Hiphil הִפְעִיל hif‘il
The Hiphil is one of the seven stems of the Hebrew verb. It adds “cause to do” (causative) to a root: “go out” becomes “bring out,” “come” becomes “bring.” It has two marks. One is ה in front (perfect, imperative, infinitive) or the vowel ַ under the prefix (imperfect, participle); the other is the vowel ִי (i) before the last root letter. This page shows both, one by one, in words actually used in the Bible.
the model verb פָּעַל (do) in this stem — “cause to do”
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 the Hiphil is
A Hebrew verb builds kinds of meaning by changing the letters and vowels around a three-letter root. Each kind is a stem (Hebrew בִּנְיָן binyan, “building”). After the Qal, the Hiphil is the most common stem: counted from the OSHB morphology, Hiphil words occur 9,489 times in the Old Testament.
It adds three kinds of meaning. (1) Causative — “cause to do” (2:9 וַיַּצְמַח “and he made to sprout” — he caused the trees to sprout). (2) Declarative — “declare to be, judge as” (Deut 25:1 וְהִצְדִּיקוּ “and they shall declare righteous”). (3) Verbs whose basic meaning is in the Hiphil, with no Qal (3:11 הִגִּיד “told, declared”).
The passive of the Hiphil is a separate stem, the Hophal.
2Where the name comes from — הִפְעִיל hif‘il
Stem names take the verb פָּעַל (pa‘al, “do, make”) as a model and use the sound of that verb in the stem as the name.
פָּעַל in the Hiphil is הִפְעִיל (hif‘il): הִ in front and ִי (i) under the second root letter ע. That sound became “Hiphil.” The name itself carries both Hiphil marks.
3At a glance — three marks of the Hiphil
- Perfectהִ (hi) at the very front and ִי (i) before the last root letter — הִמְטִיר (Gen 2:5 “had caused it to rain”).
- Imperfect · wayyiqtol · participleNo ה is seen; the prefix has the vowel ַ (a) — תַּצְמִיחַ (Gen 3:18), participle מַבְדִּיל (Gen 1:6). The Qal imperfect prefix usually has ִ (i), so this ַ marks the Hiphil.
- Imperative · infinitiveהַ (ha) in front — infinitive לְהַבְדִּיל (Gen 1:14), imperative הַקְרֵב (Exod 28:1).
4The perfect — הִ in front, ִי in the third person
The Hiphil perfect of the model verb קטל (kill): “… caused to die.” הִ is added in front, and the first root letter ק has no vowel (sheva), closing the syllable of הִ. “Who” is shown at the end, as in the Qal.
| Who | Hiphil perfect | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| he (3ms) | הִקְטִיל | hiqtil | he caused to die |
| she (3fs) | הִקְטִילָה | hiqtilah | she caused to die |
| you (2ms) | הִקְטַלְתָּ | hiqtalta | you (m) caused to die |
| you (2fs) | הִקְטַלְתְּ | hiqtalt | you (f) caused to die |
| I (1cs) | הִקְטַלְתִּי | hiqtalti | I caused to die |
| they (3cp) | הִקְטִילוּ | hiqtilu | they caused to die |
| you (2mp) | הִקְטַלְתֶּם | hiqtaltem | you (m pl) caused to die |
| you (2fp) | הִקְטַלְתֶּן | hiqtalten | you (f pl) caused to die |
| we (1cp) | הִקְטַלְנוּ | hiqtalnu | we caused to die |
The third person (he · she · they) has ִי; the first and second persons (I · you · we) have ַ in that place. The endings (ָה she · תָּ you · תִּי I · וּ they · נוּ we …) are exactly those of the Qal perfect.
5The perfect — real examples from the Bible
All are Hiphil perfects in Genesis. Look for the ה at the front and the vowel after it.
himtir — he had caused it to rain
הִ (the Hiphil mark) + the root מ-ט-ר (rain) + ִי (the Hiphil vowel) before the last root letter ר. “He” is the bare form with no ending. YHWH had not “caused it to rain” — a causative.
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).
hishḥit — (all flesh) had corrupted
הִ + the root שׁ-ח-ת (ruin) + ִי. Earlier in the same verse נִשְׁחָתָה (the earth was corrupt) is the Niphal of this root (“be ruined”); this word is the Hiphil (“ruin, corrupt”). Two stems of one root in one verse.
