Numeri 6:4 (Numbers 6:4)

Posted on May 3, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 6:4 cunctis diebus quibus ex voto Domino consecrantur: quidquid ex vinea esse potest, ab uva passa usque ad acinum non comedent.

all the days in which they are consecrated to the LORD by vow; whatever can be from the vine, from the dried grape even to the seed, they shall not eat.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 cunctis all ABL.PL.M
2 diebus days ABL.PL.M
3 quibus in which ABL.PL.M REL
4 ex from PREP+ABL
5 voto vow ABL.SG.N
6 Domino to the LORD DAT.SG.M
7 consecrantur they are consecrated 3PL.PRES.PASS.IND
8 quidquid whatever NOM.SG.N INDEF
9 ex from PREP+ABL
10 vinea vine ABL.SG.F
11 esse to be PRES.ACT.INF
12 potest is able 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
13 ab from PREP+ABL
14 uva grape ABL.SG.F
15 passa dried ABL.SG.F
16 usque even to ADV
17 ad to PREP+ACC
18 acinum seed ACC.SG.N
19 non not ADV
20 comedent they shall eat 3PL.FUT.ACT.IND

Syntax

Temporal Phrase: cunctis diebus forms an ablative of time, indicating duration. quibus introduces a relative clause modifying diebus.

Relative Clause: quibus… consecrantur — consecrantur is the verb, with implied subject “they,” and ex voto indicates the basis or source of consecration. Domino functions as dative of advantage or direction.

Main Clause: quidquid… non comedent — quidquid is the subject, comedent the verb, negated by non.

Relative Construction: quidquid ex vinea esse potest describes everything derivable from the vine.

Range Phrase: ab uva passa usque ad acinum expresses totality, from dried grape to seed, emphasizing complete abstention.

Morphology

  1. cunctis — Lemma: cunctus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative plural masculine; Function: modifies diebus; Translation: all; Notes: Emphasizes total duration.
  2. diebus — Lemma: dies; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural masculine; Function: ablative of time; Translation: days; Notes: Indicates span of time.
  3. quibus — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: relative pronoun; Form: ablative plural masculine; Function: introduces relative clause; Translation: in which; Notes: Refers back to days.
  4. ex — Lemma: ex; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing ablative; Function: expresses source; Translation: from; Notes: Indicates origin.
  5. voto — Lemma: votum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: object of preposition; Translation: vow; Notes: Religious dedication context.
  6. Domino — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: dative singular masculine; Function: indirect object; Translation: to the LORD; Notes: Refers to YHWH.
  7. consecrantur — Lemma: consecro; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person plural present passive indicative; Function: verb of clause; Translation: they are consecrated; Notes: Passive indicates state.
  8. quidquid — Lemma: quidquid; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: nominative singular neuter indefinite; Function: subject; Translation: whatever; Notes: Inclusive term.
  9. ex — Lemma: ex; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing ablative; Function: indicates source; Translation: from; Notes: Repeated for emphasis.
  10. vinea — Lemma: vinea; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: object of preposition; Translation: vine; Notes: Source of grapes.
  11. esse — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active infinitive; Function: complementary infinitive; Translation: to be; Notes: Used with potest.
  12. potest — Lemma: possum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present active indicative; Function: governs infinitive; Translation: is able; Notes: Expresses possibility.
  13. ab — Lemma: ab; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing ablative; Function: indicates separation; Translation: from; Notes: Marks starting point.
  14. uva — Lemma: uva; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: object of preposition; Translation: grape; Notes: Fruit source.
  15. passa — Lemma: passus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: modifies uva; Translation: dried; Notes: Refers to raisins.
  16. usque — Lemma: usque; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: intensifies range; Translation: even to; Notes: Emphasizes extent.
  17. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing accusative; Function: marks endpoint; Translation: to; Notes: Completes range expression.
  18. acinum — Lemma: acinum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: object of preposition; Translation: seed; Notes: Smallest part of grape.
  19. non — Lemma: non; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: negates verb; Translation: not; Notes: Standard negation.
  20. comedent — Lemma: comedo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person plural future active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: they shall eat; Notes: Prohibitive instruction.

 

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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