§ 77. Relation of the Weak Verbs to one another.

a

The close relation which exists between some classes of the weak verbs ( e.g. between w¾¾p and y¾¾p; a¾¾l and h¾¾l; [¾¾[ and W¾¾[; [¾¾[ and h¾¾l ) appears not only in their similarity or identity of inflexion, or their mutual interchange of certain forms, but especially from the fact that frequently the same root ( radix bilittera, see § 30 g ) recurs in various weak stems of similar meaning. The meaning accordingly is inherent in the two constant root-consonants, while the third consonant, which is weak ( and the particular class of weak verbs with it ), does not establish any difference in the meaning. Thus from the root %d there occur with the same meaning %k;D'; %WD; ak;D' to strike, to crush; and from the root, dn there are dWn: dd;n"; hd'n" to flee.

b

In this manner the following classes are related in form and meaning:

1. Verbs W¾¾[ and [¾¾[ in which the first and third consonants are the same in both, as being essential to the meaning; e.g. %Wm and %k;m' to become poor; vWm and vv;m' to feel; dWn and dd;n" to flee.

c

2. Verbs y¾¾p and !¾¾p; e.g. bc;y" and bc;n" to place, vq;n" and vqy" ( yaÒqoÒsÛ ) to lay snares. Moreover, stems belonging to the classes mentioned in 1 ( especially W¾¾[ ) are frequently related also to verbs y¾¾p and !¾¾p, e. g. rWG and rgOy" to fear; bAj and bj;y" to be good; xp;n" and x;WP to blow; #p;n" and #WP to dash to pieces. Verbs a¾¾p are less frequently connected with these classes, e.g. vd;a' and vWD to thresh, &c.

d

3. Verbs a¾¾l and h¾¾l (in which the first two consonants form the real body of the stem) are sometimes related to each other, and sometimes to the above classes. To each other, in ak'D' and hk'D' to crush, ar'q' and hr'q' to meet ( cf. § 75 nn ); to verbs of the other classes, in hc'm' and #c;m' to suck, hx'D' and x;WD to thrust, &c.

e

4. Verbs [¾¾[ and h¾¾l, on which cf. Grimm, Journal of Bibl. Lit., 1903, p. 196; e. g. hn"a' and !n:a' to sigh, hm'D' and ~m;D' to be quiet, hn"x' and !n"x' to incline, hl'K' and ll;K' to end, hl'q' and ll;q' to despise, hg"v' and gg:v' to err, hx'v' and xx;v' to bend down, hs'v' and ss;v' to plunder.

f

5. Verbs W¾¾[ and h¾¾[; e. g. lWm and lh;m' ( New Hebrew; in O. T. only lWhm' Is 1:22 ) to circumcise, rWm and rh;m' to exchange, rWn ( in hr'Anm. a light ) and rh;n" to shine; cf. also ~yjih'l. secret arts, Ex 7:11 with jl' secret, from jWl.