Numeri 1:51 (Numbers 1:51)

Posted on April 28, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 1:51 Cum proficiscendum fuerit, deponent Levitæ tabernaculum: cum castrametandum, erigent. quisquis externorum accesserit, occidetur.

When it shall be necessary to set out, the Levites shall take down the tabernacle. When it shall be necessary to encamp, they shall erect it. Whoever of outsiders approaches, shall be killed.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Cum when CONJ
2 proficiscendum to set out GERUNDV.NOM.SG.N
3 fuerit shall have been 3SG.FUTP.ACT.SUBJ
4 deponent they will take down 3PL.FUT.ACT.IND
5 Levitæ Levites NOM.PL.M
6 tabernaculum tabernacle ACC.SG.N
7 Cum when CONJ
8 castrametandum to encamp GERUNDV.NOM.SG.N
9 erigent they will erect 3PL.FUT.ACT.IND
10 quisquis whoever REL.PRON.NOM.SG.M
11 externorum of outsiders GEN.PL.M
12 accesserit approaches 3SG.FUTP.ACT.SUBJ
13 occidetur will be killed 3SG.FUT.PASS.IND

Syntax

Temporal Clause: Cum proficiscendum fuerit — subordinate clause expressing the time when departure is required.

Main Clause: Levitæ (subject) + deponent (verb) + tabernaculum (direct object).

Second Temporal Clause: Cum castrametandum — temporal expression indicating the time for encampment.

Main Verb: erigent — verb describing the Levites erecting the tabernacle.

Relative Clause: quisquis externorum accesserit — subject clause describing any outsider who approaches.

Resulting Statement: occidetur — passive verb indicating the penalty imposed.

Morphology

  1. Cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces a temporal subordinate clause; Translation: when; Notes: used here with a verb phrase indicating circumstance or timing.
  2. proficiscendum — Lemma: proficiscor; Part of Speech: gerundive; Form: nominative singular neuter; Function: impersonal gerundive expressing necessity; Translation: to set out; Notes: indicates obligation or necessity for departure.
  3. fuerit — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: future perfect active subjunctive third person singular; Function: verb of the temporal clause; Translation: shall have been; Notes: forms a construction indicating the time when departure becomes necessary.
  4. deponent — Lemma: depono; Part of Speech: verb; Form: future active indicative third person plural third conjugation; Function: main verb; Translation: they will take down; Notes: describes dismantling the tabernacle during travel.
  5. Levitæ — Lemma: Levita; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural masculine first declension; Function: subject of deponent; Translation: Levites; Notes: priestly tribe assigned responsibility for the sanctuary.
  6. tabernaculum — Lemma: tabernaculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter second declension; Function: direct object of deponent; Translation: tabernacle; Notes: sacred tent of meeting.
  7. Cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces a second temporal clause; Translation: when; Notes: parallels the earlier temporal construction.
  8. castrametandum — Lemma: castrametor; Part of Speech: gerundive; Form: nominative singular neuter; Function: impersonal gerundive expressing necessity; Translation: to encamp; Notes: indicates the time when the camp must be established.
  9. erigent — Lemma: erigo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: future active indicative third person plural third conjugation; Function: main verb; Translation: they will erect; Notes: describes raising the tabernacle when the camp is set.
  10. quisquis — Lemma: quisquis; Part of Speech: relative pronoun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of the clause; Translation: whoever; Notes: indefinite relative pronoun introducing a general rule.
  11. externorum — Lemma: externus; Part of Speech: adjective used substantively; Form: genitive plural masculine; Function: partitive genitive with quisquis; Translation: of outsiders; Notes: refers to non-Levites approaching the sacred space.
  12. accesserit — Lemma: accedo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: future perfect active subjunctive third person singular third conjugation; Function: verb of the relative clause; Translation: approaches; Notes: indicates any future instance of approach.
  13. occidetur — Lemma: occido; Part of Speech: verb; Form: future passive indicative third person singular third conjugation; Function: predicate of the main clause; Translation: will be killed; Notes: expresses the penalty for unauthorized approach.

 

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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