YLVAnd God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh (basar) had corrupted its way upon the earth.
higgid — (who) told
הִ + גִּי (a ג with a dot, and ִי) + ד. The root is נ-ג-ד. Its first letter נ, having no vowel before ג, merged into the ג and remains as a dot (dagesh) — an I-Nun verb. This verb is not used in the Qal; the Hiphil carries its basic meaning, “tell, declare.”
YLVAnd he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree which I commanded (tzivvah) you not to eat of it?"
he‘esharti — I have made rich
הֶ + the root ע-שׁ-ר (be rich) + the ending תִּי (I). In the first person the vowel before the last letter is ַ, not ִי (שַׁ). The first root letter ע is a guttural, so הִ became הֶ and the sheva under ע became ֱ (ḥatef segol). The Hiphil of “be rich” is “make rich.”
YLVif from a thread even to a sandal-strap, and if I take from anything that is yours — lest you should say, I have made Abram rich;
vehe’emin — and he believed
וְ (and) + הֶ (הִ becomes הֶ before the guttural א) + the root א-מ-ן + מִ. Here the vowel letter י is left out and only ִ is written (defective spelling), but it is read the same and is the same Hiphil third-person perfect. The Hiphil of א-מ-ן (be firm) → “believe, trust.”
YLVAnd he believed in YHWH; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
6The imperfect — ַ under the prefix
The Hiphil imperfect of קטל (“… will cause to die”). The prefix (י ת א נ) has the vowel ַ (a), and ִי (i) stands before the last root letter.
| Who | Hiphil imperfect | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| he | יַקְטִיל | yaqtil |
| she · you (m) | תַּקְטִיל | taqtil |
| you (f) | תַּקְטִילִי | taqtili |
| I | אַקְטִיל | ’aqtil |
| they (m) | יַקְטִילוּ | yaqtilu |
| they (f) · you (f pl) | תַּקְטֵלְנָה | taqtelnah |
| you (m pl) | תַּקְטִילוּ | taqtilu |
| we | נַקְטִיל | naqtil |
In the short form (jussive) and the wayyiqtol, ִי shrinks to ֵ (e) — יַקְטֵל (yaqtel, “let him cause to die”) · וַיַּקְטֵל (vayyaqtel, “and he caused to die”). תַּצְמִיחַ (3:18) and וַיַּצְמַח (2:9) below show exactly this difference.
7Imperfect · wayyiqtol · jussive — real examples from the Bible
Look for the ַ under the prefix. The same root צ-מ-ח appears in the long form (ִי) in 3:18 and in the short wayyiqtol form in 2:9.
tatsmiaḥ — it shall sprout (cause to sprout)
תַּ (she — the subject “ground” is feminine) + the root צ-מ-ח (sprout) + מִי (the Hiphil ִי). The last letter ח is a guttural, so an “a” glide (ַ, furtive pataḥ) is heard before it: “-miaḥ.” The ground will “cause thorns to sprout” — a causative.
YLVAnd thorns and thistles it shall sprout for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field.
vayyatsmaḥ — and he made to sprout
Wayyiqtol וַיַּ (and he — the Hiphil ַ under the prefix י) + the root צ-מ-ח + מַ. The wayyiqtol is a short form, so ִי shrank (normally to ֵ), and because the last letter ח is a guttural it became ַ. Same root and stem as תַּצְמִיחַ in 3:18; only the form differs.
YLVAnd YHWH God made to sprout from the ground (adamah) every tree pleasant to sight and good for food, and the tree of life (chai) in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
vayyavdel — and he divided
וַיַּ (and he) + the root ב-ד-ל (divide) + דֵּ. A short wayyiqtol form, so ֵ (e) instead of ִי. This verb is not used in the Qal; the Hiphil means “divide, separate.” Same root and stem as the participle מַבְדִּיל in 1:6.
YLVAnd God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided between the light and between the darkness.
tadshe — let (the earth) sprout
Jussive (“let …”): תַּ (she — “the earth”) + the root ד-שׁ-א (sprout grass) + שֵׁ. The jussive is a short form, so ֵ, not ִי. God tells the earth to “cause vegetation to sprout.”
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.
