Exodus 35:27

Posted on March 26, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 35:27 Principes vero obtulerunt lapides onychinos, et gemmas ad superhumerale et rationale,

But the leaders offered onyx stones and gems for the ephod and the breastpiece,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Principes leaders NOUN.NOM.PL.M.3RD DECL
2 vero indeed / but ADV
3 obtulerunt offered 3PL.PERF.ACT.IND.3RD CONJ
4 lapides stones NOUN.ACC.PL.M.3RD DECL
5 onychinos onyx ADJ.ACC.PL.M.POS
6 et and CONJ
7 gemmas gems NOUN.ACC.PL.F.1ST DECL
8 ad for PREP+ACC
9 superhumerale the ephod NOUN.ACC.SG.N.3RD DECL
10 et and CONJ
11 rationale the breastpiece NOUN.ACC.SG.N.3RD DECL

Syntax

Main Clause: Principes (subject) + obtulerunt (verb).

Objects:
lapides onychinos,
gemmas — coordinated direct objects of obtulerunt.

Prepositional Phrase:
ad superhumerale et rationale — indicates purpose: “for the ephod and the breastpiece.”

Adverb: vero adds contrastive emphasis (“but indeed”).

Morphology

  1. Principes — Lemma: princeps; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural masculine (3rd declension); Function: subject; Translation: leaders; Notes: refers to tribal or clan chiefs.
  2. vero — Lemma: vero; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: adds contrastive emphasis; Translation: indeed / but; Notes: soft adversative continuing earlier narrative.
  3. obtulerunt — Lemma: offero; Part of Speech: verb; Form: perfect active indicative 3rd plural (3rd conjugation); Function: main verb; Translation: offered; Notes: perfective aspect narrating completed action.
  4. lapides — Lemma: lapis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine (3rd declension); Function: direct object; Translation: stones; Notes: object of offering.
  5. onychinos — Lemma: onychinus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative plural masculine positive degree; Function: modifies lapides; Translation: onyx; Notes: denotes high-value ornamental stones.
  6. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: joins coordinated objects; Translation: and; Notes: simple connective.
  7. gemmas — Lemma: gemma; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural feminine (1st declension); Function: direct object; Translation: gems; Notes: additional precious materials for priestly garments.
  8. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses purpose; Translation: for; Notes: common preposition of goal or application.
  9. superhumerale — Lemma: superhumerale; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter (3rd declension); Function: object of ad; Translation: the ephod; Notes: priestly garment component.
  10. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links superhumerale and rationale; Translation: and; Notes: simple connective.
  11. rationale — Lemma: rationale; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter (3rd declension); Function: second object of ad; Translation: the breastpiece; Notes: sacred vestment set with stones.

 

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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