Genesis 36:1

Posted on February 5, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 36:1 Hæ sunt autem generationes Esau, ipse est Edom.

These are the generations of Esau, he is Edom.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Hæ these PRON.DEM.NOM.PL.F
2 sunt are 3PL.PRES.ACT.IND
3 autem however / now ADV
4 generationes generations NOUN.NOM.PL.F
5 Esau of Esau PROP.NOUN.GEN.SG.M
6 ipse he himself PRON.DEM.NOM.SG.M
7 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
8 Edom Edom PROP.NOUN.NOM.SG.M

Syntax

Main Clause: Hæ sunt autem generationes Esau — demonstrative Hæ serves as subject, with generationes Esau as predicate nominative; autem functions as a transitional adverb: “Now these are the generations of Esau.”
Appositive Clause: ipse est Edom — identifies Esau with Edom: “He is Edom,” a formula linking the patriarch with his nation.

Morphology

  1. Hæ — Lemma: hic, haec, hoc; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun; Form: nominative plural feminine; Function: subject of “sunt”; Translation: “these”; Notes: Refers to the genealogical list that follows.
  2. sunt — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active indicative 3rd plural; Function: copula; Translation: “are”; Notes: Equates the subject and predicate nominative.
  3. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: adverb (or postpositive particle); Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces a new narrative section; Translation: “now” or “however”; Notes: Common in genealogical transitions.
  4. generationes — Lemma: generatio; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural feminine; Function: predicate nominative; Translation: “generations”; Notes: Refers to genealogical records or descendants.
  5. Esau — Lemma: Esau; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: possessive genitive modifying “generationes”; Translation: “of Esau”; Notes: Marks Esau as progenitor of the following lineage.
  6. ipse — Lemma: ipse; Part of Speech: intensive pronoun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of “est”; Translation: “he himself”; Notes: Adds emphasis to personal identity.
  7. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active indicative 3rd singular; Function: copula; Translation: “is”; Notes: Links Esau to his national designation.
  8. Edom — Lemma: Edom; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: predicate nominative; Translation: “Edom”; Notes: Identifies Esau as the ancestor of the Edomite people.

 

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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