Genesis 10:1

Posted on January 10, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 10:1 Hæ sunt generationes filiorum Noe, Sem, Cham, et Iapheth: natique sunt eis filii post diluvium.

These are the generations of the sons of Noe, Sem, Cham, and Japheth; and sons were born to them after the flood.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Hæ these PRON.DEM.NOM.PL.F
2 sunt are 3PL.PRES.IND.ACT
3 generationes generations N.NOM.PL.F
4 filiorum of sons N.GEN.PL.M
5 Noe Noah N.GEN.SG.M
6 Sem Shem N.NOM.SG.M
7 Cham Ham N.NOM.SG.M
8 et and CONJ
9 Iapheth Japheth N.NOM.SG.M
10 natique and born PART.PERF.PASS.NOM.PL.M + ENCLITIC
11 sunt were 3PL.PERF.IND.ACT
12 eis to them PRON.DAT.PL.M
13 filii sons N.NOM.PL.M
14 post after PREP+ACC
15 diluvium flood N.ACC.SG.N

Syntax

Main Clause 1: Hæ sunt generationes filiorum Noe, Sem, Cham, et Iapheth — identifies the beginning of a genealogical section, “These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”
Coordinated Clause: natique sunt eis filii post diluvium — describes the continuation of humanity, “and sons were born to them after the flood.”
Word Order: The demonstrative Hæ introduces the genealogy formula. The perfect passive natique sunt is typical for describing birth narratives in biblical Latin.

Morphology

  1. Hæ — Lemma: hic, hæc, hoc; Part of Speech: Demonstrative pronoun; Form: Nominative plural feminine; Function: Subject; Translation: “these”; Notes: Refers to genealogical records that follow.
  2. sunt — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present indicative active 3rd person plural; Function: Copula; Translation: “are”; Notes: Links subject and predicate nominative.
  3. generationes — Lemma: generatio; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural feminine; Function: Predicate nominative; Translation: “generations”; Notes: Technical term for genealogical records in biblical prose.
  4. filiorum — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive plural masculine; Function: Possessive genitive; Translation: “of the sons”; Notes: Defines those whose genealogies are being described.
  5. Noe — Lemma: Noe; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Genitive singular masculine; Function: Possessor of filiorum; Translation: “of Noah.”
  6. Sem — Lemma: Sem; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Apposition to filiorum; Translation: “Shem.”
  7. Cham — Lemma: Cham; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Coordinate noun; Translation: “Ham.”
  8. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable; Function: Connects the final name; Translation: “and.”
  9. Iapheth — Lemma: Iapheth; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Coordinate noun completing the list; Translation: “Japheth.”
  10. natique — Lemma: nascor + que; Part of Speech: Participle (perfect passive deponent in form) + enclitic; Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Predicate participle; Translation: “and were born”; Notes: Typical deponent form in birth formula.
  11. sunt — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect indicative active 3rd person plural; Function: Auxiliary for perfect tense; Translation: “were.”
  12. eis — Lemma: is, ea, id; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Dative plural masculine; Function: Indirect object of natique sunt; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to Noah’s sons.
  13. filii — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Subject of natique sunt; Translation: “sons.”
  14. post — Lemma: post; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs accusative; Function: Temporal preposition; Translation: “after.”
  15. diluvium — Lemma: diluvium; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative singular neuter; Function: Object of post; Translation: “flood.”

 

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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