Numeri 10:16 (Numbers 10:16)

Posted on January 3, 2025 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 10:16 In tribu Zabulon erat princeps Eliab filius Helon.

In the tribe of Zabulon there was the leader Eliab the son of Helon.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 In in PREP+ABL
2 tribu tribe ABL.SG.F
3 Zabulon Zebulun INDECL
4 erat was 3SG.IMP.ACT.IND
5 princeps leader NOM.SG.M
6 Eliab Eliab INDECL
7 filius son NOM.SG.M
8 Helon Helon INDECL

Syntax

Main Clause: princeps (predicate nominative) + erat (copulative verb) + Eliab filius Helon (identifying apposition).

Phrase: In tribu Zabulon — prepositional phrase indicating sphere or group.

Phrase: filius Helon — appositional phrase indicating lineage.

Morphology

  1. In — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: introduces location or sphere; Translation: in; Notes: Indicates inclusion within a tribal group.
  2. tribu — Lemma: tribus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: object of In; Translation: tribe; Notes: Refers to a tribal division.
  3. Zabulon — Lemma: Zabulon; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: indeclinable; Function: genitive of specification; Translation: Zabulon; Notes: Identifies the tribe.
  4. erat — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: imperfect active indicative third person singular; Function: copulative verb; Translation: was; Notes: Describes a past state.
  5. princeps — Lemma: princeps; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: predicate nominative; Translation: leader; Notes: Indicates the chief authority.
  6. Eliab — Lemma: Eliab; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: indeclinable; Function: identification of the leader; Translation: Eliab; Notes: Proper name.
  7. filius — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: apposition; Translation: son; Notes: Indicates lineage.
  8. Helon — Lemma: Helon; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: indeclinable; Function: genitive of specification; Translation: Helon; Notes: Identifies the father.

 

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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