8Imperative · infinitives · participle
The imperative and infinitives put הַ (ha) in front. The participle puts מַ (ma) in front — מ standing where the imperfect has its prefix.
| Form | Model קטל | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| imperative (2ms) | הַקְטֵל | haqtel | cause to die |
| imperative (2mp) | הַקְטִילוּ | haqtilu | (you pl) cause to die |
| infinitive construct | הַקְטִיל | haqtil | causing to die |
| infinitive absolute | הַקְטֵל | haqtel | (emphatic) causing to die |
| participle (ms) | מַקְטִיל | maqtil | (one) causing to die |
| participle (fs) | מַקְטִילָה · מַקְטֶלֶת | maqtilah · maqtelet | (she / it) causing to die |
| participle (mp) | מַקְטִילִים | maqtilim | (those) causing to die |
The 2ms imperative and the infinitive absolute have ֵ (e), not ִי. The infinitive construct and the participle keep ִי.
9Imperative · infinitive · participle — real examples from the Bible
haqrev — bring near
Imperative: הַ (prefix) + the root ק-ר-ב (come near) + רֵ (the 2ms imperative has ֵ). The Hiphil of “come near” is “bring near.” Same root and stem as the perfect הִקְרִיב in Gen 12:11.
YLVAnd you, bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from the midst of the sons of Israel, to act as priest to me: Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron.
haggidi — tell (me) (f)
Feminine singular imperative: הַ + גִּי (the dot of the merged נ + the Hiphil ִי) + ד + the ending י (you, to a woman). Same root נ-ג-ד as הִגִּיד in 3:11. Abraham’s servant speaks to Rebekah, so the form is feminine.
YLVand said, "Whose daughter are you? Tell me, I pray. Is there at your father's house a place for us to lodge?"
lehavdil — to divide
לְ (to) + the infinitive construct הַבְדִּיל (dividing — הַ in front + the Hiphil ִי). Same root ב-ד-ל as וַיַּבְדֵּל in 1:4; it appears again in 1:18 as וּלֲהַבְדִּיל.
YLVAnd God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens, to divide between the day and between the night; and let them be for signs (ot) and for appointed times (moadim), and for days and years;
harbah — greatly (multiplying)
Infinitive absolute: הַ + the root ר-ב-ה (be many). Paired with the next word אַרְבֶּה (I will multiply — Hiphil imperfect 1cs, ַ under the prefix א), it gives emphasis: “I will greatly multiply.” The verb ends in ה, so there is no place for ִי (see III-He verbs).
YLVTo the woman (ishah) he said, "I will greatly multiply your pain and your conception; in pain you shall bear children, and to your man (ish) shall be your desire, and he shall rule over you."
mavdil — dividing
Participle: מַ (the participle prefix) + the root ב-ד-ל + דִּי. The firmament is to be “dividing” between waters and waters. A participle means “(one / something) doing,” an ongoing action.
YLVAnd God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide between waters and waters."
mazria‘ — yielding seed
Participle: מַ + the root ז-ר-ע (sow, seed) + רִי. The last letter ע is a guttural, so an “a” glide (furtive pataḥ) comes before it. Plants “yielding seed” — “causing seed,” a causative.
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.
10Why the ה disappears in the imperfect and only ַ remains
- 1. The starting shapeThe Hiphil is the stem that puts ה before the root. The imperfect shows “who” by a prefix (י he), so the starting shape is יְהַקְטִיל (ye-haqtil).
- 2. A ה between two letters is weakה is a weak sound; caught between the prefix and a vowel, it drops out.
- 3. Its vowel moves to the prefixAs ה drops, its vowel ַ (a) moves under the prefix י → יַקְטִיל (yaqtil).
- 4. The participle is the sameThe participle went the same way: מְהַקְטִיל became מַקְטִיל (maqtil). In the infinitive with the preposition לְ (לְהַבְדִּיל, 1:14) the ה stays, so the original shape can still be seen.
11What the Hiphil does — causative · declarative · Hiphil-only meanings
(1) Causative “cause to do” — someone makes another do the Qal action: Qal יָצָא (go out) → הוֹצִיא (bring out, 14:18) · Qal בּוֹא (come) → הֵבִיא (bring, 4:4) · צָמַח (sprout) → וַיַּצְמַח (made to sprout, 2:9) · אוֹר (be light) → לְהָאִיר (to give light, 1:15).
(2) Declarative “declare to be” — judging a state to be so: Deut 25:1 וְהִצְדִּיקוּ … וְהִרְשִׁיעוּ (they shall declare righteous … and declare wicked). The judge does not “make” the righteous righteous but “declares” them so.
