Exodus 37:29

Posted on March 28, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 37:29 Composuit et oleum ad sanctificationis unguentum, et thymiama de aromatibus mundissimis opere pigmentarii.

And he prepared the oil for the anointing of sanctification, and the incense from the purest aromatics, by the work of a perfumer.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Composuit he prepared 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
2 et and CONJ
3 oleum oil ACC.SG.N NOUN
4 ad for PREP+ACC
5 sanctificationis of sanctification GEN.SG.F NOUN
6 unguentum ointment ACC.SG.N NOUN
7 et and CONJ
8 thymiama incense ACC.SG.N NOUN
9 de from PREP+ABL
10 aromatibus aromatics ABL.PL.N NOUN
11 mundissimis purest ABL.PL.N ADJ.SUPER
12 opere by the work ABL.SG.N NOUN
13 pigmentarii of the perfumer GEN.SG.M NOUN

Syntax

Main clause:
Composuit … oleum … unguentum — Verb composuit governs two direct objects: oleum and unguentum.

Final construction:
ad sanctificationis unguentum — “for the ointment of sanctification,” expresses intended purpose.

Coordinated object:
et thymiama — adds a second main object: incense.

Ablative of source:
de aromatibus mundissimis — “from the purest aromatics,” indicating materials used.

Ablative of means + subjective genitive:
opere pigmentarii — “by the work of a perfumer,” describes craftsmanship.

Morphology

  1. Composuit — Lemma: compono; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd singular perfect active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: he prepared; Notes: denotes careful ritual preparation.
  2. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links coordinated elements; Translation: and; Notes: simple coordinator.
  3. oleum — Lemma: oleum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object of composuit; Translation: oil; Notes: ritual anointing oil.
  4. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses purpose; Translation: for; Notes: standard final preposition.
  5. sanctificationis — Lemma: sanctificatio; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: modifies unguentum; Translation: of sanctification; Notes: describes consecratory purpose.
  6. unguentum — Lemma: unguentum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object within final phrase; Translation: ointment; Notes: refers to sacred anointing mixture.
  7. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates thymiama with preceding object; Translation: and; Notes: connects second consecrated substance.
  8. thymiama — Lemma: thymiama; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object of composuit; Translation: incense; Notes: Greek loanword for sacred incense blend.
  9. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: expresses source; Translation: from; Notes: material origin marker.
  10. aromatibus — Lemma: aromata; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural neuter; Function: object of de; Translation: aromatics; Notes: denotes fragrant substances.
  11. mundissimis — Lemma: mundus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative plural neuter superlative; Function: modifies aromatibus; Translation: purest; Notes: superlative highlights ritual purity.
  12. opere — Lemma: opus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: ablative of means; Translation: by the work; Notes: indicates craftsmanship.
  13. pigmentarii — Lemma: pigmentarius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: subjective genitive; Translation: of the perfumer; Notes: denotes skilled specialist who mixed sacred fragrances.

 

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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