Leviticus 8:23

Posted on April 8, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Lv 8:23 quem cum immolasset Moyses, sumens de sanguine eius, tetigit extremum auriculæ dextræ Aaron, et pollicem manus eius dextræ, similiter et pedis.

And when Moyses had slaughtered it, taking from its blood, he touched the extremity of the right ear of Aaron, and the thumb of his right hand, and likewise also of the foot.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 quem which ACC.SG.M.REL
2 cum when CONJ
3 immolasset had slaughtered 3SG.PLUP.ACT.SUBJ
4 Moyses Moses NOM.SG.M
5 sumens taking PTCP.PRES.ACT.NOM.SG.M
6 de from PREP+ABL
7 sanguine blood ABL.SG.M
8 eius its GEN.SG.M.POSS
9 tetigit touched 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
10 extremum extremity ACC.SG.N
11 auriculæ ear GEN.SG.F
12 dextræ right GEN.SG.F
13 Aaron Aaron GEN.SG.M
14 et and CONJ
15 pollicem thumb ACC.SG.M
16 manus hand GEN.SG.F
17 eius his GEN.SG.M.POSS
18 dextræ right GEN.SG.F
19 similiter likewise ADV
20 et and CONJ
21 pedis foot GEN.SG.M

Syntax

Relative-Temporal Clause: quem cum immolasset Moyses — introduces the circumstance preceding the rite
Participial Manner: sumens de sanguine eius — action accompanying the main verb
Main Action: tetigit — ritual application of blood
Primary Target: extremum auriculæ dextræ Aaron — the right ear extremity of Aaron
Coordinated Targets: pollicem manus eius dextræ and pedis — right thumb of the hand and likewise of the foot
Adverbial Modifier: similiter — indicates repetition of the same rite

Morphology

  1. quem — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: relative pronoun; Form: accusative masculine singular; Function: object of immolasset referring to the ram; Translation: which; Notes: Links back to the second ram.
  2. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces a temporal clause; Translation: when; Notes: Requires the subjunctive.
  3. immolasset — Lemma: immolo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular pluperfect active subjunctive; Function: verb of the cum clause; Translation: had slaughtered; Notes: Subjunctive marks temporal background.
  4. Moyses — Lemma: Moyses; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative masculine singular; Function: subject of immolasset; Translation: Moses; Notes: Acting as officiant.
  5. sumens — Lemma: sumo; Part of Speech: verb (participle); Form: present active participle nominative masculine singular; Function: circumstantial participle; Translation: taking; Notes: Describes the manner preceding the touch.
  6. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs the ablative; Function: source; Translation: from; Notes: Indicates extraction.
  7. sanguine — Lemma: sanguis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative masculine singular third declension; Function: object of de; Translation: blood; Notes: Blood used for consecration.
  8. eius — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: possessive pronoun; Form: genitive masculine singular; Function: modifies sanguine; Translation: its; Notes: Refers to the ram.
  9. tetigit — Lemma: tango; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: touched; Notes: Ritual contact conferring consecration.
  10. extremum — Lemma: extremus; Part of Speech: adjective used substantively; Form: accusative neuter singular; Function: direct object of tetigit; Translation: extremity; Notes: Indicates the tip or outermost part.
  11. auriculæ — Lemma: auricula; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive feminine singular first declension; Function: modifies extremum; Translation: of the ear; Notes: Diminutive form commonly used for the ear.
  12. dextræ — Lemma: dexter; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: genitive feminine singular; Function: modifies auriculæ; Translation: right; Notes: Specifies the right side.
  13. Aaron — Lemma: Aaron; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive masculine singular; Function: possessor; Translation: Aaron; Notes: Identifies whose ear is touched.
  14. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates objects; Translation: and; Notes: Continues the ritual list.
  15. pollicem — Lemma: pollex; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative masculine singular third declension; Function: coordinated direct object; Translation: thumb; Notes: Thumb of the hand used in priestly action.
  16. manus — Lemma: manus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive feminine singular fourth declension; Function: modifies pollicem; Translation: of the hand; Notes: Specifies which thumb.
  17. eius — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: possessive pronoun; Form: genitive masculine singular; Function: modifies manus; Translation: his; Notes: Refers to Aaron.
  18. dextræ — Lemma: dexter; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: genitive feminine singular; Function: modifies manus; Translation: right; Notes: Specifies the right hand.
  19. similiter — Lemma: similiter; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: manner modifier; Translation: likewise; Notes: Indicates repetition of the same act.
  20. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: additive coordination; Translation: and; Notes: Adds the final member.
  21. pedis — Lemma: pes; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive masculine singular third declension; Function: dependent genitive with similiter; Translation: of the foot; Notes: The right foot is understood from the preceding context.

 

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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