Numeri 11:20 (Numbers 11:20)

Posted on May 8, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 11:20 sed usque ad mensem dierum, donec exeat per nares vestras, et vertatur in nauseam, eo quod replueritis Dominum, qui in medio vestri est, et fleveritis coram eo, dicentes: Quare egressi sumus ex Ægypto?

But even for a month of days, until it comes out through your nostrils, and is turned into nausea, because you have rejected the LORD, who is in your midst, and have wept before Him, saying: “Why did we go out from Egypt?”’”

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 sed but CONJ
2 usque even / all the way ADV
3 ad to / for PREP+ACC
4 mensem month ACC.SG.M
5 dierum of days GEN.PL.M
6 donec until CONJ
7 exeat it may go out 3SG.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
8 per through PREP+ACC
9 nares nostrils ACC.PL.F
10 vestras your ACC.PL.F.POSS
11 et and CONJ
12 vertatur it may be turned 3SG.PRES.PASS.SUBJ
13 in into PREP+ACC
14 nauseam nausea ACC.SG.F
15 eo for this reason ABL.SG.N.DEM
16 quod because CONJ
17 replueritis you have rejected 2PL.FUTP.ACT.IND
18 Dominum the LORD ACC.SG.M
19 qui who NOM.SG.M.REL
20 in in PREP+ABL
21 medio midst ABL.SG.N
22 vestri of you GEN.PL.PERS
23 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
24 et and CONJ
25 fleveritis you have wept 2PL.FUTP.ACT.IND
26 coram before PREP+ABL
27 eo Him ABL.SG.M.DEM
28 dicentes saying NOM.PL.M.PRES.ACT.PTCP
29 Quare why ADV
30 egressi gone out NOM.PL.M.PERF.DEP.PTCP
31 sumus we are 1PL.PRES.ACT.IND
32 ex out of PREP+ABL
33 Ægypto Egypt ABL.SG.F

Syntax

Main Clause 1: sed introduces a strong contrast with what precedes. usque ad mensem dierum functions as an adverbial expression of duration, specifying how long the eating will continue.

Subordinate Clause 1: donec exeat per nares vestras is a temporal-result clause introduced by donec. exeat is the verb, with an implied subject referring to the meat; per nares vestras is a prepositional phrase expressing passage through the nostrils.

Subordinate Clause 2: et vertatur in nauseam is coordinated with the previous clause. vertatur is a passive verb, and in nauseam expresses the resulting state or effect, “into nausea.”

Causal Clause: eo quod replueritis Dominum gives the reason for the judgment. eo quod functions idiomatically as “because,” while replueritis governs Dominum as its direct object.

Relative Clause: qui in medio vestri est modifies Dominum. qui is the subject, est is the verb, and in medio vestri locates the LORD among the people.

Coordinated Verb Clause: et fleveritis coram eo is joined to replueritis Dominum. fleveritis is the verb, and coram eo is a prepositional phrase indicating the setting of the weeping.

Participial Phrase: dicentes modifies the implied subject “you,” introducing the content of their speech.

Quoted Clause: Quare egressi sumus ex Ægypto is a direct question. egressi sumus is a compound perfect deponent construction meaning “we have gone out” or idiomatically “did we go out,” with ex Ægypto expressing separation or source.

