Numeri 24:15 (Numbers 24:15)

Posted on May 21, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 24:15 Sumpta igitur parabola, rursum ait: Dixit Balaam filius Beor: dixit homo, cuius obturatus est oculus:

Therefore, having taken up the parable again, he said: “Balaam son of Beor said; the man whose eye has been closed said:

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Sumpta having been taken up ABL.SG.F.PERF.PASS.PTCP
2 igitur therefore ADV
3 parabola parable ABL.SG.F
4 rursum again ADV
5 ait he said 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
6 Dixit said 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
7 Balaam Balaam NOM.SG.M
8 filius son NOM.SG.M
9 Beor Beor GEN.SG.M
10 dixit said 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
11 homo man NOM.SG.M
12 cuius whose GEN.SG.M.REL
13 obturatus closed NOM.SG.M.PERF.PASS.PTCP
14 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
15 oculus eye NOM.SG.M

Syntax

Ablative Absolute: Sumpta … parabola forms an ablative absolute introducing the renewed prophetic utterance.

Adverbial Modifiers: igitur and rursum mark continuation and repetition within the prophetic sequence.

Main Clause: ait functions as the introductory narrative verb leading into direct speech.

Formal Declaration: Dixit Balaam filius Beor serves as a solemn prophetic self-identification.

Appositional Phrase: homo stands in apposition to Balaam, emphasizing the prophetic speaker.

Relative Clause: cuius obturatus est oculus modifies homo, describing the condition of the prophetic eye.

Passive Predicate Construction: obturatus est expresses a completed state or condition.

Morphology

  1. Sumpta — Lemma: sumo; Part of Speech: Participle; Form: Ablative singular feminine perfect passive participle; Function: Part of ablative absolute construction; Translation: “having been taken up”; Notes: Introduces the prophetic discourse as formally assumed or uttered.
  2. igitur — Lemma: igitur; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Indeclinable adverb; Function: Connective transitional particle; Translation: “therefore”; Notes: Signals continuation from the previous oracle.
  3. parabola — Lemma: parabola; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular feminine first declension; Function: Noun within ablative absolute; Translation: “parable”; Notes: Refers to a prophetic saying or oracle.
  4. rursum — Lemma: rursum; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Indeclinable adverb; Function: Modifies ait; Translation: “again”; Notes: Indicates repetition or renewed speech.
  5. ait — Lemma: aio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular present active indicative; Function: Main introductory verb; Translation: “he said”; Notes: Frequently used for introducing direct speech in biblical narrative.
  6. Dixit — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: Introduces solemn prophetic declaration; Translation: “said”; Notes: The repetition creates elevated prophetic rhythm.
  7. Balaam — Lemma: Balaam; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine indeclinable; Function: Subject of Dixit; Translation: “Balaam”; Notes: The prophetic speaker identified by name.
  8. filius — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine second declension; Function: Apposition to Balaam; Translation: “son”; Notes: Expresses paternal lineage.
  9. Beor — Lemma: Beor; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Genitive singular masculine indeclinable; Function: Genitive modifier of filius; Translation: “Beor”; Notes: Identifies Balaam’s father.
  10. dixit — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: Repeated prophetic formula verb; Translation: “said”; Notes: Reinforces solemn proclamation style.
  11. homo — Lemma: homo; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine third declension; Function: Appositional identifier; Translation: “man”; Notes: Highlights Balaam’s humanity within divine revelation.
  12. cuius — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: Relative pronoun; Form: Genitive singular masculine; Function: Introduces relative clause; Translation: “whose”; Notes: Expresses possession concerning the eye.
  13. obturatus — Lemma: obturo; Part of Speech: Participle; Form: Nominative singular masculine perfect passive participle; Function: Predicate participle with est; Translation: “closed”; Notes: Describes the prophetic eye in a completed state.
  14. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular present active indicative; Function: Auxiliary verb in passive construction; Translation: “is”; Notes: Completes the passive verbal expression.
  15. oculus — Lemma: oculus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine second declension; Function: Subject of obturatus est; Translation: “eye”; Notes: Symbolically associated with prophetic perception and revelation.

 

About Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Born around 346 A.D. in Stridon, St. Jerome was a scholar fluent in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew whose ascetic discipline and deep engagement with Scripture prepared him for a monumental task: translating the Bible into Latin. Commissioned by Pope Damasus I around 382 A.D., Jerome began by revising the flawed Old Latin Gospels, then expanded his work to the entire Bible. For the New Testament, he corrected Latin texts using Greek manuscripts; for the Old Testament, he translated most books directly from Hebrew—a controversial but principled choice. His final Psalter, however, followed the Greek Septuagint tradition for liturgical use. This composite translation, later known as the Vulgate (editio vulgata), became the authoritative biblical text of the Western Church, formally endorsed at the Council of Trent in 1546. The Vulgate’s influence extends beyond theology into textual criticism and Latin education. As one of the earliest translations grounded in original-language scholarship, it offers a vital witness to the state of biblical texts in late antiquity. Jerome’s lexical and syntactic decisions are studied to trace manuscript history and assess variant readings. Its elegant Latin, consistent in grammar and rich in vocabulary, became a model for medieval and Renaissance learning, bridging classical and ecclesiastical Latin. More than a translation, the Vulgate helped define Christian doctrine, preserved the Latin language, and laid essential groundwork for the critical study of Scripture—remaining indispensable to students of Latin, theology, and textual history.
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