Exodus 37:6

Posted on March 28, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 37:6 Fecit et propitiatorium, idest, oraculum, de auro mundissimo, duorum cubitorum et dimidii in longitudine, et cubiti ac semis in latitudine.

He also made the propitiatory, that is, the oracle, of the purest gold, two and a half cubits in length, and a cubit and a half in width.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Fecit he made 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
2 et also CONJ
3 propitiatorium propitiatory ACC.SG.N NOUN
4 idest that is ADV/EXPL.INDECL
5 oraculum oracle ACC.SG.N NOUN
6 de of / from PREP+ABL
7 auro gold ABL.SG.N NOUN
8 mundissimo very pure ABL.SG.N ADJ.SUPER
9 duorum two GEN.PL.M NUM
10 cubitorum cubits GEN.PL.M NOUN
11 et and CONJ
12 dimidii of a half GEN.SG.M ADJ
13 in in PREP+ABL
14 longitudine length ABL.SG.F NOUN
15 et and CONJ
16 cubiti cubit GEN.SG.M NOUN
17 ac and CONJ
18 semis half NOM.SG.M NUM.INDECL
19 in in PREP+ABL
20 latitudine width ABL.SG.F NOUN

Syntax

Main Clause:
Fecit et propitiatorium — “He also made the propitiatory.”
• fecit = verb.
• propitiatorium = direct object.
• et = additive.

Explanatory Apposition:
idest oraculum — “that is, the oracle.”
• oraculum restates and clarifies propitiatorium.

Material Phrase:
de auro mundissimo — “of the purest gold.”
• ablative of material.

Measurement Phrases:
duorum cubitorum et dimidii in longitudine — “two and a half cubits in length.”
cubiti ac semis in latitudine — “a cubit and a half in width.”

Morphology

  1. Fecit — Lemma: facio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd person singular perfect active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: he made; Notes: narrative perfect typical in Exodus craftsmanship.
  2. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: adds a new crafted item; Translation: also; Notes: continues catalogue of components.
  3. propitiatorium — Lemma: propitiatorium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object; Translation: propitiatory; Notes: the mercy-seat covering the ark.
  4. idest — Lemma: id est; Part of Speech: explanatory particle; Form: invariant; Function: introduces clarification; Translation: that is; Notes: common Latin gloss marker.
  5. oraculum — Lemma: oraculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: apposition to propitiatorium; Translation: oracle; Notes: identifies the place of divine communication.
  6. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: expresses material; Translation: of; Notes: standard in descriptions of craftsmanship.
  7. auro — Lemma: aurum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: material; Translation: gold; Notes: identifies substance.
  8. mundissimo — Lemma: mundus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular neuter superlative; Function: modifies auro; Translation: purest; Notes: SUPER (superlative degree).
  9. duorum — Lemma: duo; Part of Speech: numeral; Form: genitive plural masculine; Function: partitive measure; Translation: of two; Notes: used in genitive of measure.
  10. cubitorum — Lemma: cubitus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive plural masculine; Function: complements duorum; Translation: cubits; Notes: length measure.
  11. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links measure; Translation: and; Notes: coordination.
  12. dimidii — Lemma: dimidius; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: fractional addition; Translation: of a half; Notes: measurement usage.
  13. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: introduces dimension; Translation: in; Notes: standard dimension marker.
  14. longitudine — Lemma: longitudo; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: specification; Translation: length; Notes: ablative of respect.
  15. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: joins second dimension; Translation: and; Notes: coordination.
  16. cubiti — Lemma: cubitus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: measurement; Translation: of a cubit; Notes: measurement genitive.
  17. ac — Lemma: ac; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links cubiti and semis; Translation: and; Notes: classical connective.
  18. semis — Lemma: semis; Part of Speech: numeral noun; Form: nominative singular masculine (indeclinable); Function: fractional unit; Translation: half; Notes: used in architectural proportions.
  19. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: dimension marker; Translation: in; Notes: parallel structure.
  20. latitudine — Lemma: latitudo; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: dimension; Translation: width; Notes: ablative of respect.

 

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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