Genesis 10:13

Posted on January 10, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 10:13 At vero Mesraim genuit Ludim, et Anamim, et Laabim, Nephthuim,

But indeed Mesraim begot Ludim, and Anamim, and Laabim, and Nephthuim.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 At but CONJ
2 vero indeed ADV
3 Mesraim Mesraim NOM.SG.M
4 genuit begot 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
5 Ludim Ludim ACC.PL.M
6 et and CONJ
7 Anamim Anamim ACC.PL.M
8 et and CONJ
9 Laabim Laabim ACC.PL.M
10 Nephthuim Nephthuim ACC.PL.M

Syntax

Main Clause: At vero Mesraim genuit Ludim, et Anamim, et Laabim, Nephthuim — “But indeed Mesraim begot Ludim, and Anamim, and Laabim, and Nephthuim.”
The conjunction pair At vero introduces contrastive emphasis, marking a transition to a new genealogical branch. The verb genuit governs a list of coordinated accusatives functioning as direct objects.
Word Order: The emphatic adverbial opening (“But indeed”) precedes the subject Mesraim, followed by the verb and its coordinated complements, reflecting typical genealogical syntax.

Morphology

  1. At — Lemma: at; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Contrastive connective; Translation: “but”; Notes: Often used to introduce new narrative segments or contrasting clauses.
  2. vero — Lemma: vero; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Emphasizes the truth or certainty of the statement; Translation: “indeed”; Notes: Reinforces narrative transition or affirmation.
  3. Mesraim — Lemma: Mesraim; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject; Translation: “Mesraim”; Notes: Eponymous ancestor of the Egyptians, son of Cham.
  4. genuit — Lemma: gigno; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect active indicative, 3rd person singular; Function: Main verb; Translation: “begot”; Notes: Common genealogical verb indicating direct descent.
  5. Ludim — Lemma: Ludim; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative plural masculine; Function: Direct object of genuit; Translation: “Ludim”; Notes: A people descended from Mesraim, possibly related to Lydia or North Africa.
  6. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Coordinating; Function: Connects the direct objects; Translation: “and”; Notes: Typical additive conjunction in lists.
  7. Anamim — Lemma: Anamim; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative plural masculine; Function: Coordinated direct object; Translation: “Anamim”; Notes: Descendants associated with early Egyptian tribes.
  8. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Coordinating; Function: Links next name in series; Translation: “and”; Notes: Maintains genealogical rhythm.
  9. Laabim — Lemma: Laabim; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative plural masculine; Function: Coordinated direct object; Translation: “Laabim”; Notes: People connected with Libyans (possibly “Lubim”).
  10. Nephthuim — Lemma: Nephthuim; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative plural masculine; Function: Final coordinated direct object; Translation: “Nephthuim”; Notes: People of Egyptian origin, possibly linked to the Nile Delta region.

 

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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