Genesis 31:45

Posted on January 31, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 31:45 Tulit itaque Iacob lapidem, et erexit illum in titulum:

Then Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar;

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Tulit he took VERB 3SG PERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE
2 itaque therefore / then CONJUNCTION INFERENTIAL
3 Iacob Jacob PROPER NOUN NOM.SG.M
4 lapidem stone NOUN ACC.SG.M
5 et and CONJUNCTION
6 erexit he set up VERB 3SG PERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE
7 illum it / that PRONOUN ACC.SG.M
8 in into / as PREPOSITION + ACC
9 titulum pillar / monument NOUN ACC.SG.M

Syntax

Main Clause: Tulit itaque Iacob lapidem — simple narrative sentence with Tulit as the main verb (“he took”), Iacob as the nominative subject, and lapidem as its direct object (“a stone”). Itaque connects this action logically with the preceding verse, expressing consequence or continuation (“then” or “therefore”).
Coordinated Clause: et erexit illum in titulum — et joins a second action; erexit (“he set up”) governs illum (“it”), with in titulum expressing the result or transformation (“as a pillar”).
Syntax Summary: The verse contains two perfect verbs joined by et, describing a ritual act of covenantal memorial. The stone becomes a visible symbol of agreement, transitioning from ordinary object to sacred monument through verbal action.

Morphology

  1. Tulit — Lemma: fero; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: main verb of first clause; Translation: “he took”; Notes: Perfect tense marks completed physical act initiating ritual.
  2. itaque — Lemma: itaque; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces logical consequence; Translation: “therefore / then”; Notes: Connects with Laban’s prior suggestion of covenant.
  3. Iacob — Lemma: Iacob; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine (indeclinable); Function: subject of “tulit” and “erexit”; Translation: “Jacob”; Notes: Patriarchal name retained from Hebrew יַעֲקֹב.
  4. lapidem — Lemma: lapis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object of “tulit”; Translation: “stone”; Notes: Often used in Scripture as a memorial object for divine events.
  5. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: connects verbs of successive action; Translation: “and”; Notes: Joins sequential actions.
  6. erexit — Lemma: erigo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: second main verb; Translation: “he set up”; Notes: Denotes establishment or consecration of object.
  7. illum — Lemma: ille; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object of “erexit”; Translation: “it / that (stone)”; Notes: Demonstrative pronoun referring back to “lapidem.”
  8. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses transformation or result; Translation: “into / as”; Notes: Indicates change of state or purpose.
  9. titulum — Lemma: titulus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: object of preposition “in”; Translation: “pillar / monument”; Notes: Refers to commemorative stone or boundary marker symbolizing covenant.

 

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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