Exodus 32:29

Posted on March 23, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 32:29 Et ait Moyses: Consecrastis manus vestras hodie Domino, unusquisque in filio, et in fratre suo, ut detur vobis benedictio.

And Moyses said: “You have consecrated your hands today to the LORD, each one in his son and in his brother, that a blessing may be given to you.”

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Et and CONJ INDECL
2 ait he said 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND IRREG
3 Moyses Moses NOM.SG.M NOUN 2ND DECL (proper)
4 Consecrastis you have consecrated 2PL.PERF.ACT.IND 1ST CONJ
5 manus hands ACC.PL.F NOUN 4TH DECL
6 vestras your ACC.PL.F ADJ POSS
7 hodie today ADV INDECL
8 Domino to the LORD DAT.SG.M NOUN 2ND DECL
9 unusquisque each one NOM.SG.M PRON INDEF
10 in in PREP+ABL
11 filio son ABL.SG.M NOUN 2ND DECL
12 et and CONJ INDECL
13 in in PREP+ABL
14 fratre brother ABL.SG.M NOUN 3RD DECL
15 suo his ABL.SG.M ADJ POSS
16 ut so that CONJ INDECL
17 datur it may be given 3SG.PRES.SUBJ.PASS 1ST CONJ
18 vobis to you DAT.PL PRON PERS
19 benedictio blessing NOM.SG.F NOUN 3RD DECL

Syntax

Main Narrative Frame:
Et ait Moyses — introduces Moses’ declaration.
• ait = historical present for vividness.
• Moyses = subject.

Declarative Content:
Consecrastis manus vestras hodie Domino — “You have consecrated your hands today to the LORD.”
• manus vestras = direct object.
• Domino = dative of advantage (“to the LORD”).
• hodie intensifies the solemn moment.

Instrumental / Circumstantial Phrase:
unusquisque in filio et in fratre suo — “each one in his son and his brother.”
• Ablative after in expressing sphere or involvement: the consecration occurred by striking down even relatives.

Final Clause:
ut detur vobis benedictio — “so that a blessing may be given to you.”
• ut + subjunctive = purpose.
• benedictio = subject; vobis = indirect object.

Morphology

  1. Et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links narrative units; Translation: and; Notes: Standard connective particle.
  2. ait — Lemma: aio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third singular present active indicative; Function: verb of speaking; Translation: he said; Notes: Historical present providing vivid immediacy.
  3. Moyses — Lemma: Moyses; Part of Speech: noun (proper); Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject; Translation: Moses; Notes: Retains Greek/Latin declension pattern.
  4. Consecrastis — Lemma: consecro; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second plural perfect active indicative; Function: declares completed consecration; Translation: you have consecrated; Notes: Perfect marks completed ritual dedication through judgment.
  5. manus — Lemma: manus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural feminine, fourth declension; Function: direct object; Translation: hands; Notes: Symbol of action and priestly readiness.
  6. vestras — Lemma: vester; Part of Speech: possessive adjective; Form: accusative plural feminine; Function: modifies manus; Translation: your; Notes: Emphasizes personal responsibility.
  7. hodie — Lemma: hodie; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: temporal marker; Translation: today; Notes: Marks decisive covenantal moment.
  8. Domino — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: dative singular masculine; Function: indirect object; Translation: to the LORD; Notes: Because this refers to YHWH, “LORD” is required.
  9. unusquisque — Lemma: unusquisque; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of implicit participial idea; Translation: each one; Notes: Stresses individual participation in the consecratory act.
  10. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: sphere/involvement; Translation: in; Notes: Indicates sphere of the action, not physical location.
  11. filio — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: object of in; Translation: son; Notes: Indicates willingness to execute judgment even upon kin.
  12. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates parallel phrases; Translation: and; Notes: Balances the two kin terms.
  13. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: introduces second sphere term; Translation: in; Notes: Repetition strengthens rhetorical weight.
  14. fratre — Lemma: frater; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: object of in; Translation: brother; Notes: Indicates even closer relational sacrifice for covenant loyalty.
  15. suo — Lemma: suus; Part of Speech: possessive adjective; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: modifies fratre; Translation: his own; Notes: Reflexive possession referring to each individual.
  16. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces purpose clause; Translation: so that; Notes: Marks divine intention.
  17. datur — Lemma: do; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third singular present subjunctive passive; Function: verb of purpose clause; Translation: may be given; Notes: Passive emphasizes divine agency in bestowing blessing.
  18. vobis — Lemma: vos; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: dative plural; Function: indirect object; Translation: to you; Notes: Refers to the Levites as the beneficiaries.
  19. benedictio — Lemma: benedictio; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: subject of datur; Translation: blessing; Notes: The covenantal reward for zeal.

 

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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