Exodus 35:23

Posted on March 26, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 35:23 Si quis habebat hyacinthum, et purpuram, coccumque bis tinctum, byssum et pilos caprarum, pelles arietum rubricatas, et ianthinas,

If anyone had hyacinth, and purple, and scarlet twice-dyed, fine linen and the hair of goats, the skins of rams dyed red, and violet skins,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Si if CONJ
2 quis anyone PRON.INDEF.NOM.SG.M/F
3 habebat had 3SG.IMP.ACT.IND.2ND CONJ
4 hyacinthum hyacinth (blue cloth) NOUN.ACC.SG.N.2ND DECL
5 et and CONJ
6 purpuram purple NOUN.ACC.SG.F.1ST DECL
7 coccumque and scarlet NOUN.ACC.SG.N.2ND DECL + ENCLITIC -QUE
8 bis twice ADV
9 tinctum dyed PTCP.PERF.PASS.ACC.SG.N
10 byssum fine linen NOUN.ACC.SG.F.1ST DECL
11 et and CONJ
12 pilos hairs NOUN.ACC.PL.M.2ND DECL
13 caprarum of goats NOUN.GEN.PL.F.1ST DECL
14 pelles skins NOUN.ACC.PL.F.3RD DECL
15 arietum of rams NOUN.GEN.PL.M.2ND DECL
16 rubricatas dyed red PTCP.PERF.PASS.ACC.PL.F
17 et and CONJ
18 ianthinas violet (skins) ADJ.ACC.PL.F.POS

Syntax

Main Clause: quis (subject) + habebat (verb).

Objects:
hyacinthum, purpuram, coccum + tinctum (as participial modifier),
byssum, pilos caprarum,
pelles arietum rubricatas,
ianthinas.

Phrases:
bis — adverb modifying tinctum.

Morphology

  1. Si — Lemma: si; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces conditional clause; Translation: if; Notes: standard conditional marker.
  2. quis — Lemma: quis; Part of Speech: indefinite pronoun; Form: nominative singular common gender; Function: subject; Translation: anyone; Notes: indefinite sense dictated by context.
  3. habebat — Lemma: habeo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: imperfect active indicative 3rd singular (2nd conjugation); Function: main verb; Translation: had; Notes: denotes habitual or general possession.
  4. hyacinthum — Lemma: hyacinthus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object; Translation: hyacinth (blue cloth); Notes: textile term in cultic materials.
  5. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links objects; Translation: and; Notes: simple copulative.
  6. purpuram — Lemma: purpura; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: direct object; Translation: purple; Notes: textile/dye terminology.
  7. coccumque — Lemma: coccum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter + enclitic -que; Function: direct object; Translation: and scarlet; Notes: enclitic joins tightly with previous object.
  8. bis — Lemma: bis; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: modifies participle; Translation: twice; Notes: indicates multiple dyeing.
  9. tinctum — Lemma: tingo; Part of Speech: participle; Form: perfect passive participle accusative singular neuter; Function: modifies coccum; Translation: dyed; Notes: agrees with neuter noun.
  10. byssum — Lemma: byssus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: direct object; Translation: fine linen; Notes: high-quality cultic material.
  11. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links objects; Translation: and; Notes: simple connective.
  12. pilos — Lemma: pilus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: hairs; Notes: part of goat-hair material for tabernacle fabrics.
  13. caprarum — Lemma: capra; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive plural feminine; Function: genitive of possession; Translation: of goats; Notes: modifies pilos.
  14. pelles — Lemma: pellis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural feminine; Function: direct object; Translation: skins; Notes: sacrificial animal hides used in coverings.
  15. arietum — Lemma: aries; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive plural masculine; Function: genitive of origin/possession; Translation: of rams; Notes: specifies source of skins.
  16. rubricatas — Lemma: rubrico; Part of Speech: participle; Form: perfect passive participle accusative plural feminine; Function: modifies pelles; Translation: dyed red; Notes: agrees in gender, number, case.
  17. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links adjectives; Translation: and; Notes: continues list.
  18. ianthinas — Lemma: ianthinus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative plural feminine; Function: modifier (understood: pelles); Translation: violet; Notes: color-term used for dyed hides.

 

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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