Exodus 39:22

Posted on March 30, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 39:22 deorsum autem ad pedes mala punica ex hyacintho, purpura, vermiculo, ac bysso retorta:

but below, at the feet, pomegranates of violet, purple, scarlet, and twisted linen;

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 deorsum below ADV
2 autem but CONJ
3 ad at / toward PREP+ACC
4 pedes feet NOUN.ACC.PL.M
5 mala pomegranates NOUN.ACC.PL.N
6 punica pomegranate-like ADJ.ACC.PL.N
7 ex from / of PREP+ABL
8 hyacintho violet NOUN.ABL.SG.N
9 purpura purple NOUN.ABL.SG.F
10 vermiculo scarlet NOUN.ABL.SG.M
11 ac and CONJ
12 bysso fine linen NOUN.ABL.SG.F
13 retorta twisted PTCP.ABL.SG.F

Syntax

The adverb deorsum (“below”) sets the spatial context, while autem provides a contrast with the description that precedes.

The prepositional phrase ad pedes (“at the feet”) indicates the location on the garment where the described decorations appear.

The coordinated accusative phrase mala punica (“pomegranates”) functions as the direct object of the implied verb from the previous verse (“they made”).

The sequence of ablatives governed by ex—hyacintho, purpura, vermiculo, bysso retorta—lists the materials from which the decorative pomegranate shapes were crafted.

Morphology

  1. deorsum — Lemma: deorsum; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: indicates downward location; Translation: below; Notes: spatial marker setting the scene for the garment’s lower part.
  2. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces contrast; Translation: but; Notes: marks transition in the garment description.
  3. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses location/direction; Translation: at / toward; Notes: forms prepositional phrase with pedes.
  4. pedes — Lemma: pes; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine, third declension; Function: object of ad; Translation: feet; Notes: refers to the lower hem area of the tunic.
  5. mala — Lemma: malum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter, second declension; Function: direct object; Translation: pomegranates; Notes: decorative elements hanging from the hem.
  6. punica — Lemma: punicus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: modifies mala; Translation: pomegranate-like; Notes: refers to their shape and color, not the fruit itself.
  7. ex — Lemma: ex; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: expresses material; Translation: from / of; Notes: introduces list of crafting materials.
  8. hyacintho — Lemma: hyacinthus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine/neuter; Function: object of ex; Translation: violet; Notes: sacred blue-violet dye used in priestly vestments.
  9. purpura — Lemma: purpura; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: object of ex; Translation: purple; Notes: expensive dye associated with nobility.
  10. vermiculo — Lemma: vermiculus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: object of ex; Translation: scarlet; Notes: refers to scarlet dye derived from the kermes insect.
  11. ac — Lemma: ac; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links last items in list; Translation: and; Notes: stronger connective than et.
  12. bysso — Lemma: byssus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: object of ex; Translation: fine linen; Notes: denotes high-quality linen used in sacred garments.
  13. retorta — Lemma: retortus; Part of Speech: participle; Form: ablative singular feminine, perfect passive participle; Function: modifies bysso; Translation: twisted; Notes: describes spun or twisted linen threads.

 

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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