Ex 15:18 Dominus regnabit in æternum et ultra.
The LORD will reign for ever and beyond.
| # |
Latin |
Gloss |
Grammar Tag |
| 1 |
Dominus |
the LORD |
NOUN.NOM.SG.M |
| 2 |
regnabit |
will reign |
3SG.FUT.ACT.IND |
| 3 |
in |
into / for |
PREP+ACC |
| 4 |
æternum |
eternity |
ADJ.ACC.SG.N (used adverbially) |
| 5 |
et |
and |
CONJ |
| 6 |
ultra |
beyond |
ADV |
Syntax
Main Clause: Dominus regnabit — nominative subject + future verb expressing eternal kingship.
Adverbial phrase: in æternum — accusative of duration with preposition.
Adverb: ultra — adds the idea of continuance beyond eternity.
Morphology
- Dominus — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject; Translation: “the LORD”; Notes: refers to YHWH.
- regnabit — Lemma: regno; Part of Speech: verb; Form: future active indicative third singular; Function: main verb; Translation: “will reign”; Notes: expresses certain and eternal rule.
- in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: introduces duration-of-time phrase; Translation: “into / for”; Notes: classical idiom with æternum.
- æternum — Lemma: æternus; Part of Speech: adjective (used adverbially); Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: adverbial accusative of duration; Translation: “eternity”; Notes: intensifies the permanence of divine reign.
- et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: joins temporal expressions; Translation: “and”; Notes: additive force.
- ultra — Lemma: ultra; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: modifies regnabit; Translation: “beyond”; Notes: adds hyperbolic, poetic emphasis.
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.