Numeri 11:14 (Numbers 11:14)

Posted on May 8, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 11:14 Non possum solus sustinere omnem hunc populum, quia gravis est mihi.

I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is heavy to me.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Non not ADV
2 possum I am able 1SG.PRES.ACT.IND
3 solus alone NOM.SG.M.ADJ
4 sustinere to bear PRES.ACT.INF
5 omnem all ACC.SG.M
6 hunc this ACC.SG.M.DEM.PRON
7 populum people ACC.SG.M
8 quia because CONJ
9 gravis heavy NOM.SG.F.ADJ
10 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
11 mihi to me DAT.SG.PERS.PRON

Syntax

Main Clause: possum is the main verb, negated by Non, with ego implied as subject. The infinitive sustinere functions as its complement, taking omnem hunc populum as its direct object. solus modifies the subject and emphasizes isolation.

Subordinate Clause: quia gravis est mihi gives the reason. gravis is the predicate adjective, est the copulative verb, and mihi is a dative of reference indicating the one to whom the burden is heavy.

Morphology

  1. Non — Lemma: non; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: negates possum; Translation: not; Notes: it expresses complete inability rather than partial limitation.
  2. possum — Lemma: possum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 1st person singular present active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: I am able; Notes: governs the complementary infinitive sustinere.
  3. solus — Lemma: solus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: modifies the implied subject; Translation: alone; Notes: emphasizes that the burden is borne without assistance.
  4. sustinere — Lemma: sustineo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active infinitive; Function: complementary infinitive with possum; Translation: to bear; Notes: conveys enduring or carrying a burden.
  5. omnem — Lemma: omnis; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: modifies populum; Translation: all; Notes: stresses the totality of the responsibility.
  6. hunc — Lemma: hic; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: modifies populum; Translation: this; Notes: points specifically to the present people.
  7. populum — Lemma: populus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine, 2nd declension; Function: direct object of sustinere; Translation: people; Notes: collective noun representing the entire nation.
  8. quia — Lemma: quia; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces causal clause; Translation: because; Notes: explains the reason for inability.
  9. gravis — Lemma: gravis; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: predicate adjective; Translation: heavy; Notes: metaphorically expresses the burden’s severity.
  10. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd person singular present active indicative; Function: copulative verb; Translation: is; Notes: links subject and predicate.
  11. mihi — Lemma: ego; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: dative singular personal pronoun; Function: dative of reference; Translation: to me; Notes: indicates the person affected by the burden.

 

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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