Of quite a different class are those verbs of which the third radical is a consonantal ה (distinguished by Mappîq). These are inflected throughout like verbs tertiae gutturalis. Cf. §65 note on the heading.
[c] The grammatical structure of verbs ל״ה (see Paradigm P) is based on the following laws:—
1. In all forms in which the original Yôdh or Wāw would stand at the end of the word, it is dropped (cf. § 24 g) and ה takes its place as an orthographic indication of the preceding long vowel. Such an indication would have been indispensable, on practical grounds, in the still unvocalized consonantal text. But even after the addition of the vowel signs, the orthographic rule remained, with insignificant exceptions (see § 8 k, and ā in קָטַ֫לְתָּ, &c.), that a final vowel must be indicated by a vowel letter. In verbs ל״ה the ה which is here employed as a vowel letter is preceded by the same vowel in the same part of the verb throughout all the conjugations. Thus the endings are—
־ָה in all perfects, גָּלָה, נִגְלָה, גִּלָּה, &c.
־ֶה in all imperfects and participles, יִגְלֶה, גֹּלֶה, &c.
־ֵה in all imperatives, גְּלֵה, גַּלֵּה, &c.
־ֹה in the infinitive absolute (גָּלֹה, &c.), except in Hiphʿîl, Hophʿal, and generally also Piēl, see aa and ff.
The participle passive Qal alone forms an exception, the original י (or ו, see v) reappearing at the end, גָּלוּי; and so also some derived nouns (§ 84a c, ε, &c.).
The infinitive construct always has the ending וֹת (with ת feminine); Qal גְּלוֹת, Piʿēl גַּלּוֹת, &c.; for exceptions, see n and y.
[d] These forms may be explained as follows:—in the perfect Qal גָּלָה stands, according to the above, for (י)גָּלַ, and, similarly, in Niphʿal, Puʿal, and Hophʿal. The Piʿēl and Hithpaʿēl may be based on the forms קִטַּל, הִתְקָטַּל (§ 52 l; and § 54 k), and Hiphʿîl on the form הִקְטַל, on the analogy of the ă in the second syllable of the Arabic ʿáqtălă (§ 53 a). Perhaps, however, the finalā of these conjugations simply follows the analogy of the other conjugations.
[e] The explanation of the final tone-bearing ־ֶה of the imperfect is still a matter of dispute. As to the various treatments of it, see Barth, Nominalbildung, i. p. xxx ff, with § 136, Rem., and ZDMG. xliv. 695 f., against Philippi’s objections in the Zeitschrift für Völkerpsychologie, 1890, p. 356 f.; also ZDMG. lvi. 244, where Barth appeals to the rule that, in the period before the differentiation of the North Semitic dialects, final iy becomes ־ֶ (constr. ־ְה), not î; M. Lambert, Journ. Asiat. 1893, p. 285; Prätorius, ZDMG. lv. 365. The most probable explanation now seems to be, first, that the uniform pronunciation of all imperfects and participles with Seghôl in the last syllable merely follows the analogy of the impf. Qal, and secondly, that the Seghôl of the impf. Qal does perhaps ultimately represent a contraction of the original termination ־ַי (= ai), although elsewhere (e.g. in the imperative of ל״ה) ai is usually contracted to ê.
