one in which my lord drinks, and by which he indeed divines? You have done evil in what you have done.'"
vayya‘asu — and they made
Wayyiqtol וַיַּ (and they) + עֲשׂ + וּ. On the model the prefix would be יִּ (yi), as in וַיִּקְטְלוּ; here it is יַּ (ya), matching the hateph patah of the first root letter ע. וַיַּעַשׂ (and he made) in 1:7 has יַּ for the same reason.
YLVAnd the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves and made for themselves girdles.
6When the middle letter is a guttural (II-guttural) — real examples from the Bible
The middle letter is where the Piel, Pual and Hithpael put their dot (doubling). A guttural cannot take it. In the Qal, a hateph replaces the sheva.
vayvarekh — and he blessed
Piel wayyiqtol of the root ב-ר-ך. The Piel וַיְקַדֵּשׁ (and he sanctified) in the same verse has a dot in its middle letter דּ. ר cannot take the dot, so the vowel of ב before it lengthens from ַ to ָ in place of the doubling (1, compensatory lengthening). 1:22 and 1:28 have the same word.
YLVAnd God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it he shabbatted from all his work which God created to make.
meraḥefet — hovering
Piel participle of the root ר-ח-ף. The middle ח should take a dot but cannot. This time the vowel before it, רַ (ra), does not lengthen but stays short (1). With ח and ה the doubling is often treated as present though unwritten, so the vowel stays short (virtual doubling); ר and א usually lengthen it.
YLVAnd the earth was formlessness and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the spirit (ruach) of God was hovering upon the face of the waters.
vayyishḥatu — and they slaughtered
Qal wayyiqtol 3mp: וַיִּ + the root שׁ-ח-ט + וּ. On the model וַיִּקְטְלוּ (vayyiqtelu) the middle letter has a vocal sheva; ח takes hateph patah חֲ instead (2). Joseph’s brothers slaughter a goat.
YLVAnd they took Joseph's coat, and slaughtered a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood.
tso‘aqim — are crying out
Qal active participle, masculine plural: the root צ-ע-ק + ים. The model קֹטְלִים (qotlim) has a sheva in the middle; ע takes עֲ (short a) (2). “The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out.”
YLVAnd he said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground (adamah).
7When the last letter is a guttural (III-guttural) — real examples from the Bible
Before a final ח or ע, “a” readily appears (3), and after a long vowel a furtive patah slips in (4).
yitsmaḥ — (had not yet) sprung up
Qal imperfect יִ (he) + the root צ-מ-ח (sprout). The model יִקְטֹל has “o” as its second vowel; before the final ח it is “a” (מָ) (3). The Hiphil וַיַּצְמַח (and he caused to sprout) in 2:9 also ends in “a.”
YLVAnd every shrub of the field was not yet in the earth, and every herb of the field had not yet sprouted, for YHWH God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man (adam) to work (avad) the ground (adamah).
vayyitta‘ — and he planted
Qal wayyiqtol of נ-ט-ע (plant). The first letter נ has merged into טּ as a dot (a I-Nun verb), and before the final ע the vowel is “a” (טַּ), not “o” (3). “YHWH God planted a garden in Eden, in the east.”
YLVAnd YHWH God planted a garden in Eden, from the east, and there he put Adam whom he had formed.
zorea‘ — yielding (seed)
Qal active participle of ז-ר-ע (yield seed) — the same vowels ֹ ֵ as the model קֹטֵל (qotel). Because a long “e” (ֵ) stands before the final ע, a furtive patah עַ slips in between (4). It is pronounced before the ע: “zore-a‘.”
YLVAnd God said, "Behold, I have given to you every herb yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food.
mazria‘ — yielding (seed)
The Hiphil participle of the same root ז-ר-ע: מַ + זְרִי + the furtive patah עַ. This time it follows a long “i” (ִי) (4). The same thing as in זֹרֵעַ (1:29), in another stem.
YLVAnd God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, herb yielding seed, fruit tree making fruit after its kind, in which is its seed, upon the earth"; and it was so.
