Exodus 35:9

Posted on March 26, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 35:9 lapides onychinos, et gemmas ad ornatum superhumeralis et rationalis.

onyx stones, and gems for the adornment of the ephod and the breastpiece.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 lapides stones ACC.PL.M 3RD DECL
2 onychinos onyx ACC.PL.M ADJ 1ST/2ND DECL
3 et and CONJ
4 gemmas gems ACC.PL.F 1ST DECL
5 ad for / toward PREP+ACC
6 ornatum adornment ACC.SG.M 4TH DECL
7 superhumeralis of the ephod GEN.SG.M 3RD DECL
8 et and CONJ
9 rationalis of the breastpiece GEN.SG.N 3RD DECL

Syntax

Direct Object Phrase:
lapides onychinos and gemmas form the list of precious materials to be contributed.

Purpose Construction:
ad ornatum — “for the adornment.”
A prepositional phrase expressing purpose or intended use.

Genitives of Specification:
superhumeralis and rationalis both specify which sacred garments are to be adorned.

Morphology

  1. lapides — Lemma: lapis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: stones; Notes: refers to ornamental stones used in priestly vestments.
  2. onychinos — Lemma: onychinus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: modifies lapides; Translation: onyx; Notes: describes the type of stones.
  3. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: joins coordinated items; Translation: and; Notes: links the list.
  4. gemmas — Lemma: gemma; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural feminine; Function: second direct object; Translation: gems; Notes: precious stones for the priestly garments.
  5. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses purpose; Translation: for; Notes: standard Vulgate use.
  6. ornatum — Lemma: ornatus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: object of ad; Translation: adornment; Notes: refers to decorative usage.
  7. superhumeralis — Lemma: superhumerale; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: specifies what is to be adorned; Translation: of the ephod; Notes: priestly garment worn by the High Priest.
  8. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: connects two genitives; Translation: and; Notes: simple connector.
  9. rationalis — Lemma: rationale; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter; Function: second genitive specifying adornment; Translation: of the breastpiece; Notes: refers to the High Priest’s breastpiece of judgment.

 

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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