Exodus 39:36

Posted on March 30, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 39:36 candelabrum, lucernas, et utensilia earum cum oleo:

the lampstand, the lamps, and their utensils with the oil;

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 candelabrum lampstand NOUN.ACC.SG.N
2 lucernas lamps NOUN.ACC.PL.F
3 et and CONJ
4 utensilia utensils NOUN.ACC.PL.N
5 earum of them / their PRON.GEN.PL.F.REFL
6 cum with PREP+ABL
7 oleo oil NOUN.ABL.SG.N

Syntax

This verse segment continues the inventory of sacred objects presented to Moses.
All items are in the accusative, functioning as additional direct objects governed by the earlier verb obtulerunt (“they presented”).

The list contains:

  • candelabrum — the central seven-branched lampstand;
  • lucernas — the individual lamps placed on its branches;
  • utensilia earum — the implements used with those lamps (wick trimmers, fire pans, etc.);
  • cum oleo — an ablative of accompaniment/instrument indicating the oil provided with the lamps.

The syntax is an additive list without subordination, echoing the Hebrew source’s enumerative style.

Morphology

  1. candelabrum — Lemma: candelabrum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter, second declension; Function: direct object; Translation: lampstand; Notes: denotes the Menorah, central source of light in the sanctuary.
  2. lucernas — Lemma: lucerna; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural feminine, first declension; Function: direct object; Translation: lamps; Notes: individual lamps placed on the branches.
  3. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: adds items in the list; Translation: and; Notes: simple coordination.
  4. utensilia — Lemma: utensile; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter, third declension; Function: direct object; Translation: utensils; Notes: instruments used in maintaining the lamps.
  5. earum — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: genitive plural feminine, reflexive; Function: modifies utensilia; Translation: of them / their; Notes: refers back to lucernas.
  6. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: accompaniment/instrument; Translation: with; Notes: marks included material.
  7. oleo — Lemma: oleum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter, second declension; Function: object of cum; Translation: oil; Notes: refers to the pure olive oil for the lamps.

 

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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