Numeri 32:23 (Numbers 32:23)

Posted on May 29, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 32:23 Sin autem quod dicitis, non feceritis, nulli dubium est quin peccetis in Deum: et scitote quoniam peccatum vestrum apprehendet vos.

But if you do not do what you say, there is no doubt that you will sin against God; and know that your sin will overtake you.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Sin but if CONJ.INVAR
2 autem however CONJ.INVAR
3 quod what ACC.SG.N.REL.OBJ
4 dicitis you say 2PL.PRES.ACT.IND
5 non not ADV.INVAR
6 feceritis you will have done 2PL.FUTP.ACT.IND
7 nulli to no one DAT.SG.M
8 dubium doubtful NOM.SG.N.PRED
9 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
10 quin that CONJ.INVAR
11 peccetis you will sin 2PL.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
12 in against PREP+ACC
13 Deum God ACC.SG.M
14 et and CONJ.INVAR
15 scitote know 2PL.FUT.ACT.IMP
16 quoniam that CONJ.INVAR
17 peccatum sin NOM.SG.N
18 vestrum your NOM.SG.N.POSS
19 apprehendet will overtake 3SG.FUT.ACT.IND
20 vos you ACC.PL.PERS.OBJ

Syntax

Conditional Clause: Sin autem quod dicitis, non feceritis presents the alternative if the tribes fail to fulfil their promise. Sin has the force “but if,” quod dicitis functions substantivally as the object of feceritis, and non negates the verb.

Relative Clause: quod dicitis means “what you say.” The relative pronoun quod is the direct object of dicitis and refers to the promise made by the tribes.

Impersonal Construction: nulli dubium est literally means “to no one is it doubtful,” and idiomatically means “there is no doubt.” nulli is a dative of reference, dubium is the predicate adjective used substantivally, and est is the linking verb.

Substantive Clause: quin peccetis in Deum depends on the negative idea contained in nulli dubium est. The conjunction quin introduces the clause, and peccetis is a present subjunctive meaning that they would sin against God.

Prepositional Phrase: in Deum modifies peccetis. With the accusative, in has an adversative sense, “against.”

Coordinated Command: et scitote adds a solemn imperative. scitote is a future imperative addressed to the tribes and means “know” or “be assured.”

Content Clause: quoniam peccatum vestrum apprehendet vos gives the content of what they must know. peccatum vestrum is the subject, apprehendet is the verb, and vos is the direct object.

Morphology

  1. Sin — Lemma: sin; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable subordinating conjunction; Function: Introduces an alternative condition; Translation: “but if”; Notes: It contrasts the possibility of disobedience with the obedience described in the preceding verses.
  2. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable connective particle; Function: Adds contrast within the conditional statement; Translation: “however”; Notes: It reinforces the shift to the negative alternative.
  3. quod — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: Relative pronoun; Form: Accusative singular neuter; Function: Direct object of dicitis and part of the substantive relative expression serving as the object of feceritis; Translation: “what”; Notes: It refers to the commitment that the tribes have verbally made.
  4. dicitis — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Second person plural, present active indicative, third conjugation; Function: Verb of the relative clause; Translation: “you say”; Notes: It refers to the promises just expressed to Moyses.
  5. non — Lemma: non; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Invariable negative adverb; Function: Negates feceritis; Translation: “not”; Notes: It marks failure to carry out the promised action.
  6. feceritis — Lemma: facio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Second person plural, future perfect active indicative, third conjugation; Function: Verb of the conditional clause; Translation: “you will have done”; Notes: In context it is naturally rendered “if you do not do,” referring to failure to fulfil the promise before the threatened consequence follows.
  7. nulli — Lemma: nullus; Part of Speech: Adjective used substantivally; Form: Dative singular masculine; Function: Dative of reference with dubium est; Translation: “to no one”; Notes: The expression means that the conclusion is doubtful to nobody.
  8. dubium — Lemma: dubius; Part of Speech: Adjective used substantivally; Form: Nominative singular neuter, positive degree; Function: Predicate with est; Translation: “doubtful”; Notes: In the idiom nulli dubium est, it yields the sense “there is no doubt.”
  9. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular, present active indicative; Function: Linking verb in the impersonal expression; Translation: “is”; Notes: It joins dubium with the dative nulli.
  10. quin — Lemma: quin; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable subordinating conjunction; Function: Introduces a substantive clause after a negative expression of doubt; Translation: “that”; Notes: After nulli dubium est, it introduces what is stated to be beyond doubt.
  11. peccetis — Lemma: pecco; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Second person plural, present active subjunctive, first conjugation; Function: Verb of the clause introduced by quin; Translation: “you will sin”; Notes: The subjunctive is required after quin in this construction.
  12. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Invariable preposition governing the accusative; Function: Introduces in Deum; Translation: “against”; Notes: With the accusative in this context, it marks the person against whom the sin is committed.
  13. Deum — Lemma: Deus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative singular masculine, second declension; Function: Object of the preposition in; Translation: “God”; Notes: Identifies God as the one against whom failure to fulfil the promise would constitute sin.
  14. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable coordinating conjunction; Function: Connects the warning with the following command; Translation: “and”; Notes: It introduces the solemn assurance concerning the consequences of sin.
  15. scitote — Lemma: scio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Second person plural, future active imperative, fourth conjugation; Function: Imperative verb introducing the concluding warning; Translation: “know”; Notes: The future imperative gives the command a solemn and emphatic force: they are to be fully assured of what follows.
  16. quoniam — Lemma: quoniam; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable subordinating conjunction; Function: Introduces the content clause dependent on scitote; Translation: “that”; Notes: It states the fact they must recognize.
  17. peccatum — Lemma: peccatum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative singular neuter, second declension; Function: Subject of apprehendet; Translation: “sin”; Notes: Sin is personified as something capable of pursuing and seizing the sinner.
  18. vestrum — Lemma: vester; Part of Speech: Possessive adjective; Form: Nominative singular neuter, positive degree; Function: Modifier of peccatum; Translation: “your”; Notes: It identifies the sin as belonging personally to the hearers if they fail to keep their promise.
  19. apprehendet — Lemma: apprehendo; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular, future active indicative, third conjugation; Function: Main verb of the content clause; Translation: “will overtake”; Notes: Literally meaning to seize or lay hold of, it vividly portrays the inevitable consequence of wrongdoing.
  20. vos — Lemma: vos; Part of Speech: Personal pronoun; Form: Accusative plural, second person; Function: Direct object of apprehendet; Translation: “you”; Notes: It makes the warning personal: the consequences of their own sin will reach them.

 

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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