Exodus 39:2

Posted on March 30, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 39:2 Fecit igitur superhumerale de auro, hyacintho, et purpura, coccoque bis tincto, et bysso retorta,

He therefore made the ephod of gold, hyacinth, and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, and twisted fine linen,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Fecit made 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND.3RD CONJ
2 igitur therefore ADV
3 superhumerale ephod NOUN.ACC.SG.N
4 de of / from PREP+ABL
5 auro gold NOUN.ABL.SG.N
6 hyacintho hyacinth (blue cloth) NOUN.ABL.SG.M
7 et and CONJ
8 purpura purple NOUN.ABL.SG.F
9 coccoque and scarlet NOUN.ABL.SG.M
10 bis twice ADV
11 tincto dyed PTCP.PERF.PASS.ABL.SG.M
12 et and CONJ
13 bysso fine linen NOUN.ABL.SG.F
14 retorta twisted PTCP.PERF.PASS.ABL.SG.F

Syntax

The main clause consists of Fecit igitur superhumerale, where Fecit is the perfect active verb, the implied subject is “he,” and superhumerale is the direct object. The adverb igitur provides a logical connective (“therefore”), linking this action to preceding instructions.

The prepositional phrase de auro, hyacintho, et purpura, coccoque bis tincto, et bysso retorta specifies the materials of which the ephod was constructed. The preposition de governs a coordinated series of ablatives functioning as an ablative of material.

The elements bis tincto (“twice-dyed”) and retorta (“twisted”) are perfect passive participles modifying cocco and bysso respectively, each agreeing in case, number, and gender, further describing the quality and preparation of these fabrics.

Morphology

  1. Fecit — Lemma: facio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular perfect active indicative, third conjugation; Function: Main verb; Translation: made; Notes: Perfect tense indicates a completed action of constructing the ephod.
  2. igitur — Lemma: igitur; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Invariable; Function: Logical connective; Translation: therefore; Notes: Links this action to earlier narrative instructions.
  3. superhumerale — Lemma: superhumerale; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative singular neuter, third declension; Function: Direct object of Fecit; Translation: ephod; Notes: A priestly garment central to Aaron’s attire.
  4. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governing the ablative; Function: Introduces an ablative of material; Translation: of / from; Notes: Specifies the composition of the ephod.
  5. auro — Lemma: aurum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular neuter, second declension; Function: Ablative of material; Translation: gold; Notes: Denotes actual gold threads or plating used in the garment.
  6. hyacintho — Lemma: hyacinthus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular masculine, second declension; Function: Material ablative; Translation: hyacinth (blue cloth); Notes: Refers to blue-dyed fabric common in priestly vestments.
  7. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Coordinating; Function: Connects items in the materials list; Translation: and; Notes: Simple additive connector.
  8. purpura — Lemma: purpura; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular feminine, first declension; Function: Ablative of material; Translation: purple; Notes: Signifies expensive purple-dyed cloth associated with sacred attire.
  9. coccoque — Lemma: coccus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular masculine, second declension; Function: Ablative of material; Translation: and scarlet; Notes: The enclitic -que joins this item to the preceding materials.
  10. bis — Lemma: bis; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Invariable; Function: Modifies tincto; Translation: twice; Notes: Indicates double dyeing for deeper color saturation.
  11. tincto — Lemma: tingo; Part of Speech: Participle; Form: Perfect passive participle, ablative singular masculine, third conjugation; Function: Adjectival modifier of cocco; Translation: dyed; Notes: Agrees with cocco in gender, number, and case.
  12. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Coordinating; Function: Connects bysso to the preceding series; Translation: and; Notes: Continues the materials list.
  13. bysso — Lemma: byssus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular feminine (treated as feminine), second declension; Function: Ablative of material; Translation: fine linen; Notes: A high-quality textile used in priestly garments.
  14. retorta — Lemma: retorqueo; Part of Speech: Participle; Form: Perfect passive participle, ablative singular feminine, second conjugation; Function: Adjectival modifier of bysso; Translation: twisted; Notes: Describes twisted or spun fine linen threads, emphasizing craftsmanship.

 

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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