בְּנָא bᵉnâʼ — to build
Translated in the KJV as build, make.
(Aramaic) or בְּנָה; (Aramaic), corresponding to H1129; to build.
bᵉnâʼ in each stem
Pe'al
Infinitive construct 6Participle (active) 4Perfect (qatal) 3Participle (passive) 1Imperfect (yiqtol) 1
Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.
At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar–boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
Hithpe'el
Imperfect (yiqtol) 5Participle (active) 2
Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
What the stems mean
A Hebrew verb is its root letters set into a pattern. The pattern — the binyan — is the grammar's way of saying three things at once: whether the action is simple, intensive or causative, and whether its subject is active, passive or reflexive. That is why one Hebrew word can need six English ones. All seven binyanim, explained ›