Expresses passive voice

Passive voice means that the subject of the verb is receiving the action rather than performing the action. In English, passive voice is expressed using the helping verb "to be." In Biblical Hebrew, the passive nature of the verbal action is expressed by the Niphal form of the verb itself without any helping verbs.

Expresses reflexive voice

Reflexive voice means that the subject of the verb is both performing and receiving the action. In English, reflexive voice is expressed using a reflexive pronoun as the object of the verb, "I tell myself". In Biblical Hebrew, the reflexive nature of the verbal action is expressed by the Niphal form of the verb itself without any additional words.

Expresses middle voice

Middle voice means that the subject receives the action but also is (partially) involved in performing the action. This kind of action stands somewhere between passive voice and reflexive voice.

Expresses reciprocal voice

Reciprocal voice means that multiple subjects are in view who are both performing the action for another and receiving the action from another. In English, reciprocal voice is expressed using the phrase "each other" as the object of the verb, "They tell each other." In Biblical Hebrew, the reciprocal nature of the action is expressed by the Niphal form of the verb itself without any additional words.

Reciprocal voice must be distinguished from reflexive voice. The phrase "They tell themselves" is reflexive: the subject "they" is a unified group and the action could be expressed reflexively for each individual as "he tells himself, and he tells himself, and she tells herself, etc." The phrase "They tell each other" is reciprocal: each member of the group is telling something to another member of the group, and each member of the group is being told something by another member of the group.

Expresses simple action

In Biblical Hebrew, some verbs express different meanings in different stem formations. A good example is the Hebrew verb רָאָה. In the Qal stem, the verb רָאָה expresses the simple action "to seֶe". But in the Niphal stem, the verb רָאָה expresses the simple action "to appear". A dictionary or lexicon will indicate the different meanings for these verbs in the various stem formations.

Expresses stative action

In Biblical Hebrew, some verbs express stative action in the Niphal stem rather than the Qal stem. This is a very rare use of the Niphal stem. Stative action is expressed most often using the Qal stem in Biblical Hebrew.