Leviticus 13:21

Posted on April 13, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Lv 13:21 Quod si pilus coloris est pristini, et cicatrix subobscura, et vicina carne non est humilior, recludet eum septem diebus.

But if the hair is of its former color, and the scar is somewhat dark, and is not lower than the neighboring flesh, he shall confine him for seven days.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Quod but CONJ
2 si if CONJ
3 pilus hair NOM.SG.M
4 coloris of color GEN.SG.M
5 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
6 pristini former GEN.SG.M ADJ.POS
7 et and CONJ
8 cicatrix scar NOM.SG.F
9 subobscura somewhat dark NOM.SG.F ADJ.POS
10 et and CONJ
11 vicina neighboring ABL.SG.F ADJ.POS
12 carne flesh ABL.SG.F
13 non not ADV
14 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
15 humilior lower NOM.SG.F ADJ.CMPR
16 recludet he shall confine 3SG.FUT.ACT.IND
17 eum him ACC.SG.M PERS.PRON
18 septem seven INDECL.NUM
19 diebus days ABL.PL.M

Syntax

Conditional Frame: Quod si introduces an alternative diagnostic scenario.
First Condition: pilus coloris est pristini states that the hair has not changed color.
Second Condition: cicatrix subobscura describes the scar’s muted appearance.
Negative Comparison: et vicina carne non est humilior denies pathological depression relative to surrounding flesh.
Main Clause: recludet eum septem diebus orders temporary isolation for observation.

Morphology

  1. Quod — Lemma: quod; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces conditional contrast; Translation: but; Notes: Regular legal connector with si.
  2. si — Lemma: si; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: conditional; Function: introduces condition; Translation: if; Notes: Opens a hypothetical assessment.
  3. pilus — Lemma: pilus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject; Translation: hair; Notes: Hair color is diagnostically decisive.
  4. coloris — Lemma: color; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: complements est; Translation: of color; Notes: Genitive of quality.
  5. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present indicative active; Function: copula; Translation: is; Notes: Links subject and predicate.
  6. pristini — Lemma: pristinus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: genitive singular masculine positive; Function: modifies coloris; Translation: former; Notes: Indicates unchanged condition.
  7. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates clauses; Translation: and; Notes: Links diagnostic criteria.
  8. cicatrix — Lemma: cicatrix; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: subject of descriptive clause; Translation: scar; Notes: Residual mark after healing.
  9. subobscura — Lemma: subobscurus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative singular feminine positive; Function: modifies cicatrix; Translation: somewhat dark; Notes: Indicates muted coloration.
  10. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates descriptions; Translation: and; Notes: Adds a further criterion.
  11. vicina — Lemma: vicinus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular feminine positive; Function: modifies carne; Translation: neighboring; Notes: Refers to surrounding healthy tissue.
  12. carne — Lemma: caro; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: ablative of comparison; Translation: flesh; Notes: Standard of comparison.
  13. non — Lemma: non; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: negates predicate; Translation: not; Notes: Denies pathological sign.
  14. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present indicative active; Function: copula; Translation: is; Notes: Links subject and comparative predicate.
  15. humilior — Lemma: humilis; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative singular feminine comparative; Function: predicate adjective; Translation: lower; Notes: Key diagnostic comparison.
  16. recludet — Lemma: recludo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular future indicative active; Function: main verb; Translation: he shall confine; Notes: Orders temporary isolation.
  17. eum — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: personal pronoun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: him; Notes: The person under examination.
  18. septem — Lemma: septem; Part of Speech: numeral; Form: indeclinable; Function: modifies diebus; Translation: seven; Notes: Fixed diagnostic period.
  19. diebus — Lemma: dies; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural masculine; Function: ablative of time; Translation: days; Notes: Duration of confinement.

 

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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