Genesis 14:5

Posted on January 14, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 14:5 Igitur quartodecimo anno venit Chodorlahomor, et reges qui erant cum eo: percusseruntque Raphaim in Astarothcarnaim, et Zuzim cum eis, et Emim in Save Cariathaim,

Therefore, in the fourteenth year, Chodorlahomor came, and the kings who were with him; and they struck the Rephaim in Astarothcarnaim, and the Zuzim with them, and the Emim in Save Cariathaim.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Igitur therefore / then ADV
2 quartodecimo fourteenth ABL.SG.M
3 anno year ABL.SG.M
4 venit came 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
5 Chodorlahomor Chodorlahomor NOM.SG.M (INDECL. HEBR.)
6 et and CONJ
7 reges kings NOM.PL.M
8 qui who NOM.PL.M
9 erant were 3PL.IMPF.ACT.IND
10 cum with PREP+ABL
11 eo him ABL.SG.M
12 percusseruntque and they struck 3PL.PERF.ACT.IND + ENCLITIC -QUE
13 Raphaim Rephaim ACC.PL.M (INDECL. HEBR.)
14 in in PREP+ABL
15 Astarothcarnaim Astaroth-Carnaim ABL.SG.F (INDECL. HEBR.)
16 et and CONJ
17 Zuzim Zuzim ACC.PL.M (INDECL. HEBR.)
18 cum with PREP+ABL
19 eis them ABL.PL.M
20 et and CONJ
21 Emim Emim ACC.PL.M (INDECL. HEBR.)
22 in in PREP+ABL
23 Save Save ABL.SG.F (INDECL. HEBR.)
24 Cariathaim Kiriathaim ABL.SG.F (INDECL. HEBR.)

Syntax

Main Clause: Igitur quartodecimo anno venit Chodorlahomor — temporal ablative phrase (quartodecimo anno) sets the time of action, with venit as the main verb (“came”).
Appositive Clause: et reges qui erant cum eo — subject expansion introducing accompanying kings by relative clause.
Compound Verb Clause: percusseruntque Raphaim … et Zuzim … et Emim — series of coordinated accusatives as direct objects, marking successive conquests, each followed by prepositional complements denoting location.

Morphology

  1. Igitur — Lemma: igitur; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Transitional adverb introducing result or sequence; Translation: “therefore / then”; Notes: Common narrative connective in Latin biblical style.
  2. quartodecimo — Lemma: quartus decimus; Part of Speech: Ordinal numeral (compound); Form: Ablative singular masculine; Function: Temporal modifier of anno; Translation: “fourteenth”; Notes: Indicates specific year since previous event.
  3. anno — Lemma: annus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular masculine; Function: Ablative of time when; Translation: “year”; Notes: Expresses exact time at which Chodorlahomor marched.
  4. venit — Lemma: venio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect active indicative, 3rd person singular; Function: Main verb; Translation: “came”; Notes: Perfect tense indicating completed movement into enemy territory.
  5. Chodorlahomor — Lemma: Chodorlahomor; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine (indeclinable Hebrew name); Function: Subject of venit; Translation: “Chodorlahomor”; Notes: Equivalent to Chedorlaomer, the Elamite king.
  6. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects subjects and clauses; Translation: “and”; Notes: Joins Chodorlahomor and reges.
  7. reges — Lemma: rex; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Compound subject with Chodorlahomor; Translation: “kings”; Notes: Refers to allied monarchs accompanying him.
  8. qui — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: Relative pronoun; Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Introduces relative clause modifying reges; Translation: “who”; Notes: Relates subordinate information.
  9. erant — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Imperfect active indicative, 3rd person plural; Function: Verb of relative clause; Translation: “were”; Notes: Describes accompanying status.
  10. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs ablative; Function: Expresses accompaniment; Translation: “with”; Notes: Introduces ablative complement.
  11. eo — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Ablative singular masculine; Function: Object of cum; Translation: “him”; Notes: Refers back to Chodorlahomor.
  12. percusseruntque — Lemma: percutio + -que; Part of Speech: Verb + enclitic conjunction; Form: Perfect active indicative, 3rd person plural; Function: Main verb of coordinated clause; Translation: “and they struck”; Notes: The enclitic -que connects with previous clause, continuing narrative.
  13. Raphaim — Lemma: Raphaim; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative plural masculine (indeclinable Hebrew name); Function: Direct object of percusseruntque; Translation: “the Rephaim”; Notes: A race of ancient giants in Canaan.
  14. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs ablative; Function: Expresses location; Translation: “in”; Notes: Introduces the site of the battle.
  15. Astarothcarnaim — Lemma: Astarothcarnaim; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Ablative singular feminine (indeclinable); Function: Object of in; Translation: “Astaroth-Carnaim”; Notes: Likely meaning “Astaroth of the Two Horns,” a city in Bashan.
  16. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects next clause; Translation: “and”; Notes: Continues the chain of conquests.
  17. Zuzim — Lemma: Zuzim; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative plural masculine (indeclinable); Function: Direct object of percusseruntque; Translation: “the Zuzim”; Notes: Ancient tribe east of the Jordan.
  18. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs ablative; Function: Expresses accompaniment; Translation: “with”; Notes: Introduces their allies or associates.
  19. eis — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Ablative plural masculine; Function: Object of cum; Translation: “them”; Notes: Refers to the Zuzim or allied peoples.
  20. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects third conquest clause; Translation: “and”; Notes: Maintains the repetitive narrative rhythm.
  21. Emim — Lemma: Emim; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative plural masculine (indeclinable); Function: Direct object of percusseruntque; Translation: “the Emim”; Notes: Another race of giants, dwelling in Moabite territory.
  22. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs ablative; Function: Marks place of the battle; Translation: “in”; Notes: Introduces next geographical location.
  23. Save — Lemma: Save; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Ablative singular feminine (indeclinable); Function: Object of in; Translation: “Save”; Notes: Possibly the plain or district called Shaveh.
  24. Cariathaim — Lemma: Cariathaim; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Ablative singular feminine (indeclinable); Function: Apposition to Save; Translation: “Kiriathaim”; Notes: Town in eastern Moab; the full name means “the double city.”

 

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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