Numeri 7:44 (Numbers 7:44)

Posted on May 4, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

44 mortariolum aureum appendens decem siclos plenum incenso:

a golden censer weighing ten shekels, full of incense;

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 mortariolum censer ACC.SG.N
2 aureum golden ACC.SG.N.POS
3 appendens weighing PTCP.PRES.ACT.ACC.SG
4 decem ten INDECL
5 siclos shekels ACC.PL.M
6 plenum full ACC.SG.N.POS
7 incenso with incense ABL.SG.N

Syntax

Main Clause: This phrase continues the offering list, with mortariolum functioning as an additional object dependent on an implied verb such as obtulit.

Object(s): mortariolum aureum — the offered object described by material.

Phrase: appendens decem siclos — participial phrase modifying mortariolum, specifying its weight.

Phrase: plenum incenso — descriptive phrase indicating content.

Clause Function: Elliptical continuation of a list of offerings, where the governing verb is understood from context.

Morphology

  1. mortariolum — Lemma: mortariolum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object (elliptical); Translation: censer; Notes: A small vessel used for holding incense in ritual contexts.
  2. aureum — Lemma: aureus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular neuter positive; Function: modifies mortariolum; Translation: golden; Notes: Indicates material composition and value.
  3. appendens — Lemma: appendo; Part of Speech: participle; Form: present active accusative singular; Function: participial modifier; Translation: weighing; Notes: Describes measurable weight of the object.
  4. decem — Lemma: decem; Part of Speech: numeral; Form: indeclinable; Function: numeral modifier; Translation: ten; Notes: Specifies quantity in combination with siclos.
  5. siclos — Lemma: siclus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: measure object; Translation: shekels; Notes: Unit of weight in ancient Near Eastern context.
  6. plenum — Lemma: plenus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular neuter positive; Function: predicate modifier; Translation: full; Notes: Describes the filled condition of the vessel.
  7. incenso — Lemma: incensum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: ablative of content; Translation: with incense; Notes: Specifies the substance contained within the censer.

 

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 Numeri. Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.