(3) Verbs whose basic meaning is Hiphil — some verbs have little or no Qal: הִגִּיד (tell, 3:11), הִבְדִּיל (divide, 1:4), הִשְׁכִּים (rise early). These are not translated “cause to.”
So when you meet a Hiphil, first ask “who caused whom to do this?” — then check in the lexicon whether the verb is also used in the Qal.
12In verbs with weak letters — real examples from the Bible
When the root has a weak letter such as י or ו, the Hiphil changes shape. The ה or מ in front and the vowels still show it is a Hiphil.
holid — he begot
I-Yod verb: the root י-ל-ד (bear) originally began with ו. In the Hiphil הִ + ו combine into הוֹ (ho). After it, לִי keeps the Hiphil ִי. “Cause to be born” — the form used of fathers in genealogies.
YLVAnd these are the generations of Terah. Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begot Lot.
totse — let (the earth) bring forth
Jussive: תּ (she — “the earth”) + וֹ (the original first letter ו) + צֵא. The Hiphil of י-צ-א (go out) → “cause to go out, bring forth.” Jussive, so ֵ rather than ִי. וַתּוֹצֵא in 1:12 (and the earth brought forth) is the wayyiqtol of the same form.
YLVAnd God said, "Let the earth bring forth a living soul (nephesh) after its kind, beast and creeping thing and living thing (chai) of the earth after its kind"; and it was so.
hevi — he brought
Hollow verb: the middle ו of the root ב-ו-א (come) disappears, and הִ lengthens to הֵ (he). The remaining בִי has the Hiphil ִי. The Hiphil of “come” is “cause to come → bring.”
YLVAnd Abel, he also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And YHWH looked with favor to Abel and to his offering,
vayyave — and he brought
Wayyiqtol: וַיָּ (and he) + בֵא. The Hiphil of the same root ב-ו-א as הֵבִיא in 4:4. In a hollow verb the prefix takes ָ instead of ַ, and the short wayyiqtol reduces ִי to ֵ. He “caused” the animals “to come” to Adam.
YLVAnd YHWH God formed out of the ground (adamah) every living thing (chai) of the field and every bird of the heavens, and brought it to Adam to see what he would call it; and whatever Adam called it, the living soul (nephesh), that was its name.
leha’ir — to give light
לְ (to) + the infinitive construct הָאִיר. The middle ו of the root א-ו-ר (be light) disappears and הַ lengthens to הָ. The Hiphil of “be light” is “make light → give light.”
YLVand let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens, to give light upon the earth"; and it was so.
vehishqah — and it watered
Weqatal: וְהִ (and + the Hiphil הִ) + the root שׁ-ק-ה + the ending ָה. The verb ends in ה, so it has no ִי and ends in ָה. לְהַשְׁקוֹת (to water) in 2:10 is the Hiphil infinitive of the same root. “Cause to drink → water.”
YLVAnd a mist went up from the earth and watered all the face of the ground (adamah).
13Easy to confuse
A ה in front is not always the Hiphil. (1) The article הַ (the) — before nouns, with a dot in the next letter (הַמַּיִם the waters). (2) The question marker הֲ. (3) The הִ of the Niphal imperative and infinitive (הִפָּרֵד) — the Niphal has a dot in the next letter and no ִי. (4) The הִתְ of the Hithpael. The Hiphil perfect has a sheva under the first root letter after הִ, and ִי in the third person.
Do not decide by ִי alone. The short forms (jussive, wayyiqtol), the 2ms imperative, and the first and second persons of the perfect have no ִי (וַיַּבְדֵּל · תַּדְשֵׁא · הֶעֱשַׁרְתִּי). Then the ַ under the prefix (imperfect) or the הִ in front (perfect) shows it.
“Cause to” is not always right. הִקְרִיב in Gen 12:11 is a Hiphil, yet it means “(he) came near,” not “brought near.” There are also Hiphil-only verbs (הִגִּיד tell) and declaratives (הִצְדִּיק declare righteous); read the flow of the text together with the lexicon.
Telling it from the Qal imperfect: Qal יִקְטֹל (yiqtol) has ִ under the prefix; Hiphil יַקְטִיל (yaqtil) has ַ. The passive of the Hiphil, “be caused to,” is the Hophal (הָקְטַל · יָקְטַל), whose first vowel is ָ (o) or ֻ (u).
14Where this appears in Genesis 1–2
All 20 places, found from the OSHB morphology. Tap one to go to that word’s notes.