Genesis 19:24

Posted on January 19, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 19:24 Igitur Dominus pluit super Sodomam et Gomorrham sulphur et ignem a Domino de cælo:

Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and Gomorrha sulphur and fire from the LORD out of heaven.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Igitur then / therefore ADV
2 Dominus LORD NOM.SG.M
3 pluit rained 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
4 super upon / over PREP+ACC
5 Sodomam Sodom ACC.SG.F.PROPN
6 et and CONJ
7 Gomorrham Gomorrah ACC.SG.F.PROPN
8 sulphur brimstone / sulphur ACC.SG.N
9 et and CONJ
10 ignem fire ACC.SG.M
11 a from PREP+ABL
12 Domino LORD ABL.SG.M
13 de from / out of PREP+ABL
14 cælo heaven / sky ABL.SG.N

Syntax

Main Clause: Igitur Dominus pluit super Sodomam et Gomorrham sulphur et ignem — The LORD is the subject, pluit is the main verb, and the double accusative sulphur et ignem functions as the direct object of the verb. The prepositional phrase super Sodomam et Gomorrham specifies the target of divine judgment.
Prepositional Phrase: a Domino de cælo — Expresses the source or origin of the fire and sulphur. The repetition of “Dominus” emphasizes that the judgment originates from the same LORD who appeared to Abraham, reinforcing divine sovereignty and unity in action.

Morphology

  1. Igitur — Lemma: igitur; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces narrative consequence; Translation: “then / therefore”; Notes: Marks transition to climactic divine act following Lot’s escape.
  2. Dominus — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of “pluit”; Translation: “LORD”; Notes: Refers to YHWH, the covenant God executing judgment.
  3. pluit — Lemma: pluo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: perfect active indicative, third person singular; Function: main verb; Translation: “rained”; Notes: Used metaphorically for divine outpouring of destruction, echoing the Flood narrative.
  4. super — Lemma: super; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: indicates direction or target; Translation: “upon / over”; Notes: Denotes motion toward the punished cities.
  5. Sodomam — Lemma: Sodoma; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: object of “super”; Translation: “Sodom”; Notes: The principal city under divine judgment.
  6. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating; Function: joins two objects of “super”; Translation: “and”; Notes: Connects Sodom and Gomorrah as a single unit of destruction.
  7. Gomorrham — Lemma: Gomorrha; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: second object of “super”; Translation: “Gomorrah”; Notes: Companion city in judgment alongside Sodom.
  8. sulphur — Lemma: sulphur; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object of “pluit”; Translation: “sulphur”; Notes: Represents fiery brimstone as instrument of punishment.
  9. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating; Function: joins compound object; Translation: “and”; Notes: Links “sulphur” with “ignem.”
  10. ignem — Lemma: ignis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object with “sulphur”; Translation: “fire”; Notes: Signifies divine consuming judgment from heaven.
  11. a — Lemma: a (ab); Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: expresses agency; Translation: “from”; Notes: Marks the divine source of the destructive act.
  12. Domino — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: object of preposition “a”; Translation: “the LORD”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes divine agency — judgment proceeds from YHWH Himself.
  13. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: denotes source or origin; Translation: “out of / from”; Notes: Clarifies heavenly origin of the fire and sulphur.
  14. cælo — Lemma: caelum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: object of “de”; Translation: “heaven”; Notes: Indicates the literal and symbolic origin of divine judgment from the heavenly realm.

 

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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