Exodus 38:7

Posted on March 29, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 38:7 induxitque in circulos, qui in lateribus altaris eminebant. Ipsum autem altare non erat solidum, sed cavum ex tabulis, et intus vacuum.

and he inserted them into the rings that projected from the sides of the altar. But the altar itself was not solid, but hollow with boards and empty inside.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 induxitque and he inserted 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
2 in into PREP+ACC
3 circulos rings ACC.PL.M NOUN
4 qui which NOM.PL.M PRON.REL
5 in on PREP+ABL
6 lateribus sides ABL.PL.N NOUN
7 altaris of the altar GEN.SG.N NOUN
8 eminebant were projecting 3PL.IMP.ACT.IND
9 Ipsum the altar itself NOM.SG.N PRON.DEM
10 autem however CONJ
11 altare altar NOM.SG.N NOUN
12 non not ADV
13 erat was 3SG.IMP.ACT.IND
14 solidum solid NOM.SG.N ADJ
15 sed but CONJ
16 cavum hollow NOM.SG.N ADJ
17 ex from PREP+ABL
18 tabulis boards ABL.PL.F NOUN
19 et and CONJ
20 intus inside ADV
21 vacuum empty NOM.SG.N ADJ

Syntax

Main clause:
induxitque in circulos — “and he inserted into the rings,” describing placement of the transport poles.
• Direct object implied from previous verse
• Prepositional phrase: in circulos (accusative of motion)

Relative clause:
qui in lateribus altaris eminebant — “which were projecting on the sides of the altar.”
• Subject: qui (referring to the rings)
• Location: in lateribus altaris
• Verb: eminebant (continuous state)

Contrastive description:
Ipsum autem altare non erat solidum — “But the altar itself was not solid.”

Adversative correction:
sed cavum ex tabulis — “but hollow from boards.”

Supplementary predicate:
et intus vacuum — “and empty inside,” further qualifies altar structure.

Morphology

  1. induxitque — Lemma: induco; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd singular perfect active indicative + enclitic -que; Function: main verb; Translation: and he inserted; Notes: perfective action continuing transport-pole description.
  2. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses motion into; Translation: into; Notes: standard directional usage.
  3. circulos — Lemma: circulus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: object of in; Translation: rings; Notes: metal rings attached to the altar for carrying.
  4. qui — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: relative pronoun; Form: nominative plural masculine; Function: subject of eminebant; Translation: which; Notes: refers back to the rings.
  5. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: expresses location; Translation: on; Notes: spatial placement.
  6. lateribus — Lemma: latus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural neuter; Function: complement of in; Translation: sides; Notes: refers to the altar’s exterior walls.
  7. altaris — Lemma: altare; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter; Function: modifies lateribus; Translation: of the altar; Notes: specifies which sides.
  8. eminebant — Lemma: emineo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd plural imperfect active indicative; Function: expresses continuous protrusion; Translation: were projecting; Notes: imperfect conveys ongoing state of structure.
  9. Ipsum — Lemma: ipse; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun; Form: nominative singular neuter; Function: emphatic subject; Translation: the altar itself; Notes: strong emphasis.
  10. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: contrast marker; Translation: however; Notes: postpositive.
  11. altare — Lemma: altare; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular neuter; Function: subject; Translation: altar; Notes: bronze altar structure.
  12. non — Lemma: non; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: negation; Translation: not; Notes: negates predicate.
  13. erat — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd singular imperfect active indicative; Function: linking verb; Translation: was; Notes: describes structural condition.
  14. solidum — Lemma: solidus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative singular neuter; Function: predicate adjective; Translation: solid; Notes: contrasts with hollow nature.
  15. sed — Lemma: sed; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces corrective statement; Translation: but; Notes: adversative.
  16. cavum — Lemma: cavus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative singular neuter; Function: predicate adjective; Translation: hollow; Notes: describes construction method.
  17. ex — Lemma: ex; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: expresses material; Translation: from; Notes: indicates building material.
  18. tabulis — Lemma: tabula; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural feminine; Function: complement of ex; Translation: boards; Notes: wooden planks forming structure.
  19. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: connects predicates; Translation: and; Notes: adds further attribute.
  20. intus — Lemma: intus; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: expresses interior location; Translation: inside; Notes: spatial adverb.
  21. vacuum — Lemma: vacuus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative singular neuter; Function: predicate adjective; Translation: empty; Notes: emphasizes non-solid design.

 

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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