Exodus 25:20

Posted on March 16, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

20 Utrumque latus propitiatorii tegant expandentes alas, et operientes oraculum, respiciantque se mutuo versis vultibus in propitiatorium quo operienda est arca,

Let them cover each side of the mercy-seat, spreading their wings and covering the oracle; and let them face one another, their faces turned toward the mercy-seat with which the ark is to be covered,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Utrumque each / both ACC.SG.N.ADJ
2 latus side ACC.SG.N.NOUN.3RD DECL
3 propitiatorii of the mercy-seat GEN.SG.N.2ND DECL
4 tegant let them cover 3PL.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
5 expandentes spreading PTCP.PRES.ACT.ACC.PL.M
6 alas wings ACC.PL.F.1ST DECL
7 et and CONJ
8 operientes covering PTCP.PRES.ACT.ACC.PL.M
9 oraculum the oracle ACC.SG.N.NOUN.2ND DECL
10 respiciantque and let them look 3PL.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
11 se each other ACC.PL.REFL.PRON
12 mutuo mutually ADV
13 versis turned PTCP.PPP.ABL.PL.M
14 vultibus faces ABL.PL.M.4TH DECL
15 in toward PREP+ACC
16 propitiatorium the mercy-seat ACC.SG.N.2ND DECL
17 quo with which ABL.SG.N.REL.PRON
18 operienda to be covered GERUNDV.F.NOM.SG
19 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
20 arca ark NOM.SG.F.1ST DECL

Syntax

Main jussive clause: Utrumque latus propitiatorii tegant — plural subject implied (Cherubim), verb tegant (subjunctive of command), object utrimque latus propitiatorii.
Participial elaboration: expandentes alas describes how they cover the mercy-seat.
Second participial phrase: et operientes oraculum specifies additional action of covering.
Coordinated jussive: respiciantque se mutuo — the Cherubim must face each other.
Ablative absolute–like description: versis vultibus describes their turned faces.
Directional phrase: in propitiatorium marks orientation toward the mercy-seat.
Relative clause: quo operienda est arca identifies the mercy-seat as what the ark is to be covered with.

Morphology

  1. Utrumque — Lemma: uterque; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: modifies *latus*; Translation: each / both; Notes: distributive dual adjective.
  2. latus — Lemma: latus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: object of *tegant*; Translation: side; Notes: physical side of the mercy-seat.
  3. propitiatorii — Lemma: propitiatorium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter; Function: possession; Translation: of the mercy-seat; Notes: identifies the object covered.
  4. tegant — Lemma: tego; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active subjunctive third plural; Function: jussive command; Translation: let them cover; Notes: instruction for the Cherubim.
  5. expandentes — Lemma: expando; Part of Speech: participle; Form: present active participle accusative plural masculine; Function: describes action accompanying covering; Translation: spreading; Notes: modifying implied subject (Cherubim).
  6. alas — Lemma: ala; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural feminine; Function: object of participle; Translation: wings; Notes: refers to angelic wings.
  7. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: coordination; Translation: and; Notes: links participles.
  8. operientes — Lemma: operio; Part of Speech: participle; Form: present active participle accusative plural masculine; Function: second descriptive participle; Translation: covering; Notes: complements “expandentes.”
  9. oraculum — Lemma: oraculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: object of *operientes*; Translation: the oracle; Notes: refers to the propitiatory lid.
  10. respiciantque — Lemma: respicio + que; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active subjunctive third plural; Function: coordinated jussive command; Translation: and let them look; Notes: *-que* enclitic joins clauses.
  11. se — Lemma: se; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: accusative plural reflexive; Function: object of *respiciant*; Translation: each other; Notes: reciprocal sense.
  12. mutuo — Lemma: mutuo; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: indicates reciprocal manner; Translation: mutually; Notes: strengthens reciprocal action.
  13. versis — Lemma: verto; Part of Speech: participle; Form: ablative plural masculine perfect passive; Function: qualifies *vultibus*; Translation: turned; Notes: ablative of description.
  14. vultibus — Lemma: vultus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural masculine; Function: ablative of description; Translation: faces; Notes: 4th declension.
  15. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: direction; Translation: toward; Notes: expresses orientation.
  16. propitiatorium — Lemma: propitiatorium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: object of *in*; Translation: the mercy-seat; Notes: focal point of orientation.
  17. quo — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: relative pronoun; Translation: with which; Notes: refers to *propitiatorium*.
  18. operienda — Lemma: operio; Part of Speech: gerundive; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: passive periphrastic; Translation: to be covered; Notes: expresses necessity.
  19. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active indicative third singular; Function: completes gerundive construction; Translation: is; Notes: forms obligation.
  20. arca — Lemma: arca; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: subject; Translation: ark; Notes: item to be covered.

 

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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