14.9 Qal Perfect Geminate

In Geminate verbs, \(R_3 = R_2\)

• No Hebrew words have \(R_1 = R_2\) - this will prove to be important later in the course
• Frequently, \(R_2\) assimilates into its twin \(R_3\)
  • \(R_3\) will then take a Dagesh Forte, unless it is the final consonant in a word

• 3rd person forms may be spelled either with or without assimilation
• סַב or סָבַב

• When there is assimilation, \(V_S\) shifts to \(V_1\) position
  • So this is a time where you may not see our diagnostic Qal Perfect \(V_1 = \bar A\)
  • Additionally, the accent tries to shift to \(V_1\) since that is the new Stem Vowel
    • The accent must be on the last two syllables
    • The heavy sufformatives (2mp and 2fp) continue to take the accent
  • \(V_2 = \hat O\) before sufformative that starts with a consonant
• Review the table below, noting \(V_1\), \(V_2\), and accent changes:

PGN	Gem	Strong
3ms	סָבַב	קָטַל
3fs	סָֽבְבָה	קָֽטְלָה
2ms	סַבּ֫וֹתָ	קָטַ֫לְתָּ
2fs	סַבּוֹת	קָטַלְתְּ
1cs	סַבּ֫וֹתִי	קָטַ֫לְתִּי
3cp	סָֽבְבוּ	קָֽטְלוּ
2mp	סַבּוֹתֶם	קְטַלְתֶּם
2fp	סַבָּוֹתֶן	קְטַלְתֶּן
1cp	סַבּ֫וֹנוּ	קָטַ֫לְנוּ

Geminate verbs are relatively infrequent, so the changes in the table above needn’t distract you from your verb parsing quest!

You will learn the major geminate verbs in your vocabulary. To start with, here are a few of the most common:

• סָבַב, to surround
  • We can also see QP3ms as סַב
• שָׁלַל, to plunder
• אָרַר, to curse
  • Resh rejects = Compensatory Lengthening
  • אָר֫וֹתִי = QP1cs
  • In the table above, note how \(V_1 = A\), but in אָר֫וֹתִי, \(V_1 = \bar A\)
• תָמַם, to finish
  • The first מ will assimilate into a Dagesh Forte (except QP3ms)
  • תַּ֫מּוּ = QP3cp