Genesis 10:15

Posted on January 10, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 10:15 Chanaan autem genuit Sidonem primogenitum suum, Hethæum,

But Chanaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and the Hethite.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Chanaan Chanaan NOM.SG.M
2 autem but CONJ.ADV
3 genuit begot 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
4 Sidonem Sidon ACC.SG.M
5 primogenitum firstborn ACC.SG.M.ADJ
6 suum his ACC.SG.M.REFL.POSS.ADJ
7 Hethæum Hethite ACC.SG.M

Syntax

Main Clause: Chanaan autem genuit Sidonem primogenitum suum, Hethæum — “But Chanaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and the Hethite.”
The conjunction autem signals transition to a new genealogical branch. The verb genuit takes two direct objects: Sidonem (with its apposition primogenitum suum) and Hethæum.
Word Order: The clause begins with the subject Chanaan, followed by transitional autem, then the genealogical verb genuit, and finally its coordinated accusatives. The structure is concise and formulaic, typical of the Table of Nations.

Morphology

  1. Chanaan — Lemma: Chanaan; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject; Translation: “Chanaan”; Notes: Eponymous ancestor of the Canaanites, son of Cham.
  2. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: Conjunction/adverb; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Transitional marker; Translation: “but”; Notes: Common connective introducing new genealogical clauses.
  3. genuit — Lemