Numeri 12:8 (Numbers 12:8)

Posted on May 9, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 12:8 ore enim ad os loquor ei: et palam, et non per ænigmata et figuras Dominum videt. Quare ergo non timuistis detrahere servo meo Moysi?

for mouth to mouth I speak to him; and openly, and not through riddles and figures, he sees the LORD. Why therefore did you not fear to speak against My servant Moyses?”

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 ore by mouth ABL.SG.N
2 enim for CONJ
3 ad to PREP+ACC
4 os mouth ACC.SG.N
5 loquor I speak 1SG.PRES.DEP.IND
6 ei to him DAT.SG.M PERS
7 et and CONJ
8 palam openly ADV
9 et and CONJ
10 non not ADV
11 per through PREP+ACC
12 ænigmata riddles ACC.PL.N
13 et and CONJ
14 figuras figures ACC.PL.F
15 Dominum the LORD ACC.SG.M
16 videt he sees 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
17 Quare why ADV
18 ergo therefore ADV
19 non not ADV
20 timuistis you feared 2PL.PERF.ACT.IND
21 detrahere to speak against PRES.ACT.INF
22 servo servant DAT.SG.M
23 meo my DAT.SG.M POSS
24 Moysi Moses DAT.SG.M

Syntax

Main Clause 1: loquor is the main verb with an implied subject (the LORD). ore ad os forms an idiomatic phrase expressing direct communication. ei is the indirect object.

Coordinated Elements: palam and non per ænigmata et figuras describe the manner of speech. These adverbial phrases contrast clarity with indirect forms.

Main Clause 2: videt has Dominum as its object, with an implied subject referring to Moyses.

Interrogative Clause: Quare ergo non timuistis detrahere servo meo Moysi is a direct question. timuistis governs the complementary infinitive detrahere, and servo meo Moysi is the dative object of the infinitive.

Morphology

  1. ore — Lemma: os; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter third declension; Function: part of idiomatic phrase; Translation: by mouth; Notes: Forms part of the expression for direct speech.
  2. enim — Lemma: enim; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable particle; Function: explanatory connector; Translation: for; Notes: Introduces explanation of distinction.
  3. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: preposition governing the accusative; Function: introduces direction; Translation: to; Notes: Part of idiomatic expression.
  4. os — Lemma: os; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter third declension; Function: object of ad; Translation: mouth; Notes: Completes idiom “mouth to mouth.”
  5. loquor — Lemma: loquor; Part of Speech: verb; Form: first person singular present deponent indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: I speak; Notes: Deponent form with active meaning.
  6. ei — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: dative singular masculine personal pronoun; Function: indirect object; Translation: to him; Notes: Refers to Moyses.
  7. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links phrases; Translation: and; Notes: Coordinates descriptive elements.
  8. palam — Lemma: palam; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: modifies loquor; Translation: openly; Notes: Indicates clarity and visibility.
  9. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: continues coordination; Translation: and; Notes: Adds further description.
  10. non — Lemma: non; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: negates phrase; Translation: not; Notes: Denies indirect method.
  11. per — Lemma: per; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing accusative; Function: introduces means; Translation: through; Notes: Marks indirect communication medium.
  12. ænigmata — Lemma: ænigma; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter third declension; Function: object of per; Translation: riddles; Notes: Refers to obscure expressions.
  13. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links objects; Translation: and; Notes: Combines two types of indirect speech.
  14. figuras — Lemma: figura; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural feminine first declension; Function: second object of per; Translation: figures; Notes: Indicates symbolic or figurative language.
  15. Dominum — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine second declension; Function: object of videt; Translation: the LORD; Notes: Refers to YHWH.
  16. videt — Lemma: video; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: he sees; Notes: Expresses direct perception.
  17. Quare — Lemma: quare; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: introduces question; Translation: why; Notes: Requests reason.
  18. ergo — Lemma: ergo; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: intensifies question; Translation: therefore; Notes: Draws logical conclusion.
  19. non — Lemma: non; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: negates verb; Translation: not; Notes: Denies expected action.
  20. timuistis — Lemma: timeo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person plural perfect active indicative; Function: main verb of question; Translation: you feared; Notes: Expresses failure to show reverence.
  21. detrahere — Lemma: detraho; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active infinitive; Function: complementary infinitive; Translation: to speak against; Notes: Implies slander or criticism.
  22. servo — Lemma: servus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: dative singular masculine second declension; Function: indirect object of detrahere; Translation: to servant; Notes: Indicates recipient of action.
  23. meo — Lemma: meus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: dative singular masculine possessive; Function: modifies servo; Translation: my; Notes: Shows possession.
  24. Moysi — Lemma: Moyses; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: dative singular masculine; Function: apposition to servo; Translation: Moses; Notes: Identifies the servant specifically.

 

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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