Exodus 31:4

Posted on March 22, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 31:4 ad excogitandum quidquid fabrefieri potest ex auro, et argento, et ære,

for devising whatever can be fashioned from gold, and silver, and bronze,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 ad for PREP+ACC INDECL
2 excogitandum devising ACC.SG.N GERUND 1ST CONJ
3 quidquid whatever NOM.SG.N PRON INDEF
4 fabrefieri to be fashioned PRES.PASS.INF 3RD CONJ
5 potest is able 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND IRREG
6 ex from PREP+ABL INDECL
7 auro gold ABL.SG.N NOUN 2ND DECL
8 et and CONJ INDECL
9 argento silver ABL.SG.N NOUN 2ND DECL
10 et and CONJ INDECL
11 ære bronze ABL.SG.N NOUN 3RD DECL

Syntax

Final Clause: ad excogitandum — expresses purpose: “for devising.”
Subject of Passive Verbal Idea: quidquid — “whatever” can be crafted.
Passive Infinitive: fabrefieri potest — “is able to be fashioned.”
Ablative of Material: ex auro, et argento, et ære — materials from which artisan works are made.
Polysyndeton: repeated et highlights fullness of metals involved.

Morphology

  1. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: introduces purpose; Translation: for; Notes: standard final construction.
  2. excogitandum — Lemma: excogito; Part of Speech: gerund; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: object of ad; Translation: devising; Notes: gerund indicating purpose.
  3. quidquid — Lemma: quidquid; Part of Speech: indefinite pronoun; Form: nominative singular neuter; Function: subject of potest; Translation: whatever; Notes: introduces general scope of work.
  4. fabrefieri — Lemma: fabrefacio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present passive infinitive; Function: complement of potest; Translation: to be fashioned; Notes: passive infinitive expressing craftsmanship.
  5. potest — Lemma: possum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active indicative third singular; Function: main verb; Translation: is able; Notes: irregular verb.
  6. ex — Lemma: ex; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: denotes material; Translation: from; Notes: expresses material origin.
  7. auro — Lemma: aurum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: object of ex; Translation: gold; Notes: indicates medium of crafting.
  8. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordination; Translation: and; Notes: links materials.
  9. argento — Lemma: argentum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: ablative of material; Translation: silver; Notes: second metal listed.
  10. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordination; Translation: and; Notes: polysyndetic list continues.
  11. ære — Lemma: aes; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: ablative of material; Translation: bronze; Notes: indicates third metal used.

 

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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