Genesis 24:57

Posted on January 24, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 24:57 Et dixerunt: Vocemus puellam, et quæramus ipsius voluntatem.

And they said: “Let us call the girl and ask her will.”

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Et and CONJ
2 dixerunt they said 3PL.PERF.ACT.IND
3 Vocemus let us call 1PL.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
4 puellam the girl ACC.SG.F
5 et and CONJ
6 quæramus let us ask / inquire 1PL.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
7 ipsius her / her own GEN.SG.F PRON (INTENSIVE)
8 voluntatem will / desire ACC.SG.F

Syntax

Main Clause: Et dixerunt — narrative connector introducing a new response by Rebecca’s family, with perfect active verb denoting completed speech action (“and they said”).
Subordinate Quotation: Vocemus puellam, et quæramus ipsius voluntatem — two coordinated hortatory subjunctives expressing collective decision: Vocemus (“let us call”) and quæramus (“let us ask”). The direct object puellam refers to Rebecca, while ipsius voluntatem introduces the purpose (“her own will”).
The syntax highlights respect for individual consent — the family shifts from negotiation to consulting Rebecca’s personal choice, a notable expression of autonomy within patriarchal context.

Morphology

  1. Et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects with previous narrative clause; Translation: “and”; Notes: Continuation of dialogue sequence.
  2. dixerunt — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect Active Indicative Third Person Plural; Function: Main verb; Translation: “they said”; Notes: Marks completed act of speaking.
  3. Vocemus — Lemma: voco; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present Active Subjunctive First Person Plural; Function: Hortatory subjunctive; Translation: “let us call”; Notes: Expresses collective intent or suggestion.
  4. puellam — Lemma: puella; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative Singular Feminine; Function: Direct object of Vocemus; Translation: “girl”; Notes: Refers to Rebecca as the one to be consulted.
  5. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects subjunctives; Translation: “and”; Notes: Coordinates two suggestions of equal weight.
  6. quæramus — Lemma: quæro; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present Active Subjunctive First Person Plural; Function: Hortatory subjunctive; Translation: “let us ask / inquire”; Notes: Parallel mood to Vocemus, maintaining cooperative tone.
  7. ipsius — Lemma: ipse; Part of Speech: Pronoun (Intensive); Form: Genitive Singular Feminine; Function: Possessive modifier of voluntatem; Translation: “her / her own”; Notes: Adds emphasis on Rebecca’s personal will.
  8. voluntatem — Lemma: voluntas; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative Singular Feminine; Function: Direct object of quæramus; Translation: “will / desire”; Notes: Indicates individual consent — a key motif in this narrative.

 

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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