Notes on the Reciprocal Function of Nifʿal in Biblical Hebrew

The article investigates the reciprocal function of the Nifʿal stem in Biblical Hebrew, focusing on how mutual situations are expressed morphologically. It highlights how the Nifʿal stem often derives from verbs with lexical reciprocal meanings, such as ‘fight’ (lḥm) or ‘quarrel’ (nṣy), and examines the syntactic and semantic features that inform these meanings. The study categorises reciprocal events as uniplex, where participants and actions are indistinguishable, or multiplex, involving sequential sub-events. Reciprocal constructions may use explicit markers like adverbs or prepositions to clarify participant roles, reflecting varying degrees of agency and discourse prominence. Examples from Biblical texts demonstrate the range of reciprocal Nifʿal verbs, including their historical derivations and conceptual underpinnings in middle and medio-passive voice functions.