Exodus 38:19

Posted on March 29, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 38:19 Columnæ autem in ingressu fuere quattuor cum basibus æneis, capitaque earum et cælaturæ argenteæ.

But the columns at the entrance were four, with bronze bases, and their capitals and engravings were silver.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Columnæ columns NOM.PL.F NOUN
2 autem however CONJ
3 in in PREP+ABL
4 ingressu entrance ABL.SG.M NOUN
5 fuere were 3PL.PERF.ACT.IND
6 quattuor four INDECL.NUM
7 cum with PREP+ABL
8 basibus bases ABL.PL.F NOUN
9 æneis bronze ABL.PL.F ADJ
10 capitaque and capitals NOM.PL.N NOUN + ENCLITIC -QUE
11 earum of them GEN.PL.F PRON.POSS
12 et and CONJ
13 cælaturæ engravings NOM.PL.F NOUN
14 argenteæ silver NOM.PL.F ADJ

Syntax

Contrastive subject:
Columnæ autem — introduces a new part of the construction with a mild contrast.

Locative phrase:
in ingressu — “at the entrance,” specifying the placement of these four columns.

Main clause:
fuere quattuor — “were four,” stating the total number.

Accompaniment phrase:
cum basibus æneis — the columns had bronze bases.

Coordinated nominatives:
capitaque earum et cælaturæ argenteæ — “and their capitals and engravings were silver,” a second predicate describing ornamentation.

Morphology

  1. Columnæ — Lemma: columna; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural feminine; Function: subject; Translation: columns; Notes: structural supports at the tabernacle entrance.
  2. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: mild contrast; Translation: however; Notes: introduces a detail distinct from the preceding verse.
  3. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: locative; Translation: in/at; Notes: marks spatial position.
  4. ingressu — Lemma: ingressus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: complement of in; Translation: entrance; Notes: refers to the eastern entry of the courtyard.
  5. fuere — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd plural perfect active indicative (contracted); Function: main verb; Translation: were; Notes: formal narrative style.
  6. quattuor — Lemma: quattuor; Part of Speech: numeral; Form: indeclinable; Function: quantifies subject; Translation: four; Notes: total number of entry columns.
  7. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: accompaniment; Translation: with; Notes: links columns to their bases.
  8. basibus — Lemma: basis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural feminine; Function: complement of cum; Translation: bases; Notes: foundational elements supporting the columns.
  9. æneis — Lemma: aeneus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative plural feminine; Function: modifies basibus; Translation: bronze; Notes: describes the metal used.
  10. capitaque — Lemma: caput; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural neuter; Function: coordinated subject; Translation: and capitals; Notes: -que links to following element.
  11. earum — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: possessive pronoun; Form: genitive plural feminine; Function: modifies capita; Translation: of them; Notes: refers back to columnæ.
  12. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: adds coordinated element; Translation: and; Notes: simple coordinator.
  13. cælaturæ — Lemma: cælatura; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural feminine; Function: coordinated subject; Translation: engravings; Notes: decorative metalwork details.
  14. argenteæ — Lemma: argenteus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative plural feminine; Function: predicate adjective; Translation: silver; Notes: identifies the metal used for capitals and engravings.

 

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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