Exodus 12:17

Posted on March 3, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 12:17 Et observabitis azyma: in eadem enim ipsa die educam exercitum vestrum de Terra Ægypti, et custodietis diem istum in generationes vestras ritu perpetuo.

And you shall observe the unleavened bread; for on that very same day I shall lead out your army from the Land of Egypt, and you shall keep this day in your generations by a perpetual rite.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Et and CONJ
2 observabitis you shall observe 2PL.FUT.ACT.IND
3 azyma unleavened bread ACC.PL.N
4 in in PREP+ABL
5 eadem the same ABL.SG.F.DEM
6 enim for ADV
7 ipsa itself / that very ABL.SG.F.DEM
8 die day ABL.SG.F
9 educam I shall lead out 1SG.FUT.ACT.IND
10 exercitum army ACC.SG.M
11 vestrum your ACC.SG.M.ADJ
12 de from PREP+ABL
13 Terra land ABL.SG.F
14 Ægypti of Egypt GEN.SG.F
15 et and CONJ
16 custodietis you shall keep 2PL.FUT.ACT.IND
17 diem day ACC.SG.M
18 istum this ACC.SG.M.DEM
19 in in PREP+ABL
20 generationes generations ACC.PL.F
21 vestras your ACC.PL.F.ADJ
22 ritu by rite ABL.SG.M
23 perpetuo perpetual ABL.SG.M

Syntax

Main command: Et observabitis azyma — “And you shall observe the unleavened bread.”
• observabitis = main verb
• azyma = direct object

Causal clause: in eadem enim ipsa die educam exercitum vestrum de Terra Ægypti
• Introduced by enim (“for”)
• educam = main verb of clause
• exercitum vestrum = direct object
• de Terra Ægypti = source (ablative)

Second command: et custodietis diem istum in generationes vestras
• custodietis = verb
• diem istum = object
• in generationes vestras = extent into the future

Manner phrase: ritu perpetuo — “by a perpetual rite.”

Morphology

  1. Et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces additional command; Translation: “and”; Notes: connective.
  2. observabitis — Lemma: observo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: future active indicative second plural; Function: main verb; Translation: “you shall observe”; Notes: liturgical obligation.
  3. azyma — Lemma: azymum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: direct object; Translation: “unleavened bread”; Notes: Passover requirement.
  4. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: temporal setting; Translation: “in”; Notes: introduces temporal phrase.
  5. eadem — Lemma: idem; Part of Speech: demonstrative; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: modifies die; Translation: “the same”; Notes: emphasizes continuity.
  6. enim — Lemma: enim; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces causal explanation; Translation: “for”; Notes: explanatory particle.
  7. ipsa — Lemma: ipse; Part of Speech: demonstrative intensive; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: intensifies die; Translation: “that very”; Notes: emphasizes significance.
  8. die — Lemma: dies; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: ablative of time; Translation: “day”; Notes: timing of exodus.
  9. educam — Lemma: educo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: future active indicative first singular; Function: main verb; Translation: “I shall lead out”; Notes: divine deliverance.
  10. exercitum — Lemma: exercitus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: “army”; Notes: refers to Israel’s multitudes.
  11. vestrum — Lemma: vester; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: modifies exercitum; Translation: “your”; Notes: possessive.
  12. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: expresses movement from; Translation: “from”; Notes: departure source.
  13. Terra — Lemma: terra; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: object of de; Translation: “land”; Notes: geographic location.
  14. Ægypti — Lemma: Ægyptus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular; Function: modifies Terra; Translation: “of Egypt”; Notes: region of bondage.
  15. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: connects commands; Translation: “and”; Notes: additive.
  16. custodietis — Lemma: custodio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: future active indicative second plural; Function: main verb; Translation: “you shall keep”; Notes: ritual observance.
  17. diem — Lemma: dies; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: “day”; Notes: Passover day.
  18. istum — Lemma: iste; Part of Speech: demonstrative adjective; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: modifies diem; Translation: “this”; Notes: points to presently instituted rite.
  19. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative here; Function: indicates extension; Translation: “into / through”; Notes: expresses duration.
  20. generationes — Lemma: generatio; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural feminine; Function: object of in; Translation: “generations”; Notes: future descendants.
  21. vestras — Lemma: vester; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative plural feminine; Function: modifies generationes; Translation: “your”; Notes: communal continuity.
  22. ritu — Lemma: ritus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: ablative of manner; Translation: “by rite”; Notes: ceremonial mode.
  23. perpetuo — Lemma: perpetuus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: modifies ritu; Translation: “perpetual”; Notes: indicates enduring obligation.

 

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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