Exodus 37:16

Posted on March 28, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 37:16 Et vasa ad diversos usus mensæ, acetabula, phialas, et cyathos, et thuribula, ex auro puro, in quibus offerenda sunt libamina.

And the vessels for the various uses of the table, bowls, cups, and pitchers, and censers, of pure gold, in which the libations are to be offered.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Et and CONJ
2 vasa vessels ACC.PL.N NOUN
3 ad for PREP+ACC
4 diversos various ACC.PL.M ADJ
5 usus uses ACC.PL.M NOUN
6 mensæ of the table GEN.SG.F NOUN
7 acetabula bowls ACC.PL.N NOUN
8 phialas cups ACC.PL.F NOUN
9 et and CONJ
10 cyathos pitchers ACC.PL.M NOUN
11 et and CONJ
12 thuribula censers ACC.PL.N NOUN
13 ex of / from PREP+ABL
14 auro gold ABL.SG.N NOUN
15 puro pure ABL.SG.N ADJ
16 in in PREP+ABL
17 quibus in which ABL.PL.N PRON.REL
18 offerenda to be offered GERUNDV.ACC.PL.N
19 sunt are 3PL.PRES.ACT.IND
20 libamina libations NOM/ACC.PL.N NOUN

Syntax

Main Construction:
Et vasa ad diversos usus mensæ — “And the vessels for the various uses of the table.”
• vasa = main object.
• ad diversos usus = purpose phrase.
• mensæ = genitive of specification (“uses of the table”).

List of Objects:
acetabula, phialas, et cyathos, et thuribula — A catalogue of ritual vessels.

Material Phrase:
ex auro puro — “of pure gold.”

Relative Clause of Purpose:
in quibus offerenda sunt libamina — “in which the libations are to be offered.”
• offerenda = gerundive expressing obligation.
• sunt = passive periphrastic.
• libamina = subject of the construction.

Morphology

  1. Et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates with previous clause; Translation: and; Notes: simple connective.
  2. vasa — Lemma: vas; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: direct object; Translation: vessels; Notes: refers to holy service implements.
  3. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses intended purpose; Translation: for; Notes: used for functional designation.
  4. diversos — Lemma: diversus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: modifies usus; Translation: various; Notes: describes range of functions.
  5. usus — Lemma: usus; Part of Speech: noun (4th decl.); Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: object of ad; Translation: uses; Notes: technical term for functional purposes.
  6. mensæ — Lemma: mensa; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: limits usus; Translation: of the table; Notes: specifies usage associated with the table of showbread.
  7. acetabula — Lemma: acetabulum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: item in vessel list; Translation: bowls; Notes: small containers.
  8. phialas — Lemma: phiala; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural feminine; Function: item in list; Translation: cups; Notes: ritual pouring vessels.
  9. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates list; Translation: and; Notes: connective.
  10. cyathos — Lemma: cyathus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: item in list; Translation: pitchers; Notes: pouring ladles or small jars.
  11. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: joins next item; Translation: and; Notes: basic coordinator.
  12. thuribula — Lemma: thuribulum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: item in list; Translation: censers; Notes: incense-burning implements.
  13. ex — Lemma: e/ex; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: indicates material; Translation: of; Notes: expresses composition.
  14. auro — Lemma: aurum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: material; Translation: gold; Notes: used for sacred vessels.
  15. puro — Lemma: purus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: modifies auro; Translation: pure; Notes: denotes ritual refinement.
  16. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: indicates location; Translation: in; Notes: introduces relative clause.
  17. quibus — Lemma: qui, quae, quod; Part of Speech: relative pronoun; Form: ablative plural neuter; Function: object of in; Translation: in which; Notes: refers to the vessels.
  18. offerenda — Lemma: offero; Part of Speech: gerundive; Form: nominative/accusative plural neuter gerundive of obligation; Function: predicate in passive periphrastic; Translation: to be offered; Notes: GERUNDV — expresses necessity.
  19. sunt — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd person plural present active indicative; Function: auxiliary in passive periphrastic; Translation: are; Notes: links subject libamina with gerundive.
  20. libamina — Lemma: libamen; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative/accusative plural neuter; Function: logical subject of passive construction; Translation: libations; Notes: ritual wine offerings.

 

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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