The Pual stem in Biblical Hebrew is a poetic powerhouse: a morphologically intense passive form of the Piel stem that channels themes of divine action, judgment, and ritual transformation. Found only in perfect, participle, and infinitive absolute forms, the Pual evokes theological depth through its expressive restraint—appearing primarily in Psalms, prophetic texts, and cultic language where brokenness, sanctification, and purification are not merely described, but etched into the grammar. Whether consecrating an altar or depicting shattered violence, the Pual doesn’t just narrate—it reverberates with the quiet force of divine agency.
The Function and Identity of the Pual Stem
The פּוּעַל (Pual) stem in Biblical Hebrew is one of the derived binyanim that express a passive-intensive voice. It is the passive counterpart of the פִּעֵל (Piel) stem, which typically conveys an intensive or resultative active action. In contrast, the Pual expresses the intensive action received by the subject. It is formed primarily in the perfect, participle, and infinitive absolute—never in the imperfect or imperative. The stem is recognized by the קוּבּוּץ vowel in the first syllable and a dagesh forte in the second root letter, highlighting its morphological identity.
Morphological Characteristics of the Pual
The Pual stem has consistent and diagnostic vowel patterns. Below is a table showing common masculine and feminine forms in key Pual conjugations.
| Form | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect (3rd Person) | שֻׁבַּר | שֻׁבְּרָה |
| Participle | מְשֻׁבָּר | מְשֻׁבֶּרֶת |
| Infinitive Absolute | שֻׁבֵּר | |
Psalm 37:15
וְשֻׁבְּרוּ קַשְּׁתוֹתָם
“And their bows shall be shattered.”
The verb וְשֻׁבְּרוּ is Pual perfect 3mp of שׁבר. The context describes the divine overthrow of the wicked. The Pual stem emphasizes the intensity and finality of the destruction—“their bows will be utterly broken.” The passive form highlights divine agency while focusing on the recipients of the act.
| Verb | Stem | Form | Syntactic Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| וְשֻׁבְּרוּ | Pual | Perfect 3mp | Verb—predicate of divine judgment |
| קַשְּׁתוֹתָם | Noun (construct) | Plural with 3mp suffix | Subject of the passive verb |
Exodus 29:37
שִׁבְעַת יָמִים תְּכַפֵּר עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ אֹתוֹ וְהָיָה הַמִּזְבֵּחַ קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים כָּל־הַנֹּגֵעַ בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ יִקְדָּשׁ
“Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it; then the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar shall become holy.”
In this cultic instruction, the Pual participle קֻדַּשׁ (from the surrounding context in the chapter) is used to describe how holiness is conferred. The form וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ earlier in the verse is Piel, active, but the effect is carried through in passive statements where the object becomes holy. The Pual conveys the passive reception of consecration—objects are transformed through contact with the sanctified altar.
Contrast with Piel and Niphal
The following table contrasts the active, passive-intensive, and simple passive expressions of the same root שׁבר to show functional distinctions among binyanim:
| Stem | Form | Meaning | Voice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piel | שִׁבֵּר | He shattered | Intensive Active |
| Pual | שֻׁבַּר | He was shattered | Intensive Passive |
| Niphal | נִשְׁבַּר | He was broken | Simple Passive |
Frequency and Distribution of the Pual Stem
The Pual stem appears approximately 100 times in the Hebrew Bible. It occurs most frequently in Psalms, Isaiah, Lamentations, and Jeremiah. It often expresses states of judgment, ritual sanctification, or corporeal punishment. Its infrequency contributes to its rhetorical strength. Common Pual verbs include:
- שֻׁבַּר – to be shattered
- קֻדַּשׁ – to be sanctified
- רֻחַץ – to be washed
Stylistic Role in Poetic Hebrew
The Pual stem contributes to the rhythm and force of Biblical Hebrew poetry. Its vowel-rich structure suits meter and parallelism. In Psalm 37:15, the passive verb וְשֻׁבְּרוּ balances the active plotting of the wicked with a divine counteraction. The Pual signals that the shattering is both inevitable and external to the subject—a theological statement as much as a grammatical one.
A Stem of Consequence: Theology in Morphology
The Pual stem encodes a powerful message in its form: something has been acted upon with force. Whether sanctified by divine presence or broken in judgment, the subject undergoes transformation it did not initiate. The form’s limitation to perfect and participial states reflects completed or enduring conditions. Far from a peripheral binyan, the Pual bears weighty theological freight—passive intensity rendered in sound and syntax.
