Exodus 30:37

Posted on March 21, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 30:37 Talem compositionem non facietis in usus vestros, quia sanctum est Domino.

You shall not make such a composition for your own use, because it is holy to the LORD.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Talem such ACC.SG.F ADJ POS
2 compositionem composition ACC.SG.F NOUN 3RD DECL
3 non not ADV INDECL
4 facietis you shall make 2PL.FUT.ACT.IND 3RD CONJ
5 in for PREP+ACC INDECL
6 usus uses ACC.PL.M NOUN 4TH DECL
7 vestros your ACC.PL.M ADJ POSS
8 quia because CONJ INDECL
9 sanctum holy NOM.SG.N ADJ POS
10 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND IRREG
11 Domino to the LORD DAT.SG.M NOUN 2ND DECL

Syntax

Main Clause (Prohibition): Talem compositionem non facietis — a direct divine prohibition.
Prepositional Phrase: in usus vestros — specifies improper human use.
Causal Clause: quia sanctum est Domino — grounds the prohibition in the incense’s holiness.
Predicate Construction: sanctum est Domino — “it is holy to the LORD,” dative of advantage.

Morphology

  1. Talem — Lemma: talis; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: modifies compositionem; Translation: such; Notes: refers to the incense mixture described previously.
  2. compositionem — Lemma: compositio; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: direct object; Translation: composition; Notes: refers to sacred incense blend.
  3. non — Lemma: non; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: negates verb; Translation: not; Notes: standard negative particle.
  4. facietis — Lemma: facio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: future active indicative second plural; Function: main verb of prohibition; Translation: you shall make; Notes: prohibits personal production.
  5. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses purpose or end; Translation: for; Notes: indicates intended use.
  6. usus — Lemma: usus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: object of in; Translation: uses; Notes: 4th declension.
  7. vestros — Lemma: vester; Part of Speech: possessive adjective; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: modifies usus; Translation: your; Notes: refers to the people’s personal use.
  8. quia — Lemma: quia; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces causal clause; Translation: because; Notes: logical ground.
  9. sanctum — Lemma: sanctus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative singular neuter; Function: predicate adjective with est; Translation: holy; Notes: describes consecrated nature.
  10. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active indicative third singular; Function: linking verb; Translation: is; Notes: establishes sacred status.
  11. Domino — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: dative singular masculine; Function: dative of reference; Translation: to the LORD; Notes: refers to YHWH, therefore translated as “LORD.”

 

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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