Leviticus 16:13

Posted on April 16, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Lv 16:13 ut positis super ignem aromatibus, nebula eorum et vapor operiat oraculum, quod est supra testimonium, et non moriatur.

so that when the aromatics have been placed upon the fire, their cloud and vapor may cover the oracle that is above the testimony, and he may not die.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 ut so-that CONJ
2 positis having-been-placed PTCP.ABL.PL.N.PERF.PASS
3 super upon PREP+ACC
4 ignem fire ACC.SG.M
5 aromatibus aromatics ABL.PL.N
6 nebula cloud NOM.SG.F
7 eorum of-them GEN.PL.N.PRON.POSS
8 et and CONJ
9 vapor vapor NOM.SG.M
10 operiat may-cover 3SG.PRES.SUBJ.ACT
11 oraculum oracle ACC.SG.N
12 quod which NOM.SG.N.REL
13 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
14 supra above PREP+ACC
15 testimonium testimony ACC.SG.N
16 et and CONJ
17 non not ADV
18 moriatur he-may-die 3SG.PRES.SUBJ.DEP

Syntax

Purpose Clause: ut … operiat … et non moriatur — purpose introduced by ut with present subjunctives expressing intended outcome
Ablative Absolute: positis super ignem aromatibus — preparatory circumstance preceding the purpose
Compound Subject: nebula eorum et vapor — two coordinated nominatives acting together
Main Verbal Idea: operiat — covers the sacred object
Relative Clause: quod est supra testimonium — identifies the location of the oracle
Negative Result: et non moriatur — coordinated subjunctive expressing preservation of life

Morphology

  1. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces a purpose clause; Translation: so that; Notes: Governs the subjunctive mood.
  2. positis — Lemma: pono; Part of Speech: verb participle; Form: perfect passive participle ablative neuter plural; Function: forms an ablative absolute; Translation: having been placed; Notes: Indicates completed preparatory action.
  3. super — Lemma: super; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing accusative; Function: indicates placement upon; Translation: upon; Notes: Directional use.
  4. ignem — Lemma: ignis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative masculine singular, third declension; Function: object of super; Translation: fire; Notes: The burning source for incense.
  5. aromatibus — Lemma: aroma; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative neuter plural, third declension; Function: ablative absolute noun; Translation: aromatics; Notes: Refers to prepared incense materials.
  6. nebula — Lemma: nebula; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative feminine singular, first declension; Function: part of compound subject; Translation: cloud; Notes: Visual effect of burning incense.
  7. eorum — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: possessive pronoun; Form: genitive neuter plural; Function: modifies nebula and vapor; Translation: of them; Notes: Refers to the aromatics.
  8. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordination; Translation: and; Notes: Links the two effects.
  9. vapor — Lemma: vapor; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative masculine singular, third declension; Function: part of compound subject; Translation: vapor; Notes: Complements nebula in describing the covering.
  10. operiat — Lemma: operio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present subjunctive active; Function: verb of the purpose clause; Translation: may cover; Notes: Expresses intended protective action.
  11. oraculum — Lemma: oraculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative neuter singular, second declension; Function: direct object of operiat; Translation: oracle; Notes: Refers to the sacred locus of divine presence.
  12. quod — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: relative pronoun; Form: nominative neuter singular; Function: subject of est in the relative clause; Translation: which; Notes: Refers back to oraculum.
  13. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present indicative active; Function: copular verb; Translation: is; Notes: States a defining fact.
  14. supra — Lemma: supra; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing accusative; Function: expresses position above; Translation: above; Notes: Spatial relationship.
  15. testimonium — Lemma: testimonium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative neuter singular, second declension; Function: object of supra; Translation: testimony; Notes: Refers to the covenant witness.
  16. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordination; Translation: and; Notes: Joins the final purpose.
  17. non — Lemma: non; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: negates the verb; Translation: not; Notes: Introduces negative purpose.
  18. moriatur — Lemma: morior; Part of Speech: verb (deponent); Form: third person singular present subjunctive deponent; Function: verb of the purpose clause; Translation: he may die; Notes: Negative purpose underscores the necessity of the ritual covering.

 

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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