Genesis 36:15

Posted on February 5, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 36:15 Hi duces filiorum Esau: Filii Eliphaz primogeniti Esau: dux Theman, dux Omra, dux Sepho, dux Cenez,

These are the dukes among the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau: duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Sepho, duke Cenez,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Hi these PRON.DEM.NOM.PL.M
2 duces chiefs NOUN.NOM.PL.M
3 filiorum of the sons NOUN.GEN.PL.M
4 Esau of Esau PROP.NOUN.GEN.SG.M
5 Filii sons NOUN.NOM.PL.M
6 Eliphaz of Eliphaz PROP.NOUN.GEN.SG.M
7 primogeniti of the firstborn NOUN.GEN.SG.M
8 Esau of Esau PROP.NOUN.GEN.SG.M
9 dux duke/chief NOUN.NOM.SG.M
10 Theman Teman PROP.NOUN.NOM.SG.M
11 dux chief NOUN.NOM.SG.M
12 Omra Omar PROP.NOUN.NOM.SG.M
13 dux chief NOUN.NOM.SG.M
14 Sepho Zepho PROP.NOUN.NOM.SG.M
15 dux chief NOUN.NOM.SG.M
16 Cenez Kenaz PROP.NOUN.NOM.SG.M

Syntax

Clause 1: Hi duces filiorum Esau — demonstrative Hi as subject, duces predicate nominative, and filiorum Esau genitive of possession (“These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau”).
Clause 2: Filii Eliphaz primogeniti Esau — nominative Filii appositional to duces; genitives Eliphaz and Esau with primogeniti clarifying rank (“the sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau”).
Appositive Series: dux Theman, dux Omra, dux Sepho, dux Cenez — nominative titles each naming an Edomite tribal leader, following Hebrew-style repetition for emphasis.

Morphology

  1. Hi — Lemma: hic, haec, hoc; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun; Form: nominative plural masculine; Function: subject of sunt (understood); Translation: “these”; Notes: Introduces the list of Edomite chieftains.
  2. duces — Lemma: dux; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural masculine; Function: predicate nominative; Translation: “chiefs”; Notes: Title for tribal leaders or clan heads in Edom.
  3. filiorum — Lemma: fīlius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive plural masculine; Function: genitive of possession modifying duces; Translation: “of the sons”; Notes: Indicates that these chiefs descend from Esau’s sons.
  4. Esau — Lemma: Esau; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: dependent genitive; Translation: “of Esau”; Notes: Links the tribal chiefs to Esau’s lineage.
  5. Filii — Lemma: fīlius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural masculine; Function: subject of implied verb “sunt”; Translation: “sons”; Notes: Begins a new appositional phrase.
  6. Eliphaz — Lemma: Eliphaz; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: genitive of possession modifying Filii; Translation: “of Eliphaz”; Notes: Denotes paternal descent from Eliphaz.
  7. primogeniti — Lemma: primogenitus; Part of Speech: noun/adjective; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: genitive in apposition with Eliphaz; Translation: “of the firstborn”; Notes: Indicates Eliphaz’s birth order among Esau’s sons.
  8. Esau — Lemma: Esau; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: dependent genitive with primogeniti; Translation: “of Esau”; Notes: Clarifies that Eliphaz is Esau’s firstborn.
  9. dux — Lemma: dux; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: title preceding name; Translation: “chief”; Notes: Used repeatedly to designate tribal heads.
  10. Theman — Lemma: Theman; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: appositive to dux; Translation: “Teman”; Notes: Eldest son of Eliphaz; later name of an Edomite region.
  11. dux — Lemma: dux; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: title; Translation: “chief”; Notes: Repeated formulaically for emphasis.
  12. Omra — Lemma: Omra; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: appositive to dux; Translation: “Omar”; Notes: Second listed chieftain descended from Eliphaz.
  13. dux — Lemma: dux; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: title; Translation: “chief”; Notes: Introduces the next tribal leader.
  14. Sepho — Lemma: Sepho; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: appositive; Translation: “Zepho”; Notes: Third chieftain; parallels Hebrew *Ṣepho*.
  15. dux — Lemma: dux; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: title before the last name; Translation: “chief”; Notes: Formulaic repetition for structure.
  16. Cenez — Lemma: Cenez; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: appositive noun; Translation: “Kenaz”; Notes: Final name of Eliphaz’s chief sons, founder of a distinct Edomite clan.

 

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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