Genesis 8:9

Posted on January 8, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 8:9 Quæ cum non invenisset ubi requiesceret pes eius, reversa est ad eum in arcam: aquæ enim erant super universam terram: extenditque manum, et apprehensam intulit in arcam.

But when she did not find where her foot might rest, she returned to him into the ark: for the waters were upon the whole earth: and he stretched forth his hand, and taking her, brought her into the ark.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Quæ which / who PRON.REL.NOM.SG.F
2 cum when CONJ.SUBORD
3 non not ADV.NEG
4 invenisset had found VERB.3SG.PLUPERF.SUBJ.ACT
5 ubi where ADV.REL
6 requiesceret she might rest VERB.3SG.IMPERF.SUBJ.ACT
7 pes foot NOUN.NOM.SG.M
8 eius her PRON.POSS.GEN.SG.F
9 reversa returned VERB.PERF.PTCP.NOM.SG.F
10 est was / did VERB.3SG.PRES.IND.ACT (AUX)
11 ad to / toward PREP+ACC
12 eum him PRON.PERS.ACC.SG.M
13 in into PREP+ACC
14 arcam ark NOUN.ACC.SG.F
15 aquæ waters NOUN.NOM.PL.F
16 enim for CONJ.EXPL
17 erant were VERB.3PL.IMPERF.IND.ACT
18 super upon PREP+ACC
19 universam whole ADJ.ACC.SG.F
20 terram earth NOUN.ACC.SG.F
21 extenditque and he stretched forth VERB.3SG.PERF.IND.ACT + ENCL
22 manum hand NOUN.ACC.SG.F
23 et and CONJ
24 apprehensam having taken / seized VERB.PERF.PTCP.ACC.SG.F
25 intulit brought in VERB.3SG.PERF.IND.ACT
26 in into PREP+ACC
27 arcam ark NOUN.ACC.SG.F

Syntax

The relative pronoun Quæ refers to the dove sent forth in the previous verse, forming a temporal clause with cum and the pluperfect subjunctive invenisset (“when she had not found”).
The nested clause ubi requiesceret pes eius includes a subjunctive requiesceret due to indirect question usage with ubi (“where”), expressing uncertainty about a resting place.
The main clause reversa est ad eum in arcam then describes the dove’s return, with ad eum and in arcam showing direction toward Noe and re-entry into the ark.
The causal clause aquæ enim erant super universam terram explains why she returned — the waters still covered the earth.
Finally, the coordinated actions extenditque manum, et apprehensam intulit in arcam depict Noe’s gentle retrieval: stretching out his hand, grasping the dove, and bringing her inside.
The verse’s rhythm alternates between motion and rest, echoing the narrative’s theme of divine preservation.

Morphology

  1. Quæ — Lemma: qui, quæ, quod; Part of Speech: Relative pronoun; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: subject of invenisset and reversa est; Translation: which / who; Notes: refers to the dove (columba).
  2. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: Conjunction (temporal); Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces subordinate temporal clause; Translation: when; Notes: governs subjunctive verb invenisset.
  3. non — Lemma: non; Part of Speech: Adverb (negative); Form: indeclinable; Function: negates invenisset; Translation: not; Notes: standard negation.
  4. invenisset — Lemma: invenio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: 3rd person singular pluperfect subjunctive active; Function: verb of subordinate temporal clause; Translation: had found; Notes: subjunctive used with cum in narrative context.
  5. ubi — Lemma: ubi; Part of Speech: Adverb (relative/interrogative); Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces indirect question; Translation: where; Notes: governs subjunctive requiesceret.
  6. requiesceret — Lemma: quiesco; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: 3rd person singular imperfect subjunctive active; Function: verb of indirect question; Translation: she might rest; Notes: subjunctive of potential location.
  7. pes — Lemma: pes; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of requiesceret; Translation: foot; Notes: figurative for “landing place.”
  8. eius — Lemma: is, ea, id; Part of Speech: Pronoun (possessive); Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: possessive genitive; Translation: her; Notes: refers back to the dove.
  9. reversa — Lemma: revertor; Part of Speech: Verb (deponent participle); Form: nominative singular feminine perfect participle; Function: predicate adjective; Translation: returned; Notes: deponent in form, active in meaning.
  10. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: 3rd person singular present indicative active (auxiliary); Function: forms perfect tense with reversa; Translation: was / did; Notes: auxiliary in periphrastic perfect.
  11. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses direction; Translation: to / toward; Notes: marks movement toward Noe.
  12. eum — Lemma: is, ea, id; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: object of ad; Translation: him; Notes: refers to Noe.
  13. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: indicates motion into; Translation: into; Notes: expresses entrance into the ark.
  14. arcam — Lemma: arca; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: object of in; Translation: ark; Notes: vessel of refuge and preservation.
  15. aquæ — Lemma: aqua; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: nominative plural feminine; Function: subject of erant; Translation: waters; Notes: same floodwaters still covering the land.
  16. enim — Lemma: enim; Part of Speech: Conjunction (explanatory); Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces causal clause; Translation: for; Notes: provides reason for the dove’s return.
  17. erant — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: 3rd person plural imperfect indicative active; Function: main verb; Translation: were; Notes: describes ongoing condition of the waters.
  18. super — Lemma: super; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: spatial relation; Translation: upon; Notes: covers geographical extent.
  19. universam — Lemma: universus; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: modifies terram; Translation: whole / entire; Notes: totality of coverage.
  20. terram — Lemma: terra; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: object of super; Translation: earth; Notes: global extent of the flood.
  21. extenditque — Lemma: extendo; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: 3rd person singular perfect indicative active + enclitic -que; Function: main verb; Translation: and he stretched forth; Notes: continues sequence of rescue actions.
  22. manum — Lemma: manus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: direct object of extendit; Translation: hand; Notes: instrument of compassion.
  23. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: connects final action; Translation: and; Notes: joins subsequent movement.
  24. apprehensam — Lemma: apprehendo; Part of Speech: Verb (perfect participle passive); Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: modifies implied object (columbam); Translation: having taken / seized; Notes: denotes completed capture before intulit.
  25. intulit — Lemma: infero; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: 3rd person singular perfect indicative active; Function: main verb; Translation: brought in; Notes: completes restoration of the dove to safety.
  26. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses motion into; Translation: into; Notes: introduces location of safety.
  27. arcam — Lemma: arca; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: object of in; Translation: ark; Notes: vessel of divine preservation.

 

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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