Exodus 39:39

Posted on March 30, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 39:39 altare æneum, retiaculum, vectes, et vasa eius omnia: labrum cum basi sua: tentoria atrii, et columnas cum basibus suis:

the bronze altar, the netting, the bars, and all its vessels; the basin with its base; the curtains of the court, and the columns with their bases;

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 altare altar NOUN.ACC.SG.N
2 æneum bronze ADJ.ACC.SG.N
3 retiaculum netting / grate NOUN.ACC.SG.N
4 vectes bars NOUN.ACC.PL.M
5 et and CONJ
6 vasa vessels NOUN.ACC.PL.N
7 eius its PRON.GEN.SG.M/N
8 omnia all ADJ.ACC.PL.N
9 labrum basin NOUN.ACC.SG.N
10 cum with PREP+ABL
11 basi base NOUN.ABL.SG.F
12 sua its own PRON.ABL.SG.F.REFL
13 tentoria curtains NOUN.ACC.PL.N
14 atrii of the court NOUN.GEN.SG.N
15 et and CONJ
16 columnas columns NOUN.ACC.PL.F
17 cum with PREP+ABL
18 basibus bases NOUN.ABL.PL.F
19 suis their own PRON.ABL.PL.F.REFL

Syntax

This long series of accusatives continues the inventory of items presented for the tabernacle.
All nouns — altare æneum, retiaculum, vectes, vasa eius omnia, labrum cum basi sua, tentoria atrii, columnas cum basibus suis — function as direct objects of the earlier verb obtulerunt (“they presented”).

The materials and components are grouped logically:

  • altare æneum — the bronze altar used for burnt offerings,
  • retiaculum — the bronze mesh grate attached to it,
  • vectes — carrying bars,
  • vasa eius omnia — all the altar’s vessels (firepans, forks, bowls, etc.),
  • labrum cum basi sua — the laver with its stand,
  • tentoria atrii — the curtains forming the courtyard perimeter,
  • columnas cum basibus suis — the supporting columns with their bases.

The syntax remains additive and paratactic, typical of inventory lists in Exodus.

Morphology

  1. altare — Lemma: altare; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object; Translation: altar; Notes: refers to the bronze altar of sacrifice.
  2. æneum — Lemma: aeneus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: modifies altare; Translation: bronze; Notes: describes the plating or construction material.
  3. retiaculum — Lemma: retiaculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object; Translation: netting / grate; Notes: bronze mesh placed under the altar’s ledge.
  4. vectes — Lemma: vectis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: bars; Notes: carrying poles inserted in rings.
  5. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordination; Translation: and; Notes: links items in the inventory.
  6. vasa — Lemma: vas; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: direct object; Translation: vessels; Notes: includes all altar-related implements.
  7. eius — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: genitive singular masculine/neuter; Function: modifies vasa; Translation: its; Notes: refers to the bronze altar.
  8. omnia — Lemma: omnis; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: modifies vasa; Translation: all; Notes: intensifies the completeness of the set.
  9. labrum — Lemma: labrum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object; Translation: basin; Notes: used by priests for ritual washing.
  10. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: accompaniment; Translation: with; Notes: pairs basin with its base.
  11. basi — Lemma: basis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: object of cum; Translation: base; Notes: the stand supporting the laver.
  12. sua — Lemma: suus; Part of Speech: reflexive possessive pronoun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: modifies basi; Translation: its own; Notes: reflexive to the basin.
  13. tentoria — Lemma: tentorium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: direct object; Translation: curtains; Notes: the perimeter hangings of the court.
  14. atrii — Lemma: atrium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter; Function: modifies tentoria; Translation: of the court; Notes: indicates location within the outer enclosure.
  15. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates next item; Translation: and; Notes: continues list.
  16. columnas — Lemma: columna; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural feminine; Function: direct object; Translation: columns; Notes: vertical supports for the courtyard hangings.
  17. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: accompaniment; Translation: with; Notes: links columns to their bases.
  18. basibus — Lemma: basis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural feminine; Function: object of cum; Translation: bases; Notes: structural sockets into which columns were fitted.
  19. suis — Lemma: suus; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: ablative plural feminine, reflexive; Function: modifies basibus; Translation: their own; Notes: reflexive possessive indicating proper pairing of components.

 

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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