Genesis 24:67

Posted on January 24, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 24:67 Qui introduxit eam in tabernaculum Saræ matris suæ, et accepit eam uxorem: et in tantum dilexit eam, ut dolorem, qui ex morte matris eius acciderat, temperaret.

Who brought her into the tent of Sara his mother, and took her as his wife; and he loved her so much that he was comforted from the grief which had come upon him because of his mother’s death.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Qui who NOM.SG.M REL.PRON
2 introduxit brought in 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
3 eam her ACC.SG.F PRON
4 in into PREP+ACC
5 tabernaculum tent ACC.SG.N
6 Saræ of Sarah GEN.SG.F PROPN
7 matris mother GEN.SG.F
8 suæ his GEN.SG.F POSS.ADJ
9 et and CONJ
10 accepit took 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
11 eam her ACC.SG.F PRON
12 uxorem wife ACC.SG.F
13 et and CONJ
14 in in / to such an extent PREP
15 tantum so much / so greatly ADV
16 dilexit loved 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
17 eam her ACC.SG.F PRON
18 ut that / so that CONJ
19 dolorem grief ACC.SG.M
20 qui which NOM.SG.M REL.PRON
21 ex from / because of PREP+ABL
22 morte death ABL.SG.F
23 matris mother GEN.SG.F
24 eius his GEN.SG.M/F PRON
25 acciderat had happened / occurred 3SG.PLUPERF.ACT.IND
26 temperaret might temper / soften 3SG.IMP.ACT.SUBJ

Syntax

Relative Clause: Qui introduxit eam in tabernaculum Saræ matris suæ — the relative pronoun Qui (referring to Isaac) introduces the clause; introduxit is perfect indicative, describing the completed act of bringing Rebecca into his mother’s tent. The phrase in tabernaculum Saræ matris suæ contains nested genitives: “into the tent of Sarah, his mother.”
Main Clause: et accepit eam uxorem — coordination with et; accepit means “took” in the sense of “married.” The accusative eam uxorem is a double accusative construction (object + predicate noun).
Result Clause: et in tantum dilexit eam, ut dolorem… temperaret — in tantum + ut introduces a clause of result (“so much that…”). The main verb dilexit expresses deep affection, and temperaret (imperfect subjunctive) shows the emotional consequence of that love: it comforted or softened his grief.
Subordinate Relative Clause: qui ex morte matris eius acciderat — modifies dolorem; acciderat (pluperfect) expresses the prior event of bereavement caused by Sarah’s death.
The sentence forms a tender epilogue: Isaac’s union with Rebecca restores his emotional balance, the tent of Sarah symbolizing continuity of family and divine promise.

