Genesis 19:18

Posted on January 19, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

18 Dixitque Lot ad eos: Quæso Domine mi,

And Lot said to them: “I beg you, my Lord,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Dixitque and said 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND + ENCLITIC
2 Lot Lot NOM.SG.M
3 ad to PREP+ACC
4 eos them ACC.PL.M.PRON
5 Quæso I beg / I pray 1SG.PRES.ACT.IND (FORMULAIC)
6 Domine Lord VOC.SG.M
7 mi my VOC.SG.M.POSS.ADJ

Syntax

Main Clause: Dixitque Lot ad eos — A narrative transition marking Lot’s direct appeal. The enclitic -que connects this to the previous divine dialogue.
Direct Speech: Quæso Domine mi — A humble petition formula common in supplicatory contexts. The verb Quæso (“I beg”) functions parenthetically, introducing Lot’s plea. The vocative phrase Domine mi (“my Lord”) shows reverence toward the angelic or divine interlocutor.

Morphology

  1. Dixitque — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: verb; Form: perfect active indicative, third person singular + enclitic -que; Function: main verb; Translation: “and said”; Notes: The enclitic links this speech to the ongoing divine exchange.
  2. Lot — Lemma: Lot; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of “dixit”; Translation: “Lot”; Notes: Identifies the speaker and petitioner.
  3. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: introduces indirect object; Translation: “to”; Notes: Marks direction of address.
  4. eos — Lemma: is, ea, id; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: object of “ad”; Translation: “them”; Notes: Refers to the angelic visitors.
  5. Quæso — Lemma: quæso; Part of Speech: verb; Form: first person singular present active indicative (formulaic use); Function: polite imperative / introductory plea; Translation: “I beg”; Notes: Common in deferential speech introducing requests or appeals.
  6. Domine — Lemma: dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: vocative singular masculine; Function: form of direct address; Translation: “Lord”; Notes: Equivalent to Hebrew אֲדֹנָי (Adonai), expressing reverent address toward divine or exalted beings.
  7. mi — Lemma: meus; Part of Speech: possessive adjective; Form: vocative singular masculine; Function: modifies “Domine”; Translation: “my”; Notes: The combination “Domine mi” expresses deep humility and personal supplication.

 

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 Genesis. Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.