Exodus 38:3

Posted on March 29, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 38:3 Et in usus eius paravit ex ære vasa diversa, lebetes, forcipes, fuscinulas, uncinos, et ignium receptacula.

And for its uses he prepared from bronze various vessels, pots, tongs, small forks, hooks, and fire-pans.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Et and CONJ
2 in for PREP+ACC
3 usus uses ACC.PL.M NOUN
4 eius its GEN.SG.M/N PRON.POSS
5 paravit he prepared 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
6 ex from PREP+ABL
7 ære bronze ABL.SG.N NOUN
8 vasa vessels ACC.PL.N NOUN
9 diversa various ACC.PL.N ADJ
10 lebetes pots ACC.PL.M NOUN
11 forcipes tongs ACC.PL.M NOUN
12 fuscinulas small forks ACC.PL.F NOUN
13 uncinos hooks ACC.PL.M NOUN
14 et and CONJ
15 ignium of fires GEN.PL.M NOUN
16 receptacula fire-pans ACC.PL.N NOUN

Syntax

Prepositional phrase:
in usus eius — “for its uses,” expressing purpose or intended function.

Main verb + object:
paravit … vasa diversa — “he prepared various vessels.”
• Verb: paravit
• Direct object: vasa diversa

Ablative of material:
ex ære — “from bronze,” indicating composition.

List of specific vessels:
lebetes, forcipes, fuscinulas, uncinos, … receptacula — all in the accusative, in apposition to vasa.

Morphology

  1. Et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links narrative actions; Translation: and; Notes: connects with previous construction activity.
  2. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative (motion/purpose); Function: expresses intended use; Translation: for; Notes: idiomatic with plural nouns of purpose.
  3. usus — Lemma: usus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: object of in; Translation: uses; Notes: denotes practical applications of altar service.
  4. eius — Lemma: is, ea, id; Part of Speech: possessive pronoun; Form: genitive singular masculine/neuter; Function: modifies usus; Translation: its; Notes: refers to the altar of holocausts.
  5. paravit — Lemma: paro; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd singular perfect active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: he prepared; Notes: indicates deliberate crafting.
  6. ex — Lemma: ex; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: expresses material composition; Translation: from; Notes: denotes substance of manufacture.
  7. ære — Lemma: aes; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: object of ex; Translation: bronze; Notes: refers to bronze metal used for utensils.
  8. vasa — Lemma: vas; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: direct object; Translation: vessels; Notes: general category for cultic utensils.
  9. diversa — Lemma: diversus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: modifies vasa; Translation: various; Notes: indicates assortment of implements.
  10. lebetes — Lemma: lebes; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: specific vessel type in apposition; Translation: pots; Notes: used for boiling sacrificial portions.
  11. forcipes — Lemma: forceps; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: apposition to vasa; Translation: tongs; Notes: used for handling hot objects.
  12. fuscinulas — Lemma: fuscinula; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural feminine; Function: specific item in list; Translation: small forks; Notes: diminutive suggesting smaller multi-pronged tools.
  13. uncinos — Lemma: uncinus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: item of enumeration; Translation: hooks; Notes: for pulling or lifting sacrificial pieces.
  14. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links final item; Translation: and; Notes: simple connection.
  15. ignium — Lemma: ignis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive plural masculine; Function: modifies receptacula; Translation: of fires; Notes: identifies purpose of the containers.
  16. receptacula — Lemma: receptaculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: final item in apposition; Translation: fire-pans; Notes: containers for receiving and holding burning coals.

 

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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