Exodus 39:4

Posted on March 30, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 39:4 duasque oras sibi invicem copulatas in utroque latere summitatum,

and two edges, joined to one another, on each side of the upper parts,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 duasque and two ADJ.ACC.PL.F
2 oras edges NOUN.ACC.PL.F
3 sibi to themselves PRON.DAT.SG/PL.REFL
4 invicem to one another ADV
5 copulatas joined PTCP.PERF.PASS.ACC.PL.F
6 in on PREP+ABL
7 utroque each ADJ.ABL.SG.M/N
8 latere side NOUN.ABL.SG.N
9 summitatum of the upper parts NOUN.GEN.PL.F

Syntax

The construction begins with duasque oras, a coordinated adjective–noun phrase functioning as the direct object of an implied verb drawn from the previous context (“he made”). The enclitic -que joins this phrase to the prior description of the ephod.

The reflexive pronoun sibi and adverb invicem together form a reciprocal expression (“to one another”), modifying the participle copulatas. Thus, sibi invicem copulatas describes the state of the two edges as mutually joined.

The prepositional phrase in utroque latere summitatum specifies the location of these joined edges: “on each side of the upper parts.” Here in governs the ablative utroque latere, while summitatum is a dependent genitive indicating the part of the garment involved.

Morphology

  1. duasque — Lemma: duo; Part of Speech: Adjective (numeral); Form: Accusative plural feminine; Function: Modifies oras; Translation: and two; Notes: Enclitic -que links this phrase to the preceding clause.
  2. oras — Lemma: ora; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative plural feminine, first declension; Function: Direct object; Translation: edges; Notes: Refers to the extremities or borders of the priestly garment.
  3. sibi — Lemma: sui; Part of Speech: Reflexive pronoun; Form: Dative singular/plural; Function: Forms reciprocal phrase with invicem; Translation: to themselves; Notes: Standard reflexive pronoun used for mutual or internal reference.
  4. invicem — Lemma: invicem; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Invariable; Function: Indicates reciprocal action; Translation: to one another; Notes: Commonly used to express mutual relation.
  5. copulatas — Lemma: copulo; Part of Speech: Participle; Form: Perfect passive participle, accusative plural feminine, first conjugation; Function: Modifies oras; Translation: joined; Notes: Indicates the completed joining of the garment’s edges.
  6. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs ablative; Function: Introduces location phrase; Translation: on; Notes: Ablative expresses stable position or location.
  7. utroque — Lemma: uterque; Part of Speech: Adjective (pronominal); Form: Ablative singular masculine/neuter; Function: Modifies latere; Translation: each; Notes: Means “each of two,” often used in paired structures.
  8. latere — Lemma: latus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular neuter, third declension; Function: Object of in; Translation: side; Notes: Denotes the side or flank of a garment or structure.
  9. summitatum — Lemma: summitas; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive plural feminine, third declension; Function: Dependent genitive modifying latere; Translation: of the upper parts; Notes: Indicates the portion of the garment to which the joined edges belong.

 

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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