Genesis 35:21

Posted on February 4, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 35:21 Egressus inde, fixit tabernaculum trans Turrem gregis.

And departing from there, he pitched his tent beyond the Tower of the Flock.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Egressus having gone out PART.PERF.DEP.NOM.SG.M
2 inde from there ADV
3 fixit he pitched / fixed 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
4 tabernaculum tent NOUN.ACC.SG.N
5 trans beyond PREP+ACC
6 Turrem Tower NOUN.ACC.SG.F
7 gregis of the flock NOUN.GEN.SG.M

Syntax

Participial Phrase: Egressus inde — an ablative absolute-like participial expression meaning “after departing from there,” modifying the implicit subject (Jacob).
Main Clause: fixit tabernaculum trans Turrem gregis — verb fixit governs the direct object tabernaculum (“tent”) and the prepositional phrase trans Turrem gregis specifying the location “beyond the Tower of the Flock.”

Morphology

  1. Egressus — Lemma: ēgredior; Part of Speech: verb (deponent participle); Form: perfect deponent participle nominative singular masculine; Function: participial phrase modifying subject; Translation: “having gone out”; Notes: Deponent in form, active in meaning; implies motion from a prior place.
  2. inde — Lemma: inde; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: expresses source or direction; Translation: “from there”; Notes: Often used after verbs of motion to indicate origin.
  3. fixit — Lemma: fīgō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: perfect active indicative 3rd singular; Function: main verb; Translation: “he pitched / fixed”; Notes: Describes the action of erecting or securing something in place, here a tent.
  4. tabernaculum — Lemma: tabernāculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object of “fixit”; Translation: “tent”; Notes: Commonly used for a movable dwelling or temporary shelter.
  5. trans — Lemma: trāns; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: indicates position beyond or across; Translation: “beyond”; Notes: Marks spatial relationship.
  6. Turrem — Lemma: turris; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: object of “trans”; Translation: “Tower”; Notes: Refers to a defensive or lookout structure; here, “Tower of the Flock.”
  7. gregis — Lemma: grex; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: genitive modifier of “Turrem”; Translation: “of the flock”; Notes: Indicates the tower’s association with shepherding or flocks.

 

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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