Genesis 10:28

Posted on January 10, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 10:28 et Ebal, et Abimael, Saba,

And Ebal, and Abimael, and Saba.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 et and CONJ
2 Ebal Ebal ACC.SG.M
3 et and CONJ
4 Abimael Abimael ACC.SG.M
5 Saba Saba ACC.SG.F

Syntax

This phrase continues directly from the relative clause Qui Iectan genuit… and maintains the genealogical structure.
Each name (Ebal, Abimael, Saba) functions as a direct object of the implied verb genuit (“begot”), coordinated by repeated et.
The structure exemplifies Vulgate parataxis — brief, balanced, and cumulative listing — characteristic of Semitic genealogical style in Latin form.

Morphology

  1. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects names in the sequence; Translation: “and”; Notes: Maintains continuity of enumeration under implied genuit.
  2. Ebal — Lemma: Ebal; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Direct object of implied genuit; Translation: “Ebal”; Notes: Hebrew Obal or Ebal, possibly representing a North Arabian tribe associated with ancient trading routes.
  3. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Links coordinate names; Translation: “and”; Notes: Repeated conjunction typical of genealogical rhythm.
  4. Abimael — Lemma: Abimael; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Direct object; Translation: “Abimael”; Notes: Hebrew ʾAvīmaʿēl, meaning “my father is God.” Possibly denotes an Arabian tribe from southwest Arabia, perhaps related to the Sabaeans.
  5. Saba — Lemma: Saba; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative singular feminine; Function: Final coordinate direct object; Translation: “Saba”; Notes: Refers to the Sabaeans of South Arabia (modern Yemen), known for wealth, incense trade, and later biblical prominence (cf. “Queen of Sheba”).

 

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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