Niphal is the name given to one of the seven major verb stems called בִּנְיָנִים (/binjaˈnim/ binyanim, "constructions") in biblical Hebrew. The designation Niphal comes from the form ''niph‘al'' for the verb ''pa‘al'', “to do”. The ''nun'' () prefix is characteristic of the perfect conjugation, as well as of the participle. In the imperfect conjugation, the ''nun'' is (where possible) assimilated into the first root consonant and appears as a dagesh forte. In the imperative and infinitive construct, the prefix is a ''he'' () instead of a ''nun''. The infinitive absolute may be prefixed by either the ''nun'' or the ''he''. The Niphal stem usually denotes the incomplete

passive Passive may refer to: * Passive voice, a grammatical voice common in many languages, see also Pseudopassive * Passive language, a language from which an interpreter works * Passivity (behavior), the condition of submitting to the influence of on ...

or the reflexive voice. However, some verbs, such as ''nacham'' (meaning “to repent” in the Niphal), may be better translated with the active voice.

References

External links

* * http://www.becomingjewish.org/pdf/niphal_stem-hebrew.pdf Hebrew grammar {{Hebrew-lang-stub