וְהַלְוִיִּ֗ם יֵשׁ֧וּעַ בִּנּ֛וּי קַדְמִיאֵ֥ל שֵׁרֵבְיָ֖ה יְהוּדָ֣ה מַתַּנְיָ֑ה עַֽל־הֻיְּדֹ֖ות ה֥וּא וְאֶחָֽיו׃ (Nehemiah 12:8)
And the Lĕwiyyim Yeshua Binnui Qadmīʾel Shērēvyah Yehudah Mattanyah over the thanksgivings he and his brothers
Introduction: A Verse with Sparse Verbs and Deep Reverberations
At first glance, Nehemiah 12:8 appears to be a list of Levitical names and duties. Only one verb surfaces—yet it carries the entire functional weight of the verse. This verb, hidden in a rare binyan, shapes the worship structure of the Second Temple. Let’s explore how one carefully chosen verbal stem—the Hophal—carries theological resonance and grammatical beauty.
The Sole Verb: הֻיְּדֹ֖ות — Hophal, Participle (plural or collective)
Root: יָדָה (to praise, give thanks)
Binyan: Hophal (the passive-causative stem)
– Form Breakdown:
– Prefix: הֻ־ indicates Hophal
– Middle root doubling (ד with dagesh)
– Vowels: Shureq and Tsere
– Suffixed form: masculine plural/construct context with עַל
Morphology:
– הֻיְּדֹות is likely a participial form in construct, meaning “those who were caused to give thanks”
– It modifies the group of Levites who were appointed or responsible for liturgical thanksgiving
Why Hophal?
– The Hophal binyan is the passive counterpart to Hiphil, which is itself causative
– If Hiphil means “to cause someone to praise,” then Hophal means “to be caused to praise”—or more properly here, “to be appointed for the act of praising”
– This binyan is rare and formal, fitting for a sacred administrative description
Semantic Insight: Why Not Qal or Piel?
– Qal: “to praise” (active) — would mean the Levites are spontaneously praising. But the verse implies a liturgical duty, not personal devotion.
– Piel: intensive “to give strong praise” — suggests deliberate exaltation but still active
– Hophal: shifts the subject from initiator to recipient of appointment or function
Grammatical Role and Syntactic Effect
– The participle הֻיְּדֹות functions as the title or role the Levites held: “those who were caused to perform thanksgiving”
– It is preceded by עַל (“over” or “concerning”), which aligns with the construct sense: “in charge of the thanksgivings”
– This verb+preposition pairing supports a hierarchical structure
Comparison of Theoretical Binyanim
| Form | Binyan | Voice | Meaning | Why (or Why Not) Used Here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יָדָה | Qal | Active | to praise (generally) | Too generic—doesn’t imply official role |
| יִידָּה | Niphal | Passive | to be praised | Wrong subject — Levites aren’t being praised |
| יִידֶּה | Piel | Intensive | to exalt in praise | Suggests emotional intensity, not role |
| הוֹדָה | Hiphil | Causative | to cause to praise | Would make Levites the initiators, not appointees |
| הֻיְּדֹות | Hophal | Passive-Causative | those caused/assigned to give thanks | Exactly what the verse needs: formal appointment |
How the Passive Becomes Powerful
This verse features only one verb, and it’s in a binyan so subtle most readers pass it by. But הֻיְּדֹות tells a story of institutional worship—not spontaneous joy, but structured praise led by appointed Levites.
Choosing the Hophal was not mere grammar. It was theology:
– Praise is not always impromptu—it is sometimes an office
– The Levites are not just worshipers; they are entrusted agents of thanksgiving
– The passive stem honors that calling as something received, not seized
When you see הֻיְּדֹות, you hear an echo of generations who didn’t just praise YHWH—but were given that sacred duty.
