Genesis 10:6

Posted on January 10, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 10:6 Filii autem Cham: Chus, et Mesraim, et Phuth, et Chanaan.

And the sons of Cham: Chus, and Mesraim, and Phuth, and Chanaan.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Filii sons NOM.PL.M
2 autem however CONJ.ADV
3 Cham Cham GEN.SG.M
4 Chus Chus NOM.SG.M
5 et and CONJ
6 Mesraim Mesraim NOM.SG.M
7 et and CONJ
8 Phuth Phuth NOM.SG.M
9 et and CONJ
10 Chanaan Chanaan NOM.SG.M

Syntax

Main Clause: Filii autem Cham introduces the subject phrase “the sons of Cham,” followed by an implied verb of existence or enumeration (“are”).
List Construction: Chus, et Mesraim, et Phuth, et Chanaan — a series of coordinated nominatives functioning as appositive complements to Filii.
Connector: autem adds mild contrast, signaling a new genealogical branch within the narrative.
Word Order: Typical genealogical syntax of the Vulgate: subject phrase first, followed by enumerated offspring separated by et (“and”) without a main finite verb.

Morphology

  1. Filii — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Subject of the clause; Translation: “sons”; Notes: Refers collectively to the male descendants of Cham.
  2. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: Conjunction/adverb; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects this genealogy to the preceding one; Translation: “and” or “however”; Notes: Indicates transition or contrast in narrative flow.
  3. Cham — Lemma: Cham; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Genitive singular masculine; Function: Possessive genitive dependent on Filii; Translation: “of Cham”; Notes: One of the sons of Noah; progenitor of southern nations.
  4. Chus — Lemma: Chus; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Appositive to Filii; Translation: “Chus”; Notes: Represents the ancestor of Cush (Ethiopia or Nubia).
  5. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Coordinating; Function: Connects coordinated nominatives; Translation: “and”; Notes: Simple additive conjunction.
  6. Mesraim — Lemma: Mesraim; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Appositive element; Translation: “Mesraim”; Notes: Traditional ancestor of the people of Egypt.
  7. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Coordinating; Function: Links successive nouns; Translation: “and”; Notes: Adds another name in the genealogical series.
  8. Phuth — Lemma: Phuth; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Appositive; Translation: “Phuth”; Notes: Possibly refers to the founder of Libyan tribes.
  9. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Coordinating; Function: Continues the enumeration; Translation: “and”; Notes: Sequentially connects the final name.
  10. Chanaan — Lemma: Chanaan; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Final appositive complement; Translation: “Chanaan”; Notes: The eponymous ancestor of the Canaanite peoples of the Levant.

 

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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