Genesis 8:10

Posted on January 8, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 8:10 Expectatis autem ultra septem diebus aliis, rursum dimisit columbam ex arca.

And after waiting yet another seven days, he again sent forth the dove out of the ark.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Expectatis after waiting VERB.ABL.ABS.PERF.PTCP
2 autem however / but CONJ.ADV
3 ultra beyond / further ADV
4 septem seven NUM.INDECL
5 diebus days NOUN.ABL.PL.M
6 aliis other / additional ADJ.ABL.PL.M
7 rursum again ADV
8 dimisit he sent forth VERB.3SG.PERF.IND.ACT
9 columbam dove NOUN.ACC.SG.F
10 ex out of / from PREP+ABL
11 arca ark NOUN.ABL.SG.F

Syntax

The opening ablative absolute Expectatis autem ultra septem diebus aliis establishes the temporal circumstance: “after waiting yet another seven days.”
The participle Expectatis (perfect passive participle used actively) provides temporal context independent from the main verb.
The main clause rursum dimisit columbam ex arca resumes the narrative action: rursum (“again”) modifies dimisit to mark repetition, and ex arca specifies the source of action.
The structure mirrors the previous sending (v.8), underscoring Noe’s orderly patience and faith as he tests the subsiding of the floodwaters.

Morphology

  1. Expectatis — Lemma: expecto; Part of Speech: Verb (participle); Form: ablative plural perfect participle passive used actively; Function: forms ablative absolute; Translation: after waiting; Notes: agrees with implied subject diebus.
  2. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: Conjunction / adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: transitional connector; Translation: however / but; Notes: softens transition to new action.
  3. ultra — Lemma: ultra; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: modifies duration; Translation: beyond / further; Notes: temporal extension of waiting.
  4. septem — Lemma: septem; Part of Speech: Numeral; Form: indeclinable; Function: quantifier of diebus; Translation: seven; Notes: sacred symbolic number recurring throughout Genesis.
  5. diebus — Lemma: dies; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: ablative plural masculine; Function: object within ablative absolute; Translation: days; Notes: temporal extent of waiting.
  6. aliis — Lemma: alius; Part of Speech: Adjective / pronoun; Form: ablative plural masculine; Function: modifies diebus; Translation: other / additional; Notes: differentiates from the previous seven days.
  7. rursum — Lemma: rursum; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: modifies dimisit; Translation: again; Notes: marks repetition of the action.
  8. dimisit — Lemma: dimitto; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: 3rd person singular perfect indicative active; Function: main verb; Translation: he sent forth; Notes: describes completed deliberate action by Noe.
  9. columbam — Lemma: columba; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: direct object of dimisit; Translation: dove; Notes: symbolic of peace and divine renewal.
  10. ex — Lemma: ex; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: indicates origin or source; Translation: out of / from; Notes: expresses movement from within the ark.
  11. arca — Lemma: arca; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: object of ex; Translation: ark; Notes: vessel of divine refuge and testing site of restoration.

 

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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