Exodus 39:33

Posted on March 30, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 39:33 opertorium de pellibus arietum rubricatis, et aliud operimentum de ianthinis pellibus,

the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and another covering of violet skins,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 opertorium covering NOUN.ACC.SG.N
2 de of / from PREP+ABL
3 pellibus skins NOUN.ABL.PL.F
4 arietum of rams NOUN.GEN.PL.M
5 rubricatis dyed red PTCP.ABL.PL.F
6 et and CONJ
7 aliud another ADJ.ACC.SG.N
8 operimentum covering NOUN.ACC.SG.N
9 de of / from PREP+ABL
10 ianthinis violet ADJ.ABL.PL.F
11 pellibus skins NOUN.ABL.PL.F

Syntax

This verse continues the catalog of tabernacle components, listing coverings presented to Moses.
The accusative opertorium is the first object, expanded by the ablative material phrase de pellibus arietum rubricatis (“of rams’ skins dyed red”).

A second object follows: aliud operimentum (“another covering”), likewise expanded by de ianthinis pellibus (“of violet skins”).
The structure is strictly parallel, producing a balanced two-part list.

Morphology

  1. opertorium — Lemma: opertorium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter, second declension; Function: direct object; Translation: covering; Notes: refers to one of the outer coverings of the tabernacle.
  2. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: ablative of material; Translation: of; Notes: introduces the substance from which the covering is made.
  3. pellibus — Lemma: pellis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural feminine, third declension; Function: object of de; Translation: skins; Notes: typical leather covering material in tabernacle construction.
  4. arietum — Lemma: aries; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive plural masculine; Function: genitive of possession/description; Translation: of rams; Notes: identifies the animal source of the skins.
  5. rubricatis — Lemma: rubricatus; Part of Speech: participle; Form: ablative plural feminine, perfect passive participle; Function: modifies pellibus; Translation: dyed red; Notes: refers to skins treated with red dye; rubricatus derives from rubrica (“red ochre”).
  6. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: joins the second item in the list; Translation: and; Notes: continues coordinated enumeration.
  7. aliud — Lemma: alius; Part of Speech: adjective/pronoun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: modifies operimentum; Translation: another; Notes: contrasts this covering with the previous one.
  8. operimentum — Lemma: operimentum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object; Translation: covering; Notes: another layer used for the sanctuary enclosure.
  9. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: ablative of material; Translation: of; Notes: introduces material description for the second covering.
  10. ianthinis — Lemma: ianthinus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative plural feminine; Function: modifies pellibus; Translation: violet; Notes: “ianthinus” means violet-colored, distinct from hyacinthinus (blue-violet).
  11. pellibus — Lemma: pellis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural feminine; Function: object of de; Translation: skins; Notes: repetition for parallel structure.

 

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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