Exodus 26:31

Posted on March 17, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 26:31 Facies et velum de hyacintho, et purpura, coccoque bis tincto, et bysso retorta, opere plumario et pulchra varietate contextum:

You shall also make a veil of hyacinth, and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, and twisted fine linen, woven with embroidery and beautiful workmanship;

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Facies you shall make 2SG.FUT.ACT.IND, 3RD CONJ
2 et and CONJ, INDECL
3 velum veil ACC.SG.N, NOUN, 2ND DECL
4 de from/of PREP+ABL
5 hyacintho hyacinth ABL.SG.M, NOUN, 2ND DECL
6 et and CONJ, INDECL
7 purpura purple ABL.SG.F, NOUN, 1ST DECL
8 coccoque and scarlet ABL.SG.M, NOUN, 3RD DECL +QUE
9 bis twice ADV, INDECL
10 tincto dyed ABL.SG.M, PTCP.PERF.PASS, 3RD CONJ
11 et and CONJ, INDECL
12 bysso fine linen ABL.SG.F, NOUN, 3RD DECL
13 retorta twisted ABL.SG.F, PTCP.PERF.PASS, 1ST CONJ
14 opere with work ABL.SG.N, NOUN, 3RD DECL
15 plumario embroidered ABL.SG.N, ADJ, 1ST/2ND DECL
16 et and CONJ, INDECL
17 pulchra beautiful ABL.SG.F, ADJ, 1ST/2ND DECL
18 varietate variety ABL.SG.F, NOUN, 3RD DECL
19 contextum woven ACC.SG.N, PTCP.PERF.PASS, 3RD CONJ

Syntax

Main clause:
• Facies et velum — “You shall also make a veil”
— direct command in future indicative
— velum = direct object.

Series of ablatives of material:
• de hyacintho — of blue
• et purpura — and of purple
• coccoque bis tincto — and of twice-dyed scarlet
• et bysso retorta — and of twisted fine linen

Instrumental / descriptive ablatives:
• opere plumario — “with embroidered work”
• pulchra varietate — “with beautiful variety”

Final participial descriptor:
• contextum — “woven”
— agrees with velum.

Morphology

  1. Facies — Lemma: facio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 2nd person singular future active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: you shall make; Notes: typical imperative-like future.
  2. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: connects directive with previous materials; Translation: and; Notes: simple coordinator.
  3. velum — Lemma: velum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object; Translation: veil; Notes: refers to the inner sanctuary veil.
  4. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: indicates material; Translation: from/of; Notes: expresses composition.
  5. hyacintho — Lemma: hyacinthus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: material; Translation: hyacinth (blue); Notes: liturgical color.
  6. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links materials; Translation: and; Notes: simple coordinator.
  7. purpura — Lemma: purpura; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: material; Translation: purple; Notes: royal dye.
  8. coccoque — Lemma: coccum; Part of Speech: noun + enclitic -que; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: material; Translation: and scarlet; Notes: -que connects backwards to purpura.
  9. bis — Lemma: bis; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: modifies tincto; Translation: twice; Notes: intensifies dyeing process.
  10. tincto — Lemma: tingo; Part of Speech: participle; Form: ablative singular masculine perfect passive; Function: modifies cocco; Translation: dyed; Notes: “twice-dyed” crimson.
  11. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links material items; Translation: and; Notes: standard.
  12. bysso — Lemma: byssus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: material; Translation: fine linen; Notes: luxury textile.
  13. retorta — Lemma: retorquo; Part of Speech: participle; Form: ablative singular feminine perfect passive; Function: modifying bysso; Translation: twisted; Notes: describes thread preparation.
  14. opere — Lemma: opus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: ablative of means; Translation: with work; Notes: denotes artistry.
  15. plumario — Lemma: plumarius; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: modifies opere; Translation: embroidered; Notes: “needlework.”
  16. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates ablative phrases; Translation: and; Notes: continues description.
  17. pulchra — Lemma: pulcher; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: modifies varietate; Translation: beautiful; Notes: aesthetic descriptor.
  18. varietate — Lemma: varietas; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: ablative of manner; Translation: variety; Notes: suggests multicolor design.
  19. contextum — Lemma: contexto; Part of Speech: participle; Form: accusative singular neuter perfect passive; Function: predicate to velum; Translation: woven; Notes: summarizes craftsmanship.

 

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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