The Hiphil stem in Biblical Hebrew is causation carved into grammar—giving speakers the power to transform simple verbs into agents of divine action, historical change, and theological intensity. With its hallmark morphology and presence across all verbal forms, Hiphil makes subjects into instigators: from causing cherubim to dwell in Eden (Genesis 3:24) to divinely hardening Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 10:1). More than just linguistic architecture, Hiphil is the syntax of sovereignty—where YHWH doesn’t simply act, but sets events in motion, declares deliverance, and redefines reality through causative verbs.
The Function and Identity of the Hiphil Stem
The הִפְעִיל (Hiphil) stem in Biblical Hebrew expresses causative action, often turning a simple verb into one that makes another perform the action. It is one of the primary derived binyanim and serves to expand the semantic range of a root by emphasizing the subject’s role as the instigator or cause of the verbal action. The Hiphil is the active counterpart of the Hophal stem, which conveys the corresponding passive. It occurs across all verbal conjugations: perfect, imperfect, imperative, infinitive (absolute and construct), and participle.
Morphological Characteristics of the Hiphil
The Hiphil is identifiable by a prefix ה in the perfect and participle, and י in the imperfect. The stem often includes a preformative hi- syllable (with ḥireq and shewa) and a ḥolem or tsere in the second syllable, depending on form and root class. Below is a summary table of common forms.
| Form | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect (3ms) | הִשְׁלִיךְ | |
| Imperfect (3ms) | יַשְׁלִיךְ | |
| Participle | מַשְׁלִיךְ | מַשְׁלֶכֶת |
| Infinitive Absolute | הַשְׁלֵךְ | |
| Imperative (2ms) | הַשְׁלֵךְ | |
Genesis 3:24
וַיְגָרֶשׁ אֶת־הָאָדָם וַיַּשְׁכֵּן מִקֶּדֶם לְגַן־עֵדֶן אֶת־הַכְּרֻבִים וְאֵת לַהַט הַחֶרֶב הַמִּתְהַפֶּכֶת לִשְׁמֹר אֶת־דֶּרֶךְ עֵץ הַחַיִּים
“So he drove the man out; and he caused the cherubim to dwell east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.”
The verb וַיַּשְׁכֵּן is Hiphil imperfect consecutive 3ms from the root שׁכן, meaning “to dwell.” In the Hiphil, it means “to cause to dwell,” indicating that God caused the cherubim to take up a position. This causative use is essential to understand the divine orchestration of sacred space and guardianship.
Exodus 10:1
כִּי־אֲנִי הִכְבַּדְתִּי אֶת־לִבּוֹ
“For I have hardened his heart.”
The form הִכְבַּדְתִּי is Hiphil perfect 1cs of the root כבד. In the Qal, it means “to be heavy,” but in the Hiphil it becomes “to make heavy” or “to harden.” This theological usage reflects a divine act that causes Pharaoh’s resistance. The Hiphil construction intensifies the notion of causation beyond natural hardness to divinely ordained obstruction.
Contrast with Qal and Niphal
To clarify the function of Hiphil, the following table presents a comparison using the root שׁמע (“to hear”):
| Stem | Form | Meaning | Voice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qal | שָׁמַע | He heard | Simple Active |
| Niphal | נִשְׁמַע | He was heard | Simple Passive |
| Hiphil | הִשְׁמִיעַ | He caused to hear / He proclaimed | Causative Active |
Frequency and Distribution in the Tanakh
The Hiphil stem appears hundreds of times throughout the Hebrew Bible, making it one of the most productive and frequent binyanim. It is prominent in narrative, legal, and prophetic texts, especially in contexts where a subject initiates or brings about an action. It is particularly common in divine speech or when describing divine acts—e.g., causing to know (הוֹדִיעַ), causing to go out (הוֹצִיא), or causing to rule (הִמְלִיךְ).
Stylistic and Theological Dimensions
The Hiphil carries theological weight by presenting YHWH as the initiator of historical, spiritual, or physical change. Through the Hiphil, verbs often take on theological nuance: הִשְׁכִּים (“to rise early”) in prophetic speech frequently becomes a vehicle for divine initiative; הִצִּיל (“to deliver”) articulates YHWH’s salvific agency. The stem thus encodes divine causation both in action and intention.
The Grammar of Divine Causality
The Hiphil stem transforms simple actions into chains of caused events. Its power lies in its ability to project the subject’s influence beyond the self. In the hands of the biblical narrator or prophet, Hiphil forms become theological tools—asserting divine authority, initiating salvation or judgment, and altering the course of history. This causative binyan is not just grammar; it is the linguistic architecture of divine will in motion.