Morphology

  1. Qui — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: Pronoun (Relative); Form: Nominative Singular Masculine; Function: Subject of introduxit; Translation: “who”; Notes: Refers to Isaac, linking back to the previous verse.
  2. introduxit — Lemma: introduco; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect Active Indicative Third Person Singular; Function: Main verb of the relative clause; Translation: “brought in”; Notes: Describes Isaac’s act of bringing Rebecca into his mother’s tent.
  3. eam — Lemma: is, ea, id; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Accusative Singular Feminine; Function: Direct object of introduxit; Translation: “her”; Notes: Refers to Rebecca.
  4. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs Accusative; Function: Indicates motion toward; Translation: “into”; Notes: Standard prepositional usage for entry or movement.
  5. tabernaculum — Lemma: tabernaculum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative Singular Neuter; Function: Object of in; Translation: “tent”; Notes: Refers to Sarah’s dwelling, symbolic of matriarchal continuity.
  6. Saræ — Lemma: Sara; Part of Speech: Proper Noun; Form: Genitive Singular Feminine; Function: Possessive modifier of tabernaculum; Translation: “of Sarah”; Notes: Possessive relationship showing heritage.
  7. matris — Lemma: mater; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive Singular Feminine; Function: Genitive in apposition to Saræ; Translation: “mother”; Notes: Clarifies Sarah’s identity as Isaac’s mother.
  8. suæ — Lemma: suus; Part of Speech: Adjective (Possessive Reflexive); Form: Genitive Singular Feminine; Function: Modifies matris; Translation: “his”; Notes: Refers reflexively to Isaac.
  9. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects coordinated verbs; Translation: “and”; Notes: Smooth narrative connector.
  10. accepit — Lemma: accipio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect Active Indicative Third Person Singular; Function: Main verb; Translation: “took”; Notes: In idiomatic Latin, “took as wife.”
  11. eam — Lemma: is, ea, id; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Accusative Singular Feminine; Function: Direct object of accepit; Translation: “her”; Notes: The bride, Rebecca.
  12. uxorem — Lemma: uxor; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative Singular Feminine; Function: Predicate accusative; Translation: “wife”; Notes: Predicate in double-accusative structure with eam.
  13. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Links clauses; Translation: “and”; Notes: Continues narrative sequence.
  14. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Used idiomatically with adverbs; Function: Forms intensifying phrase; Translation: “in / to such an extent”; Notes: Introduces result phrase in tantum.
  15. tantum — Lemma: tantus; Part of Speech: Adverb (from adjective); Form: Indeclinable; Function: Degree modifier; Translation: “so greatly”; Notes: Amplifies emotional intensity of dilexit.
  16. dilexit — Lemma: diligo; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect Active Indicative Third Person Singular; Function: Main verb of result clause; Translation: “he loved”; Notes: Expresses profound, enduring affection rather than mere attraction.
  17. eam — Lemma: is, ea, id; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Accusative Singular Feminine; Function: Direct object of dilexit; Translation: “her”; Notes: Object of Isaac’s love.
  18. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Subordinating; Function: Introduces result clause; Translation: “so that / that”; Notes: Signals consequence of preceding clause.
  19. dolorem — Lemma: dolor; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative Singular Masculine; Function: Direct object of temperaret; Translation: “grief”; Notes: Refers to Isaac’s sorrow for Sarah.
  20. qui — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: Pronoun (Relative); Form: Nominative Singular Masculine; Function: Subject of acciderat; Translation: “which”; Notes: Refers back to dolorem.
  21. ex — Lemma: ex; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs Ablative; Function: Indicates cause; Translation: “from / because of”; Notes: Causal preposition introducing the reason for sorrow.
  22. morte — Lemma: mors; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative Singular Feminine; Function: Object of ex; Translation: “death”; Notes: Specifies the cause of the grief.
  23. matris — Lemma: mater; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive Singular Feminine; Function: Possessive genitive; Translation: “of mother”; Notes: Clarifies familial relation.
  24. eius — Lemma: is, ea, id; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Genitive Singular; Function: Possessive pronoun modifying matris; Translation: “his”; Notes: Refers back to Isaac.
  25. acciderat — Lemma: accido; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Pluperfect Active Indicative Third Person Singular; Function: Verb of subordinate clause; Translation: “had happened / occurred”; Notes: Describes the prior emotional wound.
  26. temperaret — Lemma: tempero; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Imperfect Active Subjunctive Third Person Singular; Function: Verb of result clause; Translation: “might temper / soften”; Notes: Expresses the healing effect of Isaac’s love for Rebecca.

Notes

  • tabernaculum Saræ matris suæ — The genitive chain emphasizes lineage and continuity; Rebecca occupies Sarah’s place, symbolically continuing the matriarchal blessing.
  • accepit eam uxorem — Formulaic marriage expression in Latin Biblical diction, indicating legal and religious union. The double-accusative construction (eam uxorem) signifies “to take someone as wife,” not simply “to take her.”
  • in tantum dilexit eam — A deeply emotional phrase; in tantum intensifies the verb dilexit, conveying an affection so profound that it brought psychological healing. The Latin highlights genuine, enduring love rather than passion.
  • ut dolorem… temperaret — The result clause encapsulates divine consolation through human relationship: Isaac’s love for Rebecca moderates (“tempers”) his grief. The imperfect subjunctive temperaret fits subordinate clauses of consequence.
  • qui ex morte matris eius acciderat — The pluperfect acciderat establishes prior emotional context; Isaac’s bereavement followed Sarah’s death. The relative pronoun qui ties the grief directly to that loss.
  • Stylistically, the verse offers narrative and emotional closure. Isaac’s introduction of Rebecca into Sarah’s tent completes both genealogical and spiritual continuity — love replaces loss, and covenantal succession is reaffirmed.
  • The Latin rhythm alternates between narrative brevity and emotional cadence, showing Jerome’s mastery in translating Hebrew sentiment into elegant Latin structure without losing tenderness or dignity.

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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