The Qal (also called Pa'al) is the most basic and most common verb pattern. It expresses the simple, active meaning of a root. If you know a root's meaning, the Qal form is that meaning in its most straightforward expression.
Qal means "light" or "simple" — it is the unmarked, default form.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pattern Name (Hebrew) | פָּעַל (Pa'al) or קַל (Qal) |
| Function | Simple active — the subject performs the action directly |
| Frequency | Most common pattern (~70% of all Hebrew verbs) |
| Marker | No special prefix or doubled letter — the "unmarked" form |
| Perfect (past) pattern | קָטַל — qatal ("he killed") |
| Imperfect (future) pattern | יִקְטֹל — yiqtol ("he will kill") |
| Participle pattern | קֹטֵל — qotel ("killing" / "one who kills") |
| Root | Qal Perfect (he did) | Qal Imperfect (he will do) | Qal Participle (one who does) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| גאל | גָּאַל ga'al | יִגְאַל yig'al | גֹּאֵל go'el | He redeemed / will redeem / redeemer |
| פדה | פָּדָה padah | יִפְדֶּה yipdeh | פֹּדֶה podeh | He ransomed / will ransom / ransomer |
| שפט | שָׁפַט shaphat | יִשְׁפֹּט yishpot | שֹׁפֵט shophet | He judged / will judge / judge |
| צדק | צָדַק tsadaq | יִצְדַּק yitsdak | צַדִּיק tsaddiq | He was righteous / will be righteous / righteous one |
Genesis 1:1 — בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
Ruth 4:4 — וְאִם לֹא יִגְאַל הַגִּידָה לִּי
"And if he will not redeem it, then tell me."
Exodus 15:13 — נָחִיתָ בְחַסְדְּךָ עַם זוּ גָּאָלְתָּ