Leviticus 13:59

Posted on April 13, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Lv 13:59 Ista est lex lepræ vestimenti lanei et linei, staminis, atque subtegminis, omnisque supellectilis pelliceæ, quomodo mundari debeat, vel contaminari.

This is the law of the leprosy of a woolen garment and a linen garment, of warp, and of woof, and of every leather article, how it must be cleansed, or declared unclean.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Ista this NOM.SG.F DEM.PRON
2 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
3 lex law NOM.SG.F
4 lepræ of leprosy GEN.SG.F
5 vestimenti of a garment GEN.SG.N
6 lanei woolen GEN.SG.N ADJ.POS
7 et and CONJ
8 linei linen GEN.SG.N ADJ.POS
9 staminis of warp GEN.SG.N
10 atque and also CONJ
11 subtegminis of woof GEN.SG.N
12 omnisque and of every GEN.SG.F ADJ.POS
13 supellectilis article GEN.SG.F
14 pelliceæ leather GEN.SG.F ADJ.POS
15 quomodo how ADV
16 mundari to be cleansed PRES.PASS.INF
17 debeat must 3SG.PRES.SUBJ.ACT
18 vel or CONJ
19 contaminari to be declared unclean PRES.PASS.INF

Syntax

Copular Definition: Ista est lex establishes a formal legal summary.
Genitive Chain: lepræ vestimenti lanei et linei staminis atque subtegminis specifies the scope of the law.
Inclusive Extension: omnisque supellectilis pelliceæ broadens application to all leather items.
Explanatory Clause: quomodo mundari debeat vel contaminari states the governing criteria for purification or condemnation.

Morphology

  1. Ista — Lemma: iste; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: subject; Translation: this; Notes: Introduces a formal legal conclusion.
  2. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present indicative active; Function: copula; Translation: is; Notes: Links subject and predicate.
  3. lex — Lemma: lex; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: predicate nominative; Translation: law; Notes: Technical term for a binding regulation.
  4. lepræ — Lemma: lepra; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: modifies lex; Translation: of leprosy; Notes: Specifies the condition regulated.
  5. vestimenti — Lemma: vestimentum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter; Function: dependent genitive; Translation: of a garment; Notes: Object subject to inspection.
  6. lanei — Lemma: laneus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: genitive singular neuter positive; Function: modifies vestimenti; Translation: woolen; Notes: Material specification.
  7. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordination; Translation: and; Notes: Joins materials.
  8. linei — Lemma: lineus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: genitive singular neuter positive; Function: modifies vestimenti; Translation: linen; Notes: Second textile category.
  9. staminis — Lemma: stamen; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter; Function: dependent genitive; Translation: of warp; Notes: Vertical threads in weaving.
  10. atque — Lemma: atque; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: emphatic coordination; Translation: and also; Notes: Strengthens linkage.
  11. subtegminis — Lemma: subtegmen; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter; Function: dependent genitive; Translation: of woof; Notes: Horizontal threads in weaving.
  12. omnisque — Lemma: omnis; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: genitive singular feminine positive; Function: modifies supellectilis; Translation: and of every; Notes: Marks comprehensive scope.
  13. supellectilis — Lemma: supellex; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: dependent genitive; Translation: article; Notes: Refers to movable items.
  14. pelliceæ — Lemma: pelliceus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: genitive singular feminine positive; Function: modifies supellectilis; Translation: leather; Notes: Specifies material type.
  15. quomodo — Lemma: quomodo; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: introduces indirect question; Translation: how; Notes: Explains procedural criteria.
  16. mundari — Lemma: mundo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present passive infinitive; Function: complementary infinitive; Translation: to be cleansed; Notes: Ritual purification.
  17. debeat — Lemma: debeo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present subjunctive active; Function: expresses obligation; Translation: must; Notes: Normative force.
  18. vel — Lemma: vel; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: presents alternative; Translation: or; Notes: Distinguishes outcomes.
  19. contaminari — Lemma: contamino; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present passive infinitive; Function: alternative complement; Translation: to be declared unclean; Notes: Judicial determination of impurity.

 

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.
This entry was posted in Leviticus. Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.