Exodus 39:8

Posted on March 30, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex39:8 Fecit et rationale opere polymito iuxta opus superhumeralis, ex auro, hyacintho, purpura, coccoque bis tincto, et bysso retorta:

And he made the breastpiece with variegated workmanship, according to the work of the ephod, of gold, hyacinth, purple, twice-dyed scarlet, and twisted fine linen;

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Fecit he made 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND.3RD CONJ
2 et and CONJ
3 rationale breastpiece NOUN.ACC.SG.N
4 opere with work NOUN.ABL.SG.N
5 polymito variegated ADJ.ABL.SG.N
6 iuxta according to PREP+ACC
7 opus work NOUN.ACC.SG.N
8 superhumeralis of the ephod NOUN.GEN.SG.N
9 ex from PREP+ABL
10 auro gold NOUN.ABL.SG.N
11 hyacintho hyacinth (blue cloth) NOUN.ABL.SG.M
12 purpura purple NOUN.ABL.SG.F
13 coccoque and scarlet NOUN.ABL.SG.M
14 bis twice ADV
15 tincto dyed PTCP.PERF.PASS.ABL.SG.M
16 et and CONJ
17 bysso fine linen NOUN.ABL.SG.F
18 retorta twisted PTCP.PERF.PASS.ABL.SG.F

Syntax

The main clause, Fecit et rationale, contains the perfect verb Fecit with implied subject (“he”) and direct object rationale (“the breastpiece”). The conjunction et links this crafting act to the previous ones.

The ablative phrase opere polymito forms an ablative of manner, describing the technique used: “with variegated workmanship.”

The prepositional phrase iuxta opus superhumeralis expresses conformity or correspondence: “according to the work of the ephod,” with opus as the object of iuxta and superhumeralis functioning as a dependent genitive.

The extended ablative series beginning with ex auro and continuing through retorta lists the materials used. ex governs the ablative, indicating material source.

The participles tincto and retorta modify cocco and bysso respectively, giving further detail on the preparation of the colored and linen threads.

Morphology

  1. Fecit — Lemma: facio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular perfect active indicative, third conjugation; Function: Main verb; Translation: he made; Notes: Continues the sequence of completed crafting actions.
  2. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable; Function: Connective; Translation: and; Notes: Links this act to the previous one.
  3. rationale — Lemma: rationale; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative singular neuter, third declension; Function: Direct object; Translation: breastpiece; Notes: The breastpiece (ḥoshen) used for priestly function.
  4. opere — Lemma: opus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular neuter, third declension; Function: Ablative of manner; Translation: with work; Notes: Indicates the technique of craftsmanship.
  5. polymito — Lemma: polymitus; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Ablative singular neuter, first/second declension; Function: Modifies opere; Translation: variegated; Notes: Describes multicolored weaving.
  6. iuxta — Lemma: iuxta; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governing accusative; Function: Expresses conformity; Translation: according to; Notes: Indicates alignment with prescribed pattern.
  7. opus — Lemma: opus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative singular neuter, third declension; Function: Object of iuxta; Translation: work; Notes: Refers to the craftsmanship of the ephod.
  8. superhumeralis — Lemma: superhumerale; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive singular neuter; Function: Dependent genitive modifying opus; Translation: of the ephod; Notes: Specifies the model for the breastpiece’s workmanship.
  9. ex — Lemma: e / ex; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governing ablative; Function: Introduces material; Translation: from; Notes: Marks the material composition.
  10. auro — Lemma: aurum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular neuter, second declension; Function: Ablative of material; Translation: gold; Notes: Indicates actual gold woven into the breastpiece.
  11. hyacintho — Lemma: hyacinthus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular masculine, second declension; Function: Material ablative; Translation: hyacinth; Notes: A blue-dyed textile used in sacred vestments.
  12. purpura — Lemma: purpura; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular feminine, first declension; Function: Material ablative; Translation: purple; Notes: Signifies luxury purple dye.
  13. coccoque — Lemma: coccus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular masculine; Function: Material ablative; Translation: and scarlet; Notes: The enclitic -que connects it to the material list.
  14. bis — Lemma: bis; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Invariable; Function: Modifies tincto; Translation: twice; Notes: Indicates double dyeing of scarlet cloth.
  15. tincto — Lemma: tingo; Part of Speech: Participle; Form: Perfect passive participle, ablative singular masculine; Function: Modifies cocco; Translation: dyed; Notes: Agrees with cocco in gender, number, and case.
  16. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable; Function: Links final material; Translation: and; Notes: Continues the materials list.
  17. bysso — Lemma: byssus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular feminine; Function: Material ablative; Translation: fine linen; Notes: High-quality linen used in priestly garments.
  18. retorta — Lemma: retorqueo; Part of Speech: Participle; Form: Perfect passive participle, ablative singular feminine; Function: Modifies bysso; Translation: twisted; Notes: Refers to spun or twisted linen threads.

 

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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