Exodus 39:28

Posted on March 30, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 39:28 cingulum vero de bysso retorta, hyacintho, purpura, ac vermiculo bis tincto arte plumaria, sicut præceperat Dominus Moysi.

and the sash of twisted fine linen, violet, purple, and double-dyed scarlet, in embroiderer’s work, just as the LORD had commanded Moyses.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 cingulum sash NOUN.NOM.SG.N
2 vero but / moreover ADV
3 de of / from PREP+ABL
4 bysso fine linen NOUN.ABL.SG.F
5 retorta twisted PTCP.ABL.SG.F
6 hyacintho violet NOUN.ABL.SG.M/N
7 purpura purple NOUN.ABL.SG.F
8 ac and CONJ
9 vermiculo scarlet NOUN.ABL.SG.M
10 bis twice ADV
11 tincto dyed PTCP.ABL.SG.M
12 arte in the craft NOUN.ABL.SG.F
13 plumaria of embroidery ADJ.ABL.SG.F
14 sicut just as CONJ
15 præceperat had commanded 3SG.PLUP.ACT.IND.1ST CONJ
16 Dominus the LORD NOUN.NOM.SG.M
17 Moysi to Moses NOUN.DAT.SG.M

Syntax

The nominative cingulum (“the sash”) acts as the subject of the implied verb “was made,” continuing the descriptive inventory of sacred garments.
vero adds a mild contrast or transition (“now / moreover”).

The ablative construction de bysso retorta (“of twisted fine linen”) expresses the primary material, while additional ablatives hyacintho, purpura, vermiculo bis tincto list the colored threads incorporated into the sash.

The instrumental ablative arte plumaria (“in the embroiderer’s art”) describes the manner or craftsmanship.

The clause sicut præceperat Dominus Moysi confirms compliance with divine instruction.

Morphology

  1. cingulum — Lemma: cingulum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular neuter, second declension; Function: subject; Translation: sash; Notes: refers to the priestly girdle worn around the waist.
  2. vero — Lemma: vero; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: transitional modifier; Translation: moreover; Notes: softens a shift to a new garment description.
  3. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: ablative of material; Translation: of; Notes: introduces the main textile substance.
  4. bysso — Lemma: byssus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: object of de; Translation: fine linen; Notes: denotes costly linen used in sacred garments.
  5. retorta — Lemma: retortus; Part of Speech: participle; Form: ablative singular feminine, perfect passive participle; Function: modifies bysso; Translation: twisted; Notes: describes the linen threads as spun/twisted.
  6. hyacintho — Lemma: hyacinthus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine/neuter; Function: ablative of material; Translation: violet; Notes: refers to the sacred blue-violet dye found throughout priestly vestments.
  7. purpura — Lemma: purpura; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: ablative of material; Translation: purple; Notes: expensive dye associated with high status.
  8. ac — Lemma: ac; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: connects final items in a close series; Translation: and; Notes: a tighter bond than et.
  9. vermiculo — Lemma: vermiculus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: ablative of material; Translation: scarlet; Notes: scarlet dye derived from kermes insects.
  10. bis — Lemma: bis; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: modifies tincto; Translation: twice; Notes: indicates double-dyeing for deeper color.
  11. tincto — Lemma: tingo; Part of Speech: participle; Form: ablative singular masculine, perfect passive participle; Function: modifies vermiculo; Translation: dyed; Notes: describes the state of the scarlet thread.
  12. arte — Lemma: ars; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: ablative of manner; Translation: in the craft; Notes: refers to the method of workmanship.
  13. plumaria — Lemma: plumarius; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: modifies arte; Translation: of embroidery; Notes: denotes intricate needlework, feather-like stitching.
  14. sicut — Lemma: sicut; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces comparative clause; Translation: just as; Notes: signals conformity to divine instruction.
  15. præceperat — Lemma: praecipio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular pluperfect active indicative, first conjugation; Function: verb of subordinate clause; Translation: had commanded; Notes: action completed prior to construction.
  16. Dominus — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of præceperat; Translation: the LORD; Notes: refers to YHWH, rendered “LORD” per project rule.
  17. Moysi — Lemma: Moyses; Part of Speech: noun; Form: dative singular masculine; Function: indirect object; Translation: to Moses; Notes: recipient of the divine command.

 

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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