Leviticus 13:20

Posted on April 13, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Lv 13:20 qui cum viderit locum lepræ humiliorem carne reliqua, et pilos versos in candorem, contaminabit eum: plaga enim lepræ orta est in ulcere.

who when he shall have seen the place of leprosy lower than the remaining flesh, and the hairs turned into whiteness, he shall declare him unclean; for a plague of leprosy has arisen in the ulcer.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 qui who NOM.SG.M REL.PRON
2 cum when CONJ
3 viderit shall have seen 3SG.PERF.SUBJ.ACT
4 locum place ACC.SG.M
5 lepræ of leprosy GEN.SG.F
6 humiliorem lower ACC.SG.M ADJ.CMPR
7 carne flesh ABL.SG.F
8 reliqua remaining ABL.SG.F ADJ.POS
9 et and CONJ
10 pilos hairs ACC.PL.M
11 versos turned ACC.PL.M PTCP.PERF.PASS
12 in into PREP+ACC
13 candorem whiteness ACC.SG.M
14 contaminabit he shall declare unclean 3SG.FUT.ACT.IND
15 eum him ACC.SG.M PERS.PRON
16 plaga plague NOM.SG.F
17 enim for CONJ
18 lepræ of leprosy GEN.SG.F
19 orta arisen NOM.SG.F PTCP.PERF.PASS
20 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
21 in in PREP+ABL
22 ulcere ulcer ABL.SG.N

Syntax

Relative–Temporal Clause: qui cum viderit introduces the priest’s observation as the condition for judgment.
Direct Object: locum lepræ names the examined site.
Comparative Phrase: humiliorem carne reliqua states diagnostic depression relative to surrounding flesh.
Accusative–Infinitive Content (elliptic): pilos versos in candorem adds a second sign observed.
Main Clause: contaminabit eum delivers the ruling of impurity.
Causal Clause: plaga enim lepræ orta est in ulcere supplies the legal-medical ground.

Morphology

  1. qui — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: relative pronoun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: refers to the priest; Translation: who; Notes: Resumes the authorized examiner.
  2. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: temporal; Function: introduces time clause; Translation: when; Notes: Regular with the subjunctive for circumstances.
  3. viderit — Lemma: video; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular perfect subjunctive active; Function: verb of temporal clause; Translation: shall have seen; Notes: Marks contingent observation.
  4. locum — Lemma: locus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: place; Notes: The precise site inspected.
  5. lepræ — Lemma: lepra; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: modifies locum; Translation: of leprosy; Notes: Specifies the disease.
  6. humiliorem — Lemma: humilis; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular masculine comparative; Function: predicate adjective; Translation: lower; Notes: A diagnostic depression.
  7. carne — Lemma: caro; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: ablative of comparison; Translation: flesh; Notes: Basis for comparison.
  8. reliqua — Lemma: reliquus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular feminine positive; Function: modifies carne; Translation: remaining; Notes: Surrounding healthy tissue.
  9. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates signs; Translation: and; Notes: Joins diagnostic features.
  10. pilos — Lemma: pilus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: object of observation; Translation: hairs; Notes: Hair color is a key indicator.
  11. versos — Lemma: verto; Part of Speech: participle; Form: accusative plural masculine perfect passive; Function: modifies pilos; Translation: turned; Notes: Indicates completed change.
  12. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing accusative; Function: marks result; Translation: into; Notes: Direction of change.
  13. candorem — Lemma: candor; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: object of in; Translation: whiteness; Notes: Diagnostic color.
  14. contaminabit — Lemma: contamino; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular future indicative active; Function: main verb; Translation: he shall declare unclean; Notes: Formal priestly ruling.
  15. eum — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: personal pronoun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: him; Notes: The examined person.
  16. plaga — Lemma: plaga; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: subject of causal clause; Translation: plague; Notes: Technical term for the lesion.
  17. enim — Lemma: enim; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: postpositive; Function: introduces cause; Translation: for; Notes: Grounds the decision.
  18. lepræ — Lemma: lepra; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: modifies plaga; Translation: of leprosy; Notes: Specifies the disease.
  19. orta — Lemma: orior; Part of Speech: participle; Form: nominative singular feminine perfect passive; Function: predicate participle; Translation: arisen; Notes: Indicates origin.
  20. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present indicative active; Function: copula; Translation: is; Notes: States a factual ground.
  21. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing ablative; Function: marks location; Translation: in; Notes: Locative sense.
  22. ulcere — Lemma: ulcus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: object of in; Translation: ulcer; Notes: The prior wound site.

 

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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