Genesis 26:16

Posted on January 26, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 26’16 in tantum, ut ipse Abimelech diceret ad Isaac: Recede a nobis, quoniam potentior nobis factus es valde.

to such an extent that Abimelech himself said to Isaac: “Go away from us, for you have become much more powerful than we are.”

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 in to PREP+ACC
2 tantum such an extent NOUN.ACC.SG.N
3 ut that CONJ
4 ipse himself PRON.NOM.SG.M
5 Abimelech Abimelech NOUN.NOM.SG.M
6 diceret might say / said 3SG.IMPF.SUBJ.ACT
7 ad to / toward PREP+ACC
8 Isaac Isaac NOUN.ACC.SG.M
9 Recede go away 2SG.PRES.ACT.IMPER
10 a from PREP+ABL
11 nobis us PRON.ABL.PL.M
12 quoniam because CONJ
13 potentior stronger / more powerful ADJ.NOM.SG.M.COMP
14 nobis than we / for us PRON.DAT.PL.M
15 factus having become PPP.NOM.SG.M
16 es you are / you have been 2SG.PERF.ACT.IND
17 valde greatly / exceedingly ADV

Syntax

Main Clause: in tantum, ut ipse Abimelech diceret ad Isaac — result construction meaning “to such an extent that Abimelech himself said to Isaac.”
Subordinate Clause (Result): ut … diceret — subjunctive expressing consequence.
Quoted Speech: Recede a nobis, quoniam potentior nobis factus es valde — imperative plus causal clause.
Subjects: Abimelech (of diceret), implied “you” (of Recede and factus es).
Objects: Isaac (object of ad).
Phrases: a nobis — prepositional phrase of separation; quoniam potentior nobis factus es valde — causal subordinate clause explaining reason for dismissal.

Morphology

  1. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: introduces measure phrase; Translation: “to”; Notes: Used idiomatically with tantum in result clauses.
  2. tantum — Lemma: tantum; Part of Speech: noun used adverbially; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: expresses degree; Translation: “such an extent”; Notes: Reinforces the result clause with ut.
  3. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: —; Function: introduces result clause; Translation: “that”; Notes: Governs subjunctive verb diceret.
  4. ipse — Lemma: ipse; Part of Speech: intensive pronoun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: emphasizes subject Abimelech; Translation: “himself”; Notes: Adds emphasis to the speaker.
  5. Abimelech — Lemma: Abimelech; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of diceret; Translation: “Abimelech”; Notes: The Philistine king addressing Isaac.
  6. diceret — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: verb; Form: imperfect subjunctive active 3rd person singular; Function: verb of result clause; Translation: “might say / said”; Notes: Subjunctive due to result construction after ut.
  7. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: introduces indirect object; Translation: “to”; Notes: Used with verbs of speaking.
  8. Isaac — Lemma: Isaac; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: object of ad; Translation: “Isaac”; Notes: Recipient of Abimelech’s speech.
  9. Recede — Lemma: recedo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active imperative 2nd person singular; Function: direct command; Translation: “go away”; Notes: Imperative expressing request for departure.
  10. a — Lemma: a/ab; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: indicates separation; Translation: “from”; Notes: Used before consonant.
  11. nobis — Lemma: nos; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: ablative plural; Function: object of a; Translation: “us”; Notes: Refers to Abimelech and his people.
  12. quoniam — Lemma: quoniam; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: —; Function: introduces causal clause; Translation: “because”; Notes: Explains reason for the command.
  13. potentior — Lemma: potens; Part of Speech: adjective (comparative); Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: predicate adjective; Translation: “more powerful”; Notes: Comparative form emphasizing Isaac’s growing might.
  14. nobis — Lemma: nos; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: dative plural; Function: dative of comparison; Translation: “than we / than us”; Notes: Dative used after comparatives instead of quam construction.
  15. factus — Lemma: facio; Part of Speech: participle; Form: perfect passive participle nominative singular masculine; Function: predicate complement; Translation: “having become”; Notes: Forms compound perfect with es.
  16. es — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: auxiliary verb; Form: perfect indicative 2nd person singular; Function: auxiliary with factus; Translation: “you have been / you are”; Notes: Expresses completed transition to power.
  17. valde — Lemma: valde; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: —; Function: modifies potentior factus es; Translation: “very / greatly”; Notes: Intensifies comparison.

 

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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