Genesis 34:23

Posted on February 3, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 34:23 Et substantia eorum, et pecora, et cuncta quæ possident, nostra erunt: tantum in hoc acquiescamus, et habitantes simul, unum efficiemus populum.

And their possessions, and their cattle, and all that they own will be ours: only in this let us agree, and by living together we will become one people.”

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Et and CONJ
2 substantia property NOUN.NOM.SG.F
3 eorum of them PRON.GEN.PL.M
4 et and CONJ
5 pecora cattle NOUN.NOM.PL.N
6 et and CONJ
7 cuncta all things ADJ.NOM.PL.N
8 quæ which REL.PRON.NOM.PL.N
9 possidēnt they possess 3PL.PRES.ACT.IND
10 nostra ours ADJ.NOM.PL.N
11 erunt will be 3PL.FUT.ACT.IND
12 tantum only ADV
13 in in PREP+ABL
14 hoc this PRON.ABL.SG.N
15 acquiescamus let us agree 1PL.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
16 et and CONJ
17 habitantes living PRES.ACT.PTCP.NOM.PL.M
18 simul together ADV
19 unum one ADJ.ACC.SG.M
20 efficiemus we will become 1PL.FUT.ACT.IND
21 populum people NOUN.ACC.SG.M

Syntax

Main Clause: Et substantia eorum, et pecora, et cuncta quæ possident (compound subject) + nostra erunt (predicate).
Conditional/Concessive Clause: tantum in hoc acquiescamus — subjunctive expressing condition or entreaty.
Coordinated Clause: et habitantes simul, unum efficiemus populum — participial phrase + main verb, expressing result or consequence (“by living together we will become one people”).

Morphology

  1. Et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: N/A; Function: Connects coordinated elements; Translation: “and”; Notes: Begins compound subject chain.
  2. substantia — Lemma: substantia; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative singular feminine; Function: Subject; Translation: “property”; Notes: Denotes material wealth or possessions.
  3. eorum — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Genitive plural masculine; Function: Possessive modifier; Translation: “of them”; Notes: Refers to the other people being spoken of.
  4. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: N/A; Function: Links additional subject elements; Translation: “and”; Notes: Repeats for rhythm and emphasis.
  5. pecora — Lemma: pecus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural neuter; Function: Subject; Translation: “cattle”; Notes: Parallel element in subject list.
  6. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: N/A; Function: Connects final subject item; Translation: “and”; Notes: Introduces the final member of enumeration.
  7. cuncta — Lemma: cunctus; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Nominative plural neuter; Function: Subject (substantivized); Translation: “all things”; Notes: Collectively summarizes preceding nouns.
  8. quæ — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: Relative pronoun; Form: Nominative plural neuter; Function: Subject of subordinate clause; Translation: “which”; Notes: Introduces relative clause modifying cuncta.
  9. possidēnt — Lemma: possideo; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present indicative active, 3rd person plural; Function: Verb of relative clause; Translation: “they possess”; Notes: Refers to ownership of goods.
  10. nostra — Lemma: noster; Part of Speech: Adjective (possessive); Form: Nominative plural neuter; Function: Predicate adjective; Translation: “ours”; Notes: Complements erunt.
  11. erunt — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Future indicative active, 3rd person plural; Function: Main verb; Translation: “will be”; Notes: Predicts the outcome of the proposed union.
  12. tantum — Lemma: tantum; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: N/A; Function: Modifies acquiescamus; Translation: “only”; Notes: Limits the request or condition.
  13. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governing ablative; Function: Introduces prepositional phrase; Translation: “in”; Notes: Indicates reference or matter.
  14. hoc — Lemma: hic; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Ablative singular neuter; Function: Object of preposition; Translation: “this”; Notes: Refers to the matter under discussion.
  15. acquiescamus — Lemma: acquiesco; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present subjunctive active, 1st person plural; Function: Exhortative subjunctive; Translation: “let us agree”; Notes: Expresses mutual consent.
  16. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: N/A; Function: Connects subordinate clause; Translation: “and”; Notes: Links sequential result clause.
  17. habitantes — Lemma: habito; Part of Speech: Participle; Form: Present active participle, nominative plural masculine; Function: Circumstantial participle; Translation: “living”; Notes: Indicates the means of achieving unity.
  18. simul — Lemma: simul; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: N/A; Function: Modifies habitantes; Translation: “together”; Notes: Expresses unity or companionship.
  19. unum — Lemma: unus; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Predicate adjective with populum; Translation: “one”; Notes: Highlights the intended unity of peoples.
  20. efficiemus — Lemma: efficio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Future indicative active, 1st person plural; Function: Main verb; Translation: “we will become”; Notes: Describes transformation through coexistence.
  21. populum — Lemma: populus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Predicate accusative; Translation: “people”; Notes: Represents the unified community envisioned.

 

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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