Ex 39:27 feminalia quoque linea, byssina:
and also linen drawers, of fine linen;
| # |
Latin |
Gloss |
Grammar Tag |
| 1 |
feminalia |
drawers / breeches |
NOUN.ACC.PL.N |
| 2 |
quoque |
also |
ADV |
| 3 |
linea |
linen |
ADJ.ACC.PL.N |
| 4 |
byssina |
fine linen |
ADJ.ACC.PL.N |
Syntax
The direct object feminalia (“drawers / breeches”) is governed by the implied verb “they made” from the preceding verse.
The adverb quoque (“also”) adds these garments to the list of priestly attire.
The adjectives linea and byssina both modify feminalia, describing the material:
- linea — “linen” (from flax)
- byssina — “fine linen” (costly, high-quality textile)
Together they emphasize both the material and quality of the garment.
Morphology
- feminalia — Lemma: feminalia; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter, plural-only noun (neuter plural ending -alia); Function: direct object; Translation: drawers / breeches; Notes: priestly undergarments required for modesty.
- quoque — Lemma: quoque; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: adds this item to the list; Translation: also; Notes: identifies continuity with preceding garments.
- linea — Lemma: lineus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: modifies feminalia; Translation: linen; Notes: refers to material made from flax.
- byssina — Lemma: byssinus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: modifies feminalia; Translation: fine linen; Notes: denotes high-grade linen used for sacred vestments.
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.