Exodus 30:25

Posted on March 21, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 30:25 faciesque unctionis oleum sanctum, unguentum compositum opere unguentarii,

and you shall make the holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded with the work of the perfumer,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 faciesque and you shall make 2SG.FUT.ACT.IND 3RD CONJ + CONJ
2 unctionis of anointing GEN.SG.F NOUN 3RD DECL
3 oleum oil ACC.SG.N NOUN 2ND DECL
4 sanctum holy ACC.SG.N ADJ POS
5 unguentum ointment ACC.SG.N NOUN 2ND DECL
6 compositum compounded ACC.SG.N PTCP.PERF.PASS
7 opere with the work ABL.SG.N NOUN 3RD DECL
8 unguentarii of the perfumer GEN.SG.M NOUN 2ND DECL

Syntax

Main Command: faciesque unctionis oleum sanctum — directive to create the holy anointing oil.
Apposition: unguentum compositum — further defining the oil as a compounded ointment.
Ablative of Means: opere unguentarii — “by the work of the perfumer,” describing expert craftsmanship.

Morphology

  1. faciesque — Lemma: facio + que; Part of Speech: verb + enclitic conjunction; Form: future active indicative second singular; Function: main verb of command; Translation: and you shall make; Notes: -que tightly joins this instruction to the previous verse.
  2. unctionis — Lemma: unctio; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: modifies oleum; Translation: of anointing; Notes: technical cultic term.
  3. oleum — Lemma: oleum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object of facies; Translation: oil; Notes: base substance of the holy mixture.
  4. sanctum — Lemma: sanctus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: modifies oleum; Translation: holy; Notes: denotes consecrated usage.
  5. unguentum — Lemma: unguentum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: in apposition to oleum sanctum; Translation: ointment; Notes: restates identity of the oil.
  6. compositum — Lemma: compono; Part of Speech: participle; Form: accusative singular neuter perfect passive participle; Function: modifies unguentum; Translation: compounded; Notes: indicates careful ritual preparation.
  7. opere — Lemma: opus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: ablative of means; Translation: with the work; Notes: instrumental usage.
  8. unguentarii — Lemma: unguentarius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: modifies opere; Translation: of the perfumer; Notes: identifies expert crafting source.

 

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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