Leviticus 25:34

Posted on April 25, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

34 Suburbana autem eorum non veneant, quia possessio sempiterna est.

But their suburbs shall not be sold, because it is a perpetual possession.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Suburbana suburbs NOM.PL.N.ADJ
2 autem however ADV
3 eorum of them GEN.PL.POSS.PRON
4 non not ADV
5 veneant be sold 3PL.PRES.SUBJ.ACT
6 quia because CONJ
7 possessio possession NOM.SG.F.3RD.DECL
8 sempiterna perpetual NOM.SG.F.ADJ
9 est is 3SG.PRES.IND.ACT

Syntax

Main Prohibition: Suburbana … non veneant — jussive subjunctive expressing a legal prohibition against sale.
Adversative Connector: autem — contrasts this rule with preceding permissions.
Possessive Limitation: eorum — restricts the suburbs to Levitical ownership.
Causal Clause: quia possessio sempiterna est — states the enduring legal reason for the prohibition.

Morphology

  1. Suburbana — Lemma: suburbanus; Part of Speech: adjective used substantively; Form: nominative plural neuter; Function: subject of veneant; Translation: suburbs; Notes: Refers to pasturelands surrounding Levitical cities.
  2. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: adversative connector; Translation: however; Notes: Marks a contrast with prior regulations.
  3. eorum — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: possessive pronoun; Form: genitive plural; Function: possessive modifier of suburbana; Translation: of them; Notes: Refers to the Levites.
  4. non — Lemma: non; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: negation; Translation: not; Notes: Negates the verbal action.
  5. veneant — Lemma: veneo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person plural present subjunctive active; Function: jussive verb of prohibition; Translation: be sold; Notes: Subjunctive expresses binding legal force.
  6. quia — Lemma: quia; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces cause; Translation: because; Notes: Provides legal rationale.
  7. possessio — Lemma: possessio; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine, third declension; Function: subject of est; Translation: possession; Notes: Denotes a fixed legal holding.
  8. sempiterna — Lemma: sempiterna; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: predicate adjective; Translation: perpetual; Notes: Emphasizes inalienability.
  9. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present indicative active; Function: copula; Translation: is; Notes: States enduring legal status.

 

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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