Genesis 45:27

Posted on February 14, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 45:27 Illi econtra referebant omnem ordinem rei. Cumque vidisset plaustra, et universa quæ miserat, revixit spiritus eius,

They on the other hand were recounting the entire sequence of the matter. And when he saw the wagons, and all the things that he had sent, his spirit revived.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Illi they NOM.PL.M.DEM
2 econtra on the other hand ADV
3 referebant were recounting 3PL.IMP.ACT.IND
4 omnem entire ACC.SG.M
5 ordinem sequence ACC.SG.M
6 rei of the matter GEN.SG.F
7 Cumque and when CONJ
8 vidisset had seen 3SG.PLUP.ACT.SUBJ
9 plaustra wagons ACC.PL.N
10 et and CONJ
11 universa all ACC.PL.N
12 quae which ACC.PL.N.REL.PRON
13 miserat he had sent 3SG.PLUP.ACT.IND
14 revixit revived 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
15 spiritus spirit NOM.SG.M
16 eius of him GEN.SG.M

Syntax

First main clause:
• Illi econtra referebant omnem ordinem rei
— Subject: Illi
— Adverb: econtra (contrastive)
— Verb: referebant
— Object: omnem ordinem rei (accusative + genitive)

Temporal subordinate clause:
• Cumque vidisset plaustra et universa quae miserat
— Introduced by Cumque = “and when”
— Verb: vidisset (subjunctive, pluperfect)
— Objects: plaustra and universa quae miserat
— Relative clause: quae miserat

Main clause of result:
• revixit spiritus eius
— Verb: revixit
— Subject: spiritus eius
— Meaning: Jacob’s spirit revived with hope

Morphology

  1. Illi — Lemma: ille; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun; Form: nominative plural masculine; Function: subject; Translation: “they”; Notes: refers to the brothers.
  2. econtra — Lemma: econtra; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: expresses contrast; Translation: “on the other hand”; Notes: used to shift narrative perspective.
  3. referebant — Lemma: refero; Part of Speech: verb; Form: imperfect active indicative 3rd plural; Function: main verb; Translation: “were recounting”; Notes: iterative or continuous past action.
  4. omnem — Lemma: omnis; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: modifies ordinem; Translation: “entire”; Notes: totality emphasized.
  5. ordinem — Lemma: ordo; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: “sequence / order”; Notes: refers to narrative account.
  6. rei — Lemma: res; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: genitive of specification; Translation: “of the matter”; Notes: clarifies the scope of ordinem.
  7. Cumque — Lemma: cum + que; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: compound; Function: introduces temporal clause; Translation: “and when”; Notes: enclitic -que added to cum.
  8. vidisset — Lemma: video; Part of Speech: verb; Form: pluperfect active subjunctive 3rd singular; Function: verb of temporal clause; Translation: “had seen”; Notes: expresses prior action.
  9. plaustra — Lemma: plaustrum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: direct object of vidisset; Translation: “wagons”; Notes: vehicles sent by Joseph.
  10. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating; Function: connects objects; Translation: “and”; Notes: simple connector.
  11. universa — Lemma: universus; Part of Speech: adjective/substantive; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: object of vidisset; Translation: “all things”; Notes: used substantively.
  12. quae — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: relative pronoun; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: object of miserat; Translation: “which”; Notes: relates to universa.
  13. miserat — Lemma: mitto; Part of Speech: verb; Form: pluperfect active indicative 3rd singular; Function: verb of relative clause; Translation: “he had sent”; Notes: refers to Joseph.
  14. revixit — Lemma: revivo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: perfect active indicative 3rd singular; Function: main verb; Translation: “revived”; Notes: expresses emotional renewal.
  15. spiritus — Lemma: spiritus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of revixit; Translation: “spirit”; Notes: refers to inner vitality.
  16. eius — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: possessive; Translation: “of him / his”; Notes: refers to Jacob.

 

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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