Exodus 28:15

Posted on March 19, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 28:15 Rationale quoque iudicii facies opere polymito iuxta texturam superhumeralis ex auro, hyacintho, et purpura, coccoque bis tincto, et bysso retorta.

The breastpiece of judgment also you shall make with embroidered workmanship, according to the weaving of the ephod, of gold, blue, and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, and twisted linen.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Rationale breastpiece ACC.SG.N, 3RD DECL, NOUN
2 quoque also ADV
3 iudicii of judgment GEN.SG.N, 2ND DECL, NOUN
4 facies you shall make 2SG.FUT.ACT.IND, 3RD CONJ
5 opere with workmanship ABL.SG.N, 3RD DECL, NOUN
6 polymito embroidered ABL.SG.N, ADJ.POS
7 iuxta according to PREP+ACC
8 texturam weaving ACC.SG.F, 3RD DECL, NOUN
9 superhumeralis of the ephod GEN.SG.N, 3RD DECL, NOUN
10 ex of PREP+ABL
11 auro gold ABL.SG.N, 2ND DECL, NOUN
12 hyacintho blue ABL.SG.M, 2ND DECL, NOUN
13 et and CONJ
14 purpura purple ABL.SG.F, 1ST DECL, NOUN
15 coccoque and scarlet ABL.SG.M, 2ND DECL, NOUN + ENCLITIC -QUE
16 bis twice ADV
17 tincto dyed ABL.SG.M, PTCP.PERF.PASS
18 et and CONJ
19 bysso linen ABL.SG.F, 1ST DECL, NOUN
20 retorta twisted ABL.SG.F, PTCP.PERF.PASS

Syntax

Main clause:
Rationale iudicii facies — “you shall make the breastpiece of judgment.”
Direct object: Rationale.
Genitive specification: iudicii — “of judgment.”

Instrumental ablative:
opere polymito — “with embroidered workmanship.”

Prepositional phrase of pattern:
iuxta texturam superhumeralis — “according to the weaving of the ephod.”

Material ablatives:
ex auro hyacintho et purpura coccoque bis tincto et bysso retorta — “of gold, blue, purple, twice-dyed scarlet, and twisted linen.”

Morphology

  1. Rationale — Lemma: rationale; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter, 3rd declension; Function: direct object; Translation: breastpiece; Notes: refers to the High Priest’s breastpiece.
  2. quoque — Lemma: quoque; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: adds “also”; Translation: also; Notes: continues the list of items to be made.
  3. iudicii — Lemma: iudicium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter, 2nd declension; Function: descriptive genitive; Translation: of judgment; Notes: identifies the breastpiece’s ritual function.
  4. facies — Lemma: facio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 2nd person singular future active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: you shall make; Notes: directive addressed to Moses.
  5. opere — Lemma: opus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter, 3rd declension; Function: ablative of instrument; Translation: with workmanship; Notes: describes method of construction.
  6. polymito — Lemma: polymitus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular neuter, positive degree; Function: modifies opere; Translation: embroidered; Notes: indicates elaborate multicolored weaving.
  7. iuxta — Lemma: iuxta; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses conformity; Translation: according to; Notes: indicates a pattern.
  8. texturam — Lemma: textura; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine, 1st declension; Function: object of iuxta; Translation: weaving; Notes: refers to the ephod’s construction.
  9. superhumeralis — Lemma: superhumerale; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter, 3rd declension; Function: modifies textura; Translation: of the ephod; Notes: identifies the reference garment.
  10. ex — Lemma: ex; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: expresses material; Translation: of; Notes: introduces materials.
  11. auro — Lemma: aurum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter, 2nd declension; Function: material ablative; Translation: gold; Notes: first item listed.
  12. hyacintho — Lemma: hyacinthus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine, 2nd declension; Function: material ablative; Translation: blue; Notes: blue dye extracted from murex.
  13. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: joins items; Translation: and; Notes: simple coordinator.
  14. purpura — Lemma: purpura; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine, 1st declension; Function: material ablative; Translation: purple; Notes: prestigious dye.
  15. coccoque — Lemma: coccus; Part of Speech: noun + enclitic; Form: ablative singular masculine, 2nd declension; Function: material ablative; Translation: and scarlet; Notes: enclitic -que links closely with purpura.
  16. bis — Lemma: bis; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: modifies tincto; Translation: twice; Notes: indicates double-dyeing.
  17. tincto — Lemma: tingo; Part of Speech: participle; Form: ablative singular masculine perfect passive participle; Function: modifies cocco; Translation: dyed; Notes: describes twice-dyed scarlet.
  18. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: joins materials; Translation: and; Notes: final coordinator.
  19. bysso — Lemma: byssus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine, 1st declension; Function: material ablative; Translation: linen; Notes: refers to finest twisted linen.
  20. retorta — Lemma: retorqueo; Part of Speech: participle; Form: ablative singular feminine perfect passive participle; Function: modifies bysso; Translation: twisted; Notes: describes high-quality spun linen.

 

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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