Genesis 21:24

Posted on January 21, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 21:24 Dixitque Abraham: Ego iurabo.

And Abraham said: “I will swear.”

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Dixitque and said 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND + -QUE
2 Abraham Abraham NOM.SG.M.PROP.NOUN
3 Ego I NOM.SG.1ST.PRON
4 iurabo I will swear 1SG.FUT.ACT.IND

Syntax

Main Clause: Dixitque Abraham — A perfect indicative verb joined by the enclitic -que (“and”) connects this statement to the preceding dialogue. Abraham’s reply introduces his solemn consent to Abimelech’s request.
Direct Speech: Ego iurabo — The personal pronoun ego is emphatic, underscoring Abraham’s personal commitment to uphold the oath. The future tense of iurabo expresses determined intention, confirming agreement to the covenant.

Morphology

  1. Dixitque — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: verb; Form: perfect indicative active, third person singular + enclitic -que; Function: main verb; Translation: “and said”; Notes: Connects narrative sequence, introducing Abraham’s direct response to Abimelech.
  2. Abraham — Lemma: Abraham; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of “dixit”; Translation: “Abraham”; Notes: Patriarch and covenant participant, primary speaker in the dialogue.
  3. Ego — Lemma: ego; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: nominative singular first person; Function: explicit subject of “iurabo”; Translation: “I”; Notes: Emphatic placement underscores Abraham’s voluntary consent to the oath.
  4. iurabo — Lemma: iuro; Part of Speech: verb; Form: future indicative active, first person singular; Function: main verb of direct speech; Translation: “I will swear”; Notes: Covenant language indicating future binding action and Abraham’s faithfulness to his word.

 

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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