Exodus 39:23

Posted on March 30, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 39:23 et tintinnabula de auro purissimo, quæ posuerunt inter malogranata in extrema parte tunicæ per gyrum:

and small bells of the purest gold, which they placed between the pomegranates on the lower edge of the tunic all around;

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 et and CONJ
2 tintinnabula small bells NOUN.ACC.PL.N
3 de of / from PREP+ABL
4 auro gold NOUN.ABL.SG.N
5 purissimo very pure ADJ.ABL.SG.N.SUPER
6 quæ which PRON.NOM.PL.N.REL
7 posuerunt they placed 3PL.PERF.ACT.IND.3RD CONJ
8 inter between PREP+ACC
9 malogranata pomegranates NOUN.ACC.PL.N
10 in in / on PREP+ABL
11 extrema outer / lower ADJ.ABL.SG.F
12 parte edge / part NOUN.ABL.SG.F
13 tunicæ of the tunic NOUN.GEN.SG.F
14 per around PREP+ACC
15 gyrum circumference NOUN.ACC.SG.M

Syntax

The main coordinated object is tintinnabula (“small bells”), with et linking this clause to the prior description of the tunic’s hem.

The phrase de auro purissimo (“of the purest gold”) describes the material of the bells using an ablative of material.

The relative pronoun quæ introduces a relative clause (quæ posuerunt…) describing the placement of the bells.

The prepositional phrase inter malogranata indicates that the bells alternated with the pomegranate decorations along the hem.

The location is further defined by in extrema parte tunicæ (“on the lower edge of the tunic”), followed by per gyrum (“around its entire circumference”).

Morphology

  1. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: links this clause with the previous description; Translation: and; Notes: standard connective coordinating garment features.
  2. tintinnabula — Lemma: tintinnabulum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter, second declension; Function: direct object; Translation: small bells; Notes: refers to the golden bells sewn along the priest’s robe.
  3. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: specifies material; Translation: of / from; Notes: introduces ablative of material.
  4. auro — Lemma: aurum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: object of de; Translation: gold; Notes: literal precious-metal reference.
  5. purissimo — Lemma: purissimus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular neuter, superlative; Function: modifies auro; Translation: very pure; Notes: SUPER is the correct tag for the superlative degree.
  6. quæ — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: nominative plural neuter, relative; Function: subject of the relative clause; Translation: which; Notes: agrees with tintinnabula in number and gender.
  7. posuerunt — Lemma: pono; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person plural perfect active indicative, third conjugation; Function: verb of the relative clause; Translation: they placed; Notes: continues the narrative of garment construction.
  8. inter — Lemma: inter; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses position between objects; Translation: between; Notes: indicates alternating decorations.
  9. malogranata — Lemma: malogranatum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter, second declension; Function: object of inter; Translation: pomegranates; Notes: ornamental textile shapes.
  10. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: indicates fixed location; Translation: in / on; Notes: marks spatial placement.
  11. extrema — Lemma: extremus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: modifies parte; Translation: outer / lower; Notes: indicates a garment’s hemline.
  12. parte — Lemma: pars; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: object of in; Translation: part / edge; Notes: refers to the hem area of the tunic.
  13. tunicæ — Lemma: tunica; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: dependent genitive; Translation: of the tunic; Notes: identifies which garment’s hem is described.
  14. per — Lemma: per; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses extent; Translation: around; Notes: indicates full circular distribution.
  15. gyrum — Lemma: gyrus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: object of per; Translation: circumference; Notes: conveys the idea of a completely encircling decoration.

 

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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