Exodus 38:23

Posted on March 29, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 38:23 iuncto sibi socio Ooliab filio Achisamech de tribu Dan: qui et ipse artifex lignorum egregius fuit, et polymitarius atque plumarius ex hyacintho, purpura, vermiculo, et bysso.

with his associate Ooliab, the son of Achisamech, of the tribe of Dan, who also was himself an excellent craftsman in wood, and a weaver of many-colored work and an embroiderer from violet, purple, scarlet, and fine linen.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 iuncto joined ABL.SG.M PTCP.PERF.PASS
2 sibi to himself DAT.SG.M PRON.REFL
3 socio companion ABL.SG.M NOUN
4 Ooliab Oholiab NOM.SG.M NOUN.PROPER
5 filio son ABL.SG.M NOUN
6 Achisamech of Ahisamach GEN.SG.M NOUN.PROPER
7 de from PREP+ABL
8 tribu tribe ABL.SG.F NOUN
9 Dan Dan ABL.SG.M NOUN.PROPER
10 qui who NOM.SG.M PRON.REL
11 et also CONJ
12 ipse himself NOM.SG.M PRON.DEM
13 artifex craftsman NOM.SG.M NOUN
14 lignorum of woods GEN.PL.N NOUN
15 egregius excellent NOM.SG.M ADJ
16 fuit was 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
17 et and CONJ
18 polymitarius worker of many-colored fabric NOM.SG.M NOUN
19 atque and also CONJ
20 plumarius embroiderer NOM.SG.M NOUN
21 ex from PREP+ABL
22 hyacintho violet ABL.SG.N NOUN
23 purpura purple ABL.SG.F NOUN
24 vermiculo scarlet ABL.SG.M NOUN
25 et and CONJ
26 bysso fine linen ABL.SG.F NOUN

Syntax

Ablative absolute:
iuncto sibi socio — “with a companion joined to him.”
• expresses accompanying circumstance.

Appositional identification:
Ooliab filio Achisamech de tribu Dan — fully identifies Beseleel’s associate by lineage and tribe.

Relative clause:
qui et ipse artifex lignorum egregius fuit — indicates Ooliab’s independent skill and reputation.

Coordinated predicate nouns:
polymitarius atque plumarius — two professions: weaver of multicolored cloth and skilled embroiderer.

Material-source phrase:
ex hyacintho, purpura, vermiculo, et bysso — lists the four sacred textiles used.

Morphology

  1. iuncto — Lemma: iungo; Part of Speech: participle; Form: ablative singular masculine perfect passive; Function: ablative absolute; Translation: joined; Notes: describes Ooliab as formally attached as partner.
  2. sibi — Lemma: sui; Part of Speech: reflexive pronoun; Form: dative singular; Function: indirect object; Translation: to himself; Notes: Beseleel’s associate is for his own assistance.
  3. socio — Lemma: socius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: ablative absolute; Translation: companion; Notes: architectural projects required paired oversight.
  4. Ooliab — Lemma: Ooliab; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of relative clause; Translation: Ooliab; Notes: named co-artisan of the tabernacle.
  5. filio — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: ablative of relationship; Translation: son; Notes: genealogical specification.
  6. Achisamech — Lemma: Achisamech; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: modifies filio; Translation: of Achisamech; Notes: provides parental lineage.
  7. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: origin; Translation: from; Notes: marks tribal affiliation.
  8. tribu — Lemma: tribus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: complement of de; Translation: tribe; Notes: tribal identity is legally significant.
  9. Dan — Lemma: Dan; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: modifies tribu; Translation: Dan; Notes: artisan talent often noted in this tribe.
  10. qui — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: relative pronoun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: introduces relative clause; Translation: who; Notes: refers to Ooliab.
  11. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordination; Translation: also; Notes: adds emphasis.
  12. ipse — Lemma: ipse; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: intensive; Translation: himself; Notes: highlights Ooliab’s independent merit.
  13. artifex — Lemma: artifex; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: predicate noun; Translation: craftsman; Notes: describes trade specialization.
  14. lignorum — Lemma: lignum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive plural neuter; Function: genitive of material/field; Translation: of woods; Notes: refers to carpentry craftsmanship.
  15. egregius — Lemma: egregius; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: predicate adjective; Translation: excellent; Notes: denotes exceptional skill.
  16. fuit — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd singular perfect active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: was; Notes: describes established reputation.
  17. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordination; Translation: and; Notes: joins additional professions.
  18. polymitarius — Lemma: polymitarius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: predicate noun; Translation: worker in multicolored weavings; Notes: technical textile term.
  19. atque — Lemma: atque; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: intensifying coordination; Translation: and also; Notes: stronger than et.
  20. plumarius — Lemma: plumarius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: predicate noun; Translation: embroiderer; Notes: specialist in needlework.
  21. ex — Lemma: e/ex; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: source material; Translation: from; Notes: lists textile materials.
  22. hyacintho — Lemma: hyacinthus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: complement of ex; Translation: violet; Notes: blue-dyed fabric.
  23. purpura — Lemma: purpura; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: complement of ex; Translation: purple; Notes: royal dye.
  24. vermiculo — Lemma: vermiculus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: complement of ex; Translation: scarlet; Notes: refers to crimson dye from the kermes insect.
  25. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordination; Translation: and; Notes: links final textile.
  26. bysso — Lemma: byssus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: complement of ex; Translation: fine linen; Notes: luxury-grade linen used in sanctuary cloth.

 

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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