Leviticus 16:14

Posted on April 16, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Lv 16:14 Tollet quoque de sanguine vituli, et asperget digito septies contra propitiatorium ad orientem.

He shall also take from the blood of the calf, and with his finger he shall sprinkle seven times toward the propitiatory, to the east.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Tollet he-shall-take 3SG.FUT.ACT.IND
2 quoque also ADV
3 de from PREP+ABL
4 sanguine blood ABL.SG.M
5 vituli calf GEN.SG.M
6 et and CONJ
7 asperget he-shall-sprinkle 3SG.FUT.ACT.IND
8 digito with-the-finger ABL.SG.M
9 septies seven-times ADV
10 contra toward PREP+ACC
11 propitiatorium propitiatory ACC.SG.N
12 ad toward PREP+ACC
13 orientem east ACC.SG.M

Syntax

Main Clause (Action 1): Tollet quoque — future indicative prescribing an additional ritual act
Source Phrase: de sanguine vituli — ablative of source specifying the sacrificial blood
Main Clause (Action 2): asperget — coordinated future action
Instrumental Phrase: digito — ablative of means indicating manual sprinkling
Manner/Frequency: septies — specifies the ritual number
Directional Phrases: contra propitiatorium + ad orientem — orientation and sacred focus of the sprinkling

Morphology

  1. Tollet — Lemma: tollo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular future indicative active; Function: main predicate introducing a prescribed act; Translation: he shall take; Notes: Initiates the handling of sacrificial blood.
  2. quoque — Lemma: quoque; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: additive modifier; Translation: also; Notes: Connects this act to prior ritual steps.
  3. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing ablative; Function: marks source; Translation: from; Notes: Indicates origin of the blood.
  4. sanguine — Lemma: sanguis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative masculine singular, third declension; Function: object of de; Translation: blood; Notes: Central element in expiatory rites.
  5. vituli — Lemma: vitulus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive masculine singular, second declension; Function: dependent genitive; Translation: of the calf; Notes: Identifies the sacrificial source.
  6. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordination; Translation: and; Notes: Links the two ritual actions.
  7. asperget — Lemma: aspergo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular future indicative active; Function: second main predicate; Translation: he shall sprinkle; Notes: Describes the ritual application of blood.
  8. digito — Lemma: digitus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative masculine singular, second declension; Function: ablative of means; Translation: with the finger; Notes: Specifies precise manual action.
  9. septies — Lemma: septies; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: adverb of frequency; Translation: seven times; Notes: Ritual number denoting completeness.
  10. contra — Lemma: contra; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing accusative; Function: indicates direction toward; Translation: toward; Notes: Expresses orientation rather than contact.
  11. propitiatorium — Lemma: propitiatorium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative neuter singular, second declension; Function: object of contra; Translation: propitiatory; Notes: The mercy-seat associated with atonement.
  12. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing accusative; Function: marks direction; Translation: toward; Notes: Further specifies spatial orientation.
  13. orientem — Lemma: oriens; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative masculine singular, third declension; Function: object of ad; Translation: east; Notes: Liturgical orientation within the sanctuary.

 

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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