Exodus 28:5

Posted on March 19, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 28:5 Accipientque aurum, et hyacinthum, et purpuram, coccumque bis tinctum, et byssum.

And they shall receive gold, and hyacinth-blue, and purple, and scarlet twice-dyed, and fine linen.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Accipientque and they shall receive 3PL.FUT.ACT.IND + ENCLITIC -QUE, 3RD CONJ
2 aurum gold ACC.SG.N, 2ND DECL, NOUN
3 et and CONJ
4 hyacinthum hyacinth-blue ACC.SG.N, 2ND DECL, NOUN
5 et and CONJ
6 purpuram purple ACC.SG.F, 1ST DECL, NOUN
7 coccumque and scarlet ACC.SG.M, 2ND DECL, NOUN + ENCLITIC -QUE
8 bis twice ADV.INDECL
9 tinctum dyed ACC.SG.M, PTCP.PERF.PASS
10 et and CONJ
11 byssum fine linen ACC.SG.F, 1ST DECL, NOUN (VARIANT FORM)

Syntax

Main Clause:
Accipientque — future indicative with enclitic -que (“and they shall receive”), the only finite verb.
The direct objects form a coordinated series:
aurum, hyacinthum, purpuram, coccum bis tinctum, byssum.
The phrase bis tinctum modifies coccum (“scarlet twice-dyed”).

No subordinate clauses occur; the structure is a simple command narrative listing items to be received for craftsmanship.

Morphology

  1. Accipientque — Lemma: accipio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd person plural future active indicative with enclitic -que; Function: main verb linking to previous commands; Translation: and they shall receive; Notes: enclitic -que connects this action to the preceding verse.
  2. aurum — Lemma: aurum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter, 2nd declension; Function: direct object; Translation: gold; Notes: primary material for sacred articles.
  3. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates objects; Translation: and; Notes: simple connective.
  4. hyacinthum — Lemma: hyacinthus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter, 2nd declension; Function: direct object; Translation: hyacinth-blue; Notes: refers to blue dye or fabric.
  5. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: connector; Translation: and; Notes: links hyacinthum and purpuram.
  6. purpuram — Lemma: purpura; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine, 1st declension; Function: direct object; Translation: purple; Notes: expensive dye, symbol of royalty.
  7. coccumque — Lemma: coccus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine, 2nd declension + enclitic -que; Function: direct object; Translation: and scarlet; Notes: enclitic -que joins it closely to purpuram.
  8. bis — Lemma: bis; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: adverb modifying tinctum; Translation: twice; Notes: intensifies the dyeing action.
  9. tinctum — Lemma: tingo; Part of Speech: participle; Form: accusative singular masculine perfect passive participle; Function: modifies coccum; Translation: dyed; Notes: emphasizes high-quality scarlet dyeing.
  10. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: connects final item; Translation: and; Notes: continues series.
  11. byssum — Lemma: byssus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine (variant), 1st declension; Function: direct object; Translation: fine linen; Notes: a high-grade linen used for sacred vestments.

 

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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