In Biblical Hebrew, participles serve as verbal adjectives that vividly express either active or passive voice, depending on their binyan. Active participles like שֹׁמֵר (“guarding”) portray subjects engaged in ongoing action, while passive forms such as נִכְתָּב (“being written”) depict recipients of prior acts. This duality is not just grammatical—it carries theological weight, with active forms often describing divine agency and passive ones reflecting human status under divine influence. Whether illustrating habitual behavior or liturgical reverence, participles infuse Hebrew with a dynamic interplay of action, identity, and sacred narrative.
Participles and Voice in the Hebrew Verbal System
In Biblical Hebrew, participles are non-finite verb forms that behave like adjectives while retaining verbal force. One of their most powerful features is their ability to express voice—either active (where the subject performs the action) or passive (where the subject receives the action). The form of the participle, especially its binyan (verbal stem), determines whether it functions actively or passively.
Active Participles: Performing the Action
Active participles occur in binyanim that inherently express active or reflexive action, such as Qal, Piʿel, Hifʿil, and Hitpaʿel. They describe a subject currently doing or habitually performing an action. These forms are highly flexible and common across genres.
| Binyan | Root | Active Participle | Function | Example Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qal | שׁ.מ.ר | שֹׁמֵר | Simple action | “guarding” / “one who guards” |
| Piʿel | ד.ב.ר | מְדַבֵּר | Intensive or repeated action | “speaking repeatedly” |
| Hifʿil | כ.נ.ס | מַכְנִיס | Causative action | “causing to bring in” / “bringing in” |
| Hitpaʿel | ל.ב.שׁ | מִתְלַבֵּשׁ | Reflexive action | “dressing oneself” |
These participles typically modify a noun or serve as the main verb in a predicate. Their aspect is continuous or habitual, and they agree in gender and number with the subject.
Passive Participles: Receiving the Action
Passive participles are formed in passive binyanim such as Nifʿal, Pual, and Hofʿal. These forms describe the subject as the recipient of an action, often reflecting a state resulting from a prior act.
| Binyan | Root | Passive Participle | Function | Example Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nifʿal | כ.ת.ב | נִכְתָּב | Passive/simple | “being written” |
| Pual | ב.ר.ךְ | מְבֹרָךְ | Passive of Piʿel | “blessed” |
| Hofʿal | ב.ו.א | מוּבָא | Passive of Hifʿil | “brought in” |
These participles are often translated using English past participles or passive verbal adjectives (e.g., “chosen,” “remembered,” “brought”). They frequently appear in legal, poetic, or liturgical language to describe status or divine action upon someone.
Examples in Context: Active vs. Passive
| Hebrew Phrase | Voice | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| הָאִישׁ הַשּׁוֹפֵט בְּצֶדֶק | Active | Descriptive (ongoing action) | “the man judging with righteousness” |
| הַסֵּפֶר הַנִּכְתָּב בְּיָד מֹשֶׁה | Passive | State from prior action | “the book written by the hand of Moshe” |
| עָם מְבֹרָךְ | Passive | Status / Blessing received | “a blessed people” |
| נַעַר מִתְפַּלֵּל | Active (Reflexive) | Describing habitual behavior | “a boy praying” |
Translation Considerations and Voice Clarity
Because participles resemble both verbs and adjectives, translators must carefully assess their function and voice within the sentence:
- Active participles usually translate as present participles (“-ing”) or relative clauses (“who does…”).
- Passive participles are often best rendered using English past participles (“chosen,” “blessed”) or passive constructions (“that is written”).
Context, definiteness, and word order are critical in determining whether a participle is adjectival, predicative, or substantival—and whether it is active or passive in meaning.
Theological Implications of Voice in Participles
Voice in Hebrew participles is not merely grammatical—it is often theological. Descriptions of YHWH’s continuous actions use active participles to declare His enduring roles (הַנּוֹתֵן – “the one who gives”). Conversely, the passive voice may describe the status of Israel or the righteous as recipients of divine action:
- מְבֹרָךְ יְהוָה – “Blessed is YHWH” (Pual, passive participle as liturgical formula)
- נִבְחָר בְּיַעֲקֹב – “chosen in Jacob” (Nifʿal, passive description of election)
Thus, participial voice plays a crucial role not only in grammar, but in the poetic and doctrinal substance of the Hebrew Scriptures.
