Exodus 40:9

Posted on March 31, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Ex 40:9 Et assumpto unctionis oleo unges tabernaculum cum vasis suis, ut sanctificentur:

And when the anointing oil has been taken, you shall anoint the tabernacle with its vessels, so that they may be sanctified;

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Et and CONJ
2 assumpto when taken PTCP.PERF.PASS.ABL.SG.M
3 unctionis of anointing GEN.SG.F.3RD.DECL
4 oleo oil ABL.SG.N.2ND.DECL
5 unges you shall anoint 2SG.FUT.ACT.IND
6 tabernaculum tabernacle ACC.SG.N.2ND.DECL
7 cum with PREP+ABL
8 vasis vessels ABL.PL.N.3RD.DECL
9 suis its ABL.PL.N.POSS
10 ut so that CONJ.SUBORD
11 sanctificentur they may be sanctified 3PL.PRES.PASS.SUBJ

Syntax

Ablative Absolute:
• assumpto unctionis oleo — “when the anointing oil has been taken”

Main Clause:
• unges (Verb) + tabernaculum (Direct Object)
• cum vasis suis (Ablative of accompaniment)

Final Clause:
• ut sanctificentur — expresses purpose (“so that they may be sanctified”)

The verse functions as a priestly instruction with a temporal opening, a command, and a purpose clause.

Morphology

  1. Et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces a new instruction; Translation: and; Notes: continues ritual directives.
  2. assumpto — Lemma: assumo; Part of Speech: participle; Form: perfect passive participle ablative singular masculine; Function: part of ablative absolute; Translation: when taken; Notes: indicates prior completed action.
  3. unctionis — Lemma: unctio; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine 3rd declension; Function: modifies oleo; Translation: of anointing; Notes: describes the special consecration oil.
  4. oleo — Lemma: oleum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter 2nd declension; Function: part of ablative absolute; Translation: oil; Notes: refers to the sacred anointing oil.
  5. unges — Lemma: ungo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 2nd person singular future active indicative; Function: main verb of command; Translation: you shall anoint; Notes: future indicative expresses an imperative sense.
  6. tabernaculum — Lemma: tabernaculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter 2nd declension; Function: direct object; Translation: tabernacle; Notes: the sanctuary structure.
  7. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: marks accompaniment; Translation: with; Notes: indicates togetherness of tabernacle and vessels.
  8. vasis — Lemma: vas; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural neuter 3rd declension; Function: object of cum; Translation: vessels; Notes: refers to the utensils used in worship.
  9. suis — Lemma: suus; Part of Speech: adjective (possessive); Form: ablative plural neuter; Function: modifies vasis; Translation: its; Notes: reflexive possession referring to the tabernacle.
  10. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: subordinating; Function: introduces final/purpose clause; Translation: so that; Notes: expresses intended outcome.
  11. sanctificentur — Lemma: sanctifico; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd person singular present passive subjunctive; Function: verb of purpose clause; Translation: they may be sanctified; Notes: passive voice underscores ritual consecration.

 

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.
This entry was posted in Exodus. Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.