Exodus 37:20

Posted on March 28, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

20 In ipso autem vecte erant quattuor scyphi in nucis modum, sphærulæque per singulos simul et lilia:

But on the very shaft were four cups in the form of a nut, and knobs together with lilies on each one.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 In on / in PREP+ABL
2 ipso the very ABL.SG.M ADJ.DEM
3 autem but CONJ/ADV
4 vecte shaft ABL.SG.M NOUN
5 erant were 3PL.IMP.ACT.IND
6 quattuor four INDECL.NUM
7 scyphi cups NOM.PL.M NOUN
8 in in PREP+ACC
9 nucis of a nut GEN.SG.F NOUN
10 modum form / shape ACC.SG.M NOUN
11 sphærulæque and knobs NOM.PL.F NOUN+CONJ
12 per on / through PREP+ACC
13 singulos each ACC.PL.M ADJ
14 simul together ADV
15 et and CONJ
16 lilia lilies NOM.PL.N NOUN

Syntax

Prepositional phrase:
In ipso autem vecte — “But on the very shaft.”
• in + ablative expresses location.
• ipso intensifies (“the very”).
• autem adds contrast with previous sentence.

Main clause:
erant quattuor scyphi — “there were four cups.”
• erant = existential verb.
• quattuor scyphi = nominative subject.

Descriptive phrase:
in nucis modum — idiom meaning “in the form of a nut.”

Additional decoration:
sphærulæque per singulos simul et lilia — “and knobs together with lilies on each one.”
• per singulos = distributive phrase.
• simul = both elements appear together.
• sphærulæ … lilia = two coordinated nominative subjects.

Morphology

  1. In — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: expresses location; Translation: on / in; Notes: static spatial reference.
  2. ipso — Lemma: ipse; Part of Speech: demonstrative adjective/pronoun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: intensifier modifying vecte; Translation: the very; Notes: adds emphasis.
  3. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: conjunction/adverb; Form: invariable; Function: marks contrast; Translation: but; Notes: postpositive.
  4. vecte — Lemma: vectis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: object of in; Translation: shaft; Notes: refers to the stem of the lampstand.
  5. erant — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd plural imperfect active indicative; Function: existential verb; Translation: were; Notes: describes continuous arrangement.
  6. quattuor — Lemma: quattuor; Part of Speech: numeral; Form: indeclinable; Function: modifies scyphi; Translation: four; Notes: cardinal numeral.
  7. scyphi — Lemma: scyphus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural masculine; Function: subject of erant; Translation: cups; Notes: decorative elements.
  8. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative (modum); Function: introduces comparative idiom; Translation: in; Notes: part of idiom “in modum”.
  9. nucis — Lemma: nux; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: modifies modum; Translation: of a nut; Notes: genitive of description.
  10. modum — Lemma: modus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: object in idiom; Translation: form / shape; Notes: phrase means “in the shape of a nut.”
  11. sphærulæque — Lemma: sphærula; Part of Speech: noun with enclitic; Form: nominative plural feminine; Function: subject in decorative listing; Translation: and knobs; Notes: -que coordinates with lilia.
  12. per — Lemma: per; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: distributive phrase; Translation: on / along; Notes: indicates repetition on each element.
  13. singulos — Lemma: singulus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: modifies understood scyphos or decorative elements; Translation: each; Notes: distributive sense.
  14. simul — Lemma: simul; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: modifies entire coordinated phrase; Translation: together; Notes: means both appear together.
  15. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates lilia with sphærulæ; Translation: and; Notes: simple connector.
  16. lilia — Lemma: lilium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural neuter; Function: coordinated subject element; Translation: lilies; Notes: floral ornaments.

 

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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