Exodus 39:9

Posted on March 30, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 39:9 quadrangulum, duplex, mensuræ palmi.

square, doubled, of the measure of a palm.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 quadrangulum square ADJ.ACC.SG.N
2 duplex double ADJ.NOM/ACC.SG.N
3 mensuræ of the measure NOUN.GEN.SG.F
4 palmi of a palm NOUN.GEN.SG.M

Syntax

This verse consists of a series of nominal and adjectival expressions describing the dimensions and structure of the breastpiece. The adjectives quadrangulum (“square”) and duplex (“double / folded”) function predicatively, with the implied subject being the rationale from the previous verse.

The genitive phrase mensuræ palmi expresses specification or measure: literally “of the measure of a palm,” indicating the extent of its dimensions.

Morphology

  1. quadrangulum — Lemma: quadrangulus; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Accusative singular neuter, first/second declension; Function: Predicative adjective modifying the implied object (rationale); Translation: square; Notes: Describes the breastpiece as having four equal angles.
  2. duplex — Lemma: duplex; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Nominative/accusative singular neuter, third declension; Function: Predicative adjective; Translation: doubled; Notes: Indicates the breastpiece was folded to form a pouch.
  3. mensuræ — Lemma: mensura; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive singular feminine, first declension; Function: Genitive of specification; Translation: of the measure; Notes: Specifies the measurement that defines the dimension.
  4. palmi — Lemma: palmus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive singular masculine, second declension; Function: Dependent genitive modifying mensuræ; Translation: of a palm; Notes: A palm is a traditional handbreadth measurement.

 

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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