Exodus 39:11

Posted on March 30, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 39:11 In secundo, carbunculus, sapphirus, et iaspis.

In the second row, a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 In in PREP+ABL
2 secundo second ADJ.ABL.SG.M
3 carbunculus carbuncle NOUN.NOM.SG.M
4 sapphirus sapphire NOUN.NOM.SG.M
5 et and CONJ
6 iaspis jasper NOUN.NOM.SG.F

Syntax

The phrase begins with the prepositional expression In secundo, an ablative of location indicating the second row of the breastpiece.

The stones carbunculus, sapphirus, and iaspis stand in the nominative as the items contained in that row.

The conjunction et links the final item in the list of stones.

Morphology

  1. In — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governing the ablative; Function: Indicates location; Translation: in; Notes: Refers to placement within the rows of the breastpiece.
  2. secundo — Lemma: secundus; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Ablative singular masculine, first/second declension; Function: Modifies an implied noun (versu); Translation: second; Notes: Specifies the position of the row.
  3. carbunculus — Lemma: carbunculus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine, second declension; Function: Subject complement; Translation: carbuncle; Notes: Probably a glittering red gemstone such as garnet.
  4. sapphirus — Lemma: sapphirus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine, second declension; Function: Subject complement; Translation: sapphire; Notes: Ancient “sapphirus” may refer to lapis lazuli rather than modern sapphire.
  5. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable; Function: Links final item in series; Translation: and; Notes: Simple coordinating conjunction.
  6. iaspis — Lemma: iaspis; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative singular feminine, third declension; Function: Subject complement; Translation: jasper; Notes: A stone of various colors, commonly green in antiquity.

 

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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