Morphology

  1. sed — Lemma: sed; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction; Function: introduces contrast with the preceding statement; Translation: but; Notes: It sharply intensifies the warning by moving from lesser duration to a severe extended period.
  2. usque — Lemma: usque; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable adverb; Function: strengthens the following prepositional phrase of extent; Translation: even / all the way; Notes: Here it heightens duration, not motion, emphasizing the full measure of time.
  3. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: preposition governing the accusative; Function: introduces the limit of duration; Translation: to / for; Notes: With a time expression it marks the endpoint reached.
  4. mensem — Lemma: mensis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine, second declension; Function: object of ad within a temporal expression; Translation: month; Notes: The singular gives a fixed measured period rather than an indefinite span.
  5. dierum — Lemma: dies; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive plural masculine, fifth declension; Function: dependent genitive modifying mensem; Translation: of days; Notes: This genitive clarifies the month as a full counted month of days.
  6. donec — Lemma: donec; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: subordinating conjunction; Function: introduces a temporal clause with a prospective sense; Translation: until; Notes: It carries the narrative forward to the grim outcome.
  7. exeat — Lemma: exeō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present active subjunctive; Function: verb of the clause introduced by donec; Translation: it may go out; Notes: The subjunctive fits the anticipated result after prolonged consumption.
  8. per — Lemma: per; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: preposition governing the accusative; Function: introduces the route or channel of motion; Translation: through; Notes: It makes the imagery physically vivid and deliberately repulsive.
  9. nares — Lemma: nares; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural feminine, third declension plural form; Function: object of per; Translation: nostrils; Notes: The plural is normal for the body part and intensifies the sensory force of the line.
  10. vestras — Lemma: vester; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: accusative plural feminine possessive adjective; Function: modifies nares; Translation: your; Notes: It personalizes the judgment directly upon the hearers.
  11. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction; Function: joins the next result clause to the previous one; Translation: and; Notes: The conjunction links two escalating consequences in a steady sequence.
  12. vertatur — Lemma: vertō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present passive subjunctive; Function: verb of a coordinated subordinate clause; Translation: it may be turned; Notes: The passive highlights the change of the meat into something disgusting for the people.
  13. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: preposition governing the accusative; Function: introduces the resulting state; Translation: into; Notes: With the accusative, it expresses transformation rather than location.
  14. nauseam — Lemma: nausea; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine, first declension; Function: object of in; Translation: nausea; Notes: The word conveys revulsion and bodily disgust, matching the judgment’s severity.
  15. eo — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: ablative singular neuter demonstrative; Function: part of the idiomatic causal expression eo quod; Translation: for this reason; Notes: It does not stand independently here but helps form a fixed explanatory phrase.
  16. quod — Lemma: quod; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: subordinating conjunction; Function: completes the causal expression eo quod; Translation: because; Notes: The phrase introduces the theological explanation for the punishment.
  17. replueritis — Lemma: repluō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person plural future perfect active indicative; Function: main verb of the causal clause; Translation: you have rejected; Notes: In context the sense is not merely physical spitting out but contemptuous rejection.
  18. Dominum — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine, second declension; Function: direct object of replueritis; Translation: the LORD; Notes: Here Dominum refers to YHWH and is therefore rendered “LORD.”
  19. qui — Lemma: quī; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: nominative singular masculine relative pronoun; Function: subject of the relative clause modifying Dominum; Translation: who; Notes: It identifies the LORD more precisely as the One present among them.
  20. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: preposition governing the ablative; Function: introduces a locative phrase; Translation: in; Notes: With the ablative, it indicates place rather than movement.
  21. medio — Lemma: medium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter, second declension; Function: object of in in the phrase in medio vestri; Translation: midst; Notes: The expression underscores divine nearness, making the rejection more serious.
  22. vestri — Lemma: vōs; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: genitive plural personal pronoun; Function: dependent genitive with medio; Translation: of you; Notes: The phrase means “in your midst,” stressing covenant presence.
  23. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present active indicative; Function: verb of the relative clause; Translation: is; Notes: The present tense marks the LORD’s ongoing presence among them.
  24. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction; Function: joins another cause to replueritis Dominum; Translation: and; Notes: The second accusation stands beside the first, not beneath it.
  25. fleveritis — Lemma: fleō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person plural future perfect active indicative; Function: coordinated verb in the causal clause; Translation: you have wept; Notes: The weeping is presented negatively here because it expresses rebellious complaint.
  26. coram — Lemma: coram; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: preposition governing the ablative; Function: introduces a phrase of presence; Translation: before; Notes: It places their complaint openly in the sight of the One they offend.
  27. eo — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: ablative singular masculine demonstrative; Function: object of coram; Translation: Him; Notes: The pronoun points back to the LORD and keeps Him central in the accusation.
  28. dicentes — Lemma: dīcō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: nominative plural masculine present active participle; Function: circumstantial participle modifying the implied subject “you”; Translation: saying; Notes: It introduces the exact content of their complaint.
  29. Quare — Lemma: quārē; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: interrogative adverb; Function: introduces the direct question; Translation: why; Notes: The word reveals regret and rebellion rather than sincere inquiry.
  30. egressi — Lemma: egredior; Part of Speech: verb; Form: nominative plural masculine perfect deponent participle; Function: participial element in a compound perfect deponent construction with sumus; Translation: gone out; Notes: As a deponent form, it is passive in shape but active in meaning.
  31. sumus — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: first person plural present active indicative; Function: auxiliary completing the perfect deponent construction egressi sumus; Translation: we are; Notes: Together with egressi, it yields the sense “we went out” or “did we go out.”
  32. ex — Lemma: ex; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: preposition governing the ablative; Function: introduces separation or source; Translation: out of; Notes: The preposition marks departure from the former land.
  33. Ægypto — Lemma: Ægyptus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine, first declension Greek form in Latin usage; Function: object of ex; Translation: Egypt; Notes: It names the place from which they were delivered, making their complaint especially ironic.

 

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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