Numeri 9:21 (Numbers 9:21)

Posted on May 6, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 9:21 Si fuisset nubes a vespere usque mane, et statim diluculo tabernaculum reliquisset, proficiscebantur: et, si post diem et noctem recessisset, dissipabant tentoria.

If the cloud had been from evening until morning, and at once at dawn had left the tabernacle, they would set out; and if after a day and a night it had withdrawn, they would take down the tents.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Si if CONJ
2 fuisset had been 3SG.PLUP.ACT.SUBJ
3 nubes cloud NOM.SG.F
4 a from PREP+ABL
5 vespere evening ABL.SG.N
6 usque until ADV
7 mane morning ACC.SG.N
8 et and CONJ
9 statim immediately ADV
10 diluculo at dawn ABL.SG.N
11 tabernaculum tabernacle ACC.SG.N
12 reliquisset had left 3SG.PLUP.ACT.SUBJ
13 proficiscebantur they would set out 3PL.IMP.DEP.IND
14 et and CONJ
15 si if CONJ
16 post after PREP+ACC
17 diem day ACC.SG.M
18 et and CONJ
19 noctem night ACC.SG.F
20 recessisset had withdrawn 3SG.PLUP.ACT.SUBJ
21 dissipabant they would take down 3PL.IMP.ACT.IND
22 tentoria tents ACC.PL.N

Syntax

Conditional Clause 1: Si fuisset nubes a vespere usque mane — pluperfect subjunctive expressing prior condition with temporal phrase a vespere usque mane.

Subordinate Clause: et statim diluculo tabernaculum reliquisset — further condition describing immediate departure.

Main Clause 1: proficiscebantur — deponent verb indicating repeated action of setting out.

Conditional Clause 2: et si post diem et noctem recessisset — second hypothetical scenario with temporal phrase.

Main Clause 2: dissipabant tentoria — verb governing tentoria as object.

Morphology

  1. Si — Lemma: si; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces condition; Translation: if; Notes: Sets hypothetical situation.
  2. fuisset — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular pluperfect active subjunctive; Function: verb of clause; Translation: had been; Notes: Indicates completed prior state.
  3. nubes — Lemma: nubes; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: subject; Translation: cloud; Notes: Symbol of divine presence.
  4. a — Lemma: a; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: introduces starting point; Translation: from; Notes: Marks beginning of time span.
  5. vespere — Lemma: vesper; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: object of a; Translation: evening; Notes: Start of period.
  6. usque — Lemma: usque; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: modifies time phrase; Translation: until; Notes: Marks extent.
  7. mane — Lemma: mane; Part of Speech: noun/adverbial accusative; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: time expression; Translation: morning; Notes: Endpoint.
  8. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordination; Translation: and; Notes: Links clauses.
  9. statim — Lemma: statim; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: modifies verb; Translation: immediately; Notes: Indicates immediacy.
  10. diluculo — Lemma: diluculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: ablative of time; Translation: at dawn; Notes: Specifies time.
  11. tabernaculum — Lemma: tabernaculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: object; Translation: tabernacle; Notes: Sacred dwelling.
  12. reliquisset — Lemma: relinquo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular pluperfect active subjunctive; Function: verb of clause; Translation: had left; Notes: Indicates departure.
  13. proficiscebantur — Lemma: proficiscor; Part of Speech: deponent verb; Form: third person plural imperfect indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: they would set out; Notes: Repeated movement.
  14. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordination; Translation: and; Notes: Links clauses.
  15. si — Lemma: si; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces condition; Translation: if; Notes: Second scenario.
  16. post — Lemma: post; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: introduces time; Translation: after; Notes: Indicates later time.
  17. diem — Lemma: dies; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: object of post; Translation: day; Notes: Temporal reference.
  18. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordination; Translation: and; Notes: Links nouns.
  19. noctem — Lemma: nox; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: object of post; Translation: night; Notes: Completes time span.
  20. recessisset — Lemma: recedo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular pluperfect active subjunctive; Function: verb of clause; Translation: had withdrawn; Notes: Indicates retreat.
  21. dissipabant — Lemma: dissipo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person plural imperfect active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: they would take down; Notes: Breaking camp.
  22. tentoria — Lemma: tentorium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: direct object; Translation: tents; Notes: Encampment structures.

 

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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