Exodus 40:17

Posted on March 31, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 40:17 et expandit tectum super tabernaculum, imposito desuper operimento, sicut Dominus imperaverat.

and he spread the covering over the tabernacle, with the top covering placed above it, just as the LORD had commanded.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 et and CONJ
2 expandit he spread 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
3 tectum covering ACC.SG.N.2ND.DECL
4 super over PREP+ACC
5 tabernaculum tabernacle ACC.SG.N.2ND.DECL
6 imposito with … placed PTCP.PERF.PASS.ABL.SG.N
7 desuper above ADV
8 operimento covering ABL.SG.N.3RD.DECL
9 sicut just as CONJ.SUBORD
10 Dominus the LORD NOM.SG.M.2ND.DECL
11 imperaverat had commanded 3SG.PLUP.ACT.IND

Syntax

Main Clause:
• et expandit tectum super tabernaculum
— verb: expandit
— direct object: tectum
— prepositional phrase: super tabernaculum

Ablative Absolute:
• imposito desuper operimento
— participle: imposito
— noun: operimento
— adverb: desuper (“above”)
Meaning: “with the top covering placed above it.”

Comparative Clause:
• sicut Dominus imperaverat — “just as the LORD had commanded.”

Morphology

  1. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: links sequential actions; Translation: and; Notes: simple connective continuing narrative.
  2. expandit — Lemma: expando; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd person singular perfect active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: he spread; Notes: describes stretching the covering over the structure.
  3. tectum — Lemma: tectum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter 2nd declension; Function: direct object; Translation: covering; Notes: refers to the large outer tent covering.
  4. super — Lemma: super; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses location above; Translation: over; Notes: spatial placement.
  5. tabernaculum — Lemma: tabernaculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter 2nd declension; Function: object of super; Translation: tabernacle; Notes: refers to the sanctuary tent.
  6. imposito — Lemma: impono; Part of Speech: participle; Form: perfect passive participle ablative singular neuter; Function: head of ablative absolute; Translation: with … placed; Notes: indicates prior action.
  7. desuper — Lemma: desuper; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: modifies imposito operimento; Translation: above; Notes: emphasizes location of the covering.
  8. operimento — Lemma: operimentum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter 3rd declension; Function: object within ablative absolute; Translation: covering; Notes: refers to the additional covering layer.
  9. sicut — Lemma: sicut; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: subordinating; Function: introduces comparison; Translation: just as; Notes: links action to divine command.
  10. Dominus — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine 2nd declension; Function: subject of imperaverat; Translation: the LORD; Notes: refers to YHWH.
  11. imperaverat — Lemma: impero; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd person singular pluperfect active indicative; Function: verb of comparative clause; Translation: had commanded; Notes: indicates prior 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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