8When a stem’s dot falls on a guttural — the Niphal
The Niphal imperfect puts a dot (the merged נ) in the first root letter. If that letter is a guttural or ר, the vowel before it lengthens instead.
va’eḥave — and I hid myself
Niphal wayyiqtol 1cs: וָ (and) + אֵ (I) + the root ח-ב-א (hide). On the model אֶקָּטֵל (’eqqatel) the first root letter has a dot; ח cannot take it, so the prefix vowel lengthens from ֶ to ֵ (1).
YLVAnd he said, "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself."
vetera’eh — and let (it) appear
Niphal imperfect: וְ (and) + תֵ (she — “the dry land” הַיַּבָּשָׁה is feminine) + the root ר-א-ה (see). A Niphal would put a dot in ר (תִּרָּ), but ר cannot take it, so the prefix “i” lengthens to “e” (ֵ) (1). The Niphal of “see” → “be seen, appear.”
YLVAnd God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered to one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.
ye‘aseh — (it is not) done
Niphal imperfect: יֵ (he, it) + the root ע-שׂ-ה (do). A Niphal puts a dot in the first root letter, as in יִקָּטֵל, but ע cannot take it, so the prefix “i” lengthens to “e” (ֵ) (1). The Niphal of “do” → “be done.” Laban says, “it is not done so in our place.”
YLVAnd Laban said, "It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
9Why it happens — the nature of throat sounds
- 1. Hard to doubleA doubled sound like קּ דּ is a closure of tongue or lips held a little longer. A throat sound cannot be held that way, so it takes no dot (doubling). Instead the vowel before it lengthens to keep the syllable’s weight (וַיְבָרֶךְ), or is left as it is (מְרַחֶפֶת).
- 2. Hard to hold a very short vowelA vocal sheva is a very short “e.” After a throat sound that short sound blurs, so a clear short vowel, a hateph (ֲ ֱ ֳ), is used. Hateph patah ֲ is the most common; א often takes hateph segol ֱ (אֱלֹהִים).
- 3. “a” is made near the throat“a,” with the mouth open and the tongue low, suits a throat sound best. So around gutturals “a” pushes out other vowels (יִצְמָח · וַיִּטַּע).
- 4. A glide from a long vowel into the throatIt is hard to go straight from a long vowel (e · i · o · u) into ח or ע, so an “a” slips in between. It only eases the sound and does not make an extra syllable (זֹרֵעַ · יֹדֵעַ).
10ר and א are a little different
ר is not a guttural, but it shares trait (1), no dot. So in the Piel the vowel before it lengthens, as in וַיְבָרֶךְ (2:3), and the article is הָ, as in הָרֹמֵשׂ (1:26). It does take an ordinary sheva, though — the רְ of וּרְדוּ (rule, 1:28).
א often loses its sound in the middle or at the end of a word. Among I-Aleph verbs, אָכַל (eat) and אָמַר (say) have a silent א in the Qal imperfect, and the prefix takes “o”: תֹּאכֵל (2:16) · וַיֹּאמֶר (1:3). This pattern is treated apart from the guttural traits (see also the III-Aleph page).
Verbs ending in ה (עָשָׂה רָאָה הָיָה) do not change like guttural verbs, because the final ה is really a vowel letter; they follow the III-He pattern. Only rare verbs with a mappiq in the final ה, such as גָּבַהּ (be high), behave as guttural verbs.
11Easy to confuse
The stem stays the same even when the vowels change. וַיְבָרֶךְ (2:3) has no dot in its middle letter, yet it is a Piel. וַיַּעֲשׂוּ (3:7) has the prefix יַּ (ya), yet it is a Qal, not a Hiphil — a Hiphil would have “i” after the second root letter (וַיַּקְטִילוּ). Judge the stem by the dot, the prefix and the whole vowel pattern.
The “a” of יִצְמָח is not a different form. It is simply a Qal imperfect whose “o” became “a” before a final guttural. שְׁמַע (hear, 21:12) and שְׁמַעַן (4:23) have “a” for the same reason.
The furtive patah is read first. זֹרֵעַ is “zore-a‘,” יֹדֵעַ “yode-a‘,” רוּחַ (spirit, 1:2) “ru-aḥ.” No extra “a” is added after the word; it slips in just before the final consonant.
Guttural verbs do not lose letters. In וַיִּטַּע (2:8) the first נ is gone because it is a I-Nun verb, which has nothing to do with the final ע. One verb can have two traits at once.