Genesis 36:38

Posted on February 5, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 36:38 Cumque et hic obiisset, successit in regnum Balanan filius Achobor.

And when this one also had died, Balanan the son of Achobor succeeded to the kingdom.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Cumque and when CONJ
2 et also CONJ
3 hic this one PRON.DEM.NOM.SG.M
4 obiisset had died V.3SG.PLUPERF.SUBJ.ACT
5 successit succeeded V.3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
6 in into / to PREP+ACC
7 regnum kingdom NOUN.ACC.SG.N
8 Balanan Baal Hanan PROP.NOUN.NOM.SG.M
9 filius son NOUN.NOM.SG.M
10 Achobor of Achbor PROP.NOUN.GEN.SG.M

Syntax

Temporal Clause: Cumque et hic obiisset —
The conjunction cumque introduces a temporal clause meaning “and when,” followed by et hic (“this one also”) for emphasis. The pluperfect subjunctive obiisset (“had died”) expresses a completed action preceding the main event.

Main Clause: successit in regnum Balanan filius Achobor —
The verb successit (“succeeded”) is the main predicate. The prepositional phrase in regnum (“to the kingdom”) expresses the domain inherited. The subject is Balanan, defined by the appositive filius Achobor (“son of Achobor”).

Morphology

  1. Cumque — Lemma: cum + -que; Part of Speech: subordinating conjunction with enclitic; Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces temporal clause; Translation: “and when”; Notes: Combines coordination and subordination, marking succession in narrative.
  2. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: intensifier; Translation: “also”; Notes: Adds emphasis to the sequence of royal deaths.
  3. hic — Lemma: hic, haec, hoc; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of obiisset; Translation: “this one”; Notes: Refers to the previously mentioned king, Saul.
  4. obiisset — Lemma: obeō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd person singular pluperfect subjunctive active; Function: main verb in temporal clause; Translation: “had died”; Notes: Subjunctive used with cum to express prior completed action.
  5. successit — Lemma: succēdō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd person singular perfect indicative active; Function: main verb of the sentence; Translation: “succeeded”; Notes: Denotes accession to royal power.
  6. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: indicates motion toward; Translation: “to / into”; Notes: Marks entry into kingship.
  7. regnum — Lemma: rēgnum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: object of in; Translation: “kingdom”; Notes: Denotes the institution or domain of rule.
  8. Balanan — Lemma: Balanan; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of successit; Translation: “Baalanan”; Notes: The new Edomite king succeeding Saul.
  9. filius — Lemma: fīlius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: appositive to Balanan; Translation: “son”; Notes: Indicates descent, typical of genealogical formulae.
  10. Achobor — Lemma: Achobor; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: possessive genitive modifying filius; Translation: “of Achobor”; Notes: Identifies paternal lineage of the new ruler.

 

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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