Numeri 18:4 (Numbers 18:4)

Posted on May 15, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 18:4 sint autem tecum, et excubent in custodiis tabernaculi, et in omnibus cæremoniis eius. Alienigena non miscebitur vobis.

Now let them be with you, and let them keep watch in the duties of the tabernacle and in all its rites. A foreigner shall not be joined with you.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 sint let them be 3PL.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
2 autem now CONJ
3 tecum with you ABL.SG
4 et and CONJ
5 excubent let them keep watch 3PL.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
6 in in PREP+ABL
7 custodiis duties ABL.PL.F
8 tabernaculi of tabernacle GEN.SG.N
9 et and CONJ
10 in in PREP+ABL
11 omnibus all ABL.PL.F
12 cæremoniis rites ABL.PL.F
13 eius its GEN.SG
14 Alienigena foreigner NOM.SG.M
15 non not ADV
16 miscebitur shall be joined 3SG.FUT.PASS.IND
17 vobis with you DAT.PL

Syntax

Jussive Clause 1: sint (verb) + implied subject (they)
Prepositional Phrase: tecum — association

Jussive Clause 2: excubent (verb)
Prepositional Phrase 1: in custodiis tabernaculi — sphere of duty
Prepositional Phrase 2: in omnibus cæremoniis eius — expanded scope

Main Clause 3: Alienigena (subject) + miscebitur (verb)
Negation: non
Indirect Object: vobis — association or involvement

Morphology

  1. sint — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active subjunctive, third person plural; Function: jussive verb; Translation: let them be; Notes: expresses command or exhortation.
  2. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction (indeclinable); Function: transitional connector; Translation: now; Notes: marks continuation.
  3. tecum — Lemma: tu; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: ablative singular with enclitic -cum; Function: prepositional expression; Translation: with you; Notes: enclitic form combining pronoun and preposition.
  4. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating; Function: links clauses; Translation: and; Notes: simple connection.
  5. excubent — Lemma: excubo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active subjunctive, third person plural; Function: jussive verb; Translation: let them keep watch; Notes: expresses duty or vigilance.
  6. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: introduces location or sphere; Translation: in; Notes: indicates domain.
  7. custodiis — Lemma: custodia; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural feminine, first declension; Function: object of in; Translation: duties; Notes: denotes responsibilities or watch duties.
  8. tabernaculi — Lemma: tabernaculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter, second declension; Function: modifies custodiis; Translation: of tabernacle; Notes: indicates association.
  9. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating; Function: links phrases; Translation: and; Notes: continuation.
  10. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: introduces second sphere; Translation: in; Notes: parallel structure.
  11. omnibus — Lemma: omnis; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative plural feminine; Function: modifies cæremoniis; Translation: all; Notes: totality.
  12. cæremoniis — Lemma: cæremonia; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural feminine, first declension; Function: object of in; Translation: rites; Notes: ceremonial practices.
  13. eius — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: genitive singular; Function: modifies cæremoniis; Translation: its; Notes: refers to the tabernacle.
  14. Alienigena — Lemma: alienigena; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine, first declension; Function: subject; Translation: foreigner; Notes: denotes outsider.
  15. non — Lemma: non; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: negates verb; Translation: not; Notes: negation.
  16. miscebitur — Lemma: misceo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: future passive indicative, third person singular; Function: main verb; Translation: shall be joined; Notes: passive form indicating association.
  17. vobis — Lemma: vos; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: dative plural second person; Function: indirect object; Translation: with you; Notes: denotes association.

 

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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