Exodus 40:23

Posted on March 31, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 40:23 locatis per ordinem lucernis, iuxta præceptum Domini.

after arranging the lamps in order, according to the command of the LORD.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 locatis with … placed PTCP.PERF.PASS.ABL.PL.M/N
2 per through / in PREP+ACC
3 ordinem order ACC.SG.M.3RD.DECL
4 lucernis lamps ABL.PL.F.1ST.DECL
5 iuxta according to PREP+ACC
6 præceptum command ACC.SG.N.2ND.DECL
7 Domini of the LORD GEN.SG.M.2ND.DECL

Syntax

Ablative Absolute:
• locatis per ordinem lucernis — “with the lamps placed in order”
— locatis = perfect passive participle
— lucernis = noun in ablative
— per ordinem = describes arrangement “in order”

Prepositional Phrase:
• iuxta præceptum Domini — “according to the command of the LORD”
— præceptum = object of iuxta
— Domini = genitive modifier

Morphology

  1. locatis — Lemma: loco; Part of Speech: participle; Form: perfect passive participle ablative plural masculine/neuter; Function: head of ablative absolute; Translation: with … placed; Notes: describes orderly arrangement of the lamp flames or lamp cups.
  2. per — Lemma: per; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses manner; Translation: through / in; Notes: here conveys arrangement “in order.”
  3. ordinem — Lemma: ordo; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine 3rd declension; Function: object of per; Translation: order; Notes: indicates systematic placement.
  4. lucernis — Lemma: lucerna; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural feminine 1st declension; Function: complement of locatis; Translation: lamps; Notes: refers to the menorah’s individual lamps.
  5. iuxta — Lemma: iuxta; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses conformity; Translation: according to; Notes: common in legal and liturgical contexts.
  6. præceptum — Lemma: præceptum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter 2nd declension; Function: object of iuxta; Translation: command; Notes: refers to the divine instruction.
  7. Domini — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine 2nd declension; Function: modifies præceptum; Translation: of the LORD; Notes: indicates YHWH as the giver of the instruction.

 

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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