Exodus 39:5

Posted on March 30, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 39:5 et balteum ex eisdem coloribus, sicut præceperat Dominus Moysi.

and a belt of the same colours, just as the LORD had commanded Moyses.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 et and CONJ
2 balteum belt NOUN.ACC.SG.N
3 ex from PREP+ABL
4 eisdem the same ADJ.ABL.PL.M/F/N
5 coloribus colours NOUN.ABL.PL.M
6 sicut just as CONJ
7 præceperat had commanded 3SG.PLUP.ACT.IND.3RD CONJ
8 Dominus LORD NOUN.NOM.SG.M
9 Moysi to Moses NOUN.DAT.SG.M

Syntax

The phrase begins with et balteum, a coordinated addition to the previous inventory of sacred garments, with balteum serving as the direct object of an implied verb (“he made”).

The prepositional phrase ex eisdem coloribus expresses the material source of the belt, with ex governing the ablative. The demonstrative adjective eisdem modifies coloribus, referring back to the colours already described in the narrative.

The comparative clause sicut præceperat Dominus Moysi establishes the normative authority for the fashioning of the belt. sicut introduces the comparison, præceperat is the pluperfect verb (“had commanded”), Dominus is the subject (YHWH), and Moysi is the indirect object.

Morphology

  1. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Coordinating; Function: Adds an additional item to the list; Translation: and; Notes: Simple additive connector continuing the garment description.
  2. balteum — Lemma: balteus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative singular neuter, second declension; Function: Direct object; Translation: belt; Notes: Refers to the priestly sash or girdle forming part of the ephod’s attire.
  3. ex — Lemma: e / ex; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governing the ablative; Function: Introduces material source; Translation: from; Notes: Takes ablative to indicate origin or composition.
  4. eisdem — Lemma: idem; Part of Speech: Demonstrative adjective/pronoun; Form: Ablative plural masculine/feminine/neuter; Function: Modifies coloribus; Translation: the same; Notes: Points back to the previously mentioned prescribed colours.
  5. coloribus — Lemma: color; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative plural masculine, third declension; Function: Object of ex; Translation: colours; Notes: Refers to the hyacinth, purple, scarlet, and linen hues specified earlier.
  6. sicut — Lemma: sicut; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable; Function: Introduces comparative clause; Translation: just as; Notes: Emphasises strict conformity to divine instruction.
  7. præceperat — Lemma: praecipio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular pluperfect active indicative, third conjugation; Function: Verb of the comparative clause; Translation: had commanded; Notes: Pluperfect denotes command given earlier than the crafting action.
  8. Dominus — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: Noun (title); Form: Nominative singular masculine, second declension; Function: Subject of præceperat; Translation: LORD; Notes: Refers to YHWH, thus “LORD” is used rather than “Lord.”
  9. Moysi — Lemma: Moyses; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Dative singular masculine, third declension; Function: Indirect object; Translation: to Moses; Notes: Marks Moses as the receiver of divine instruction.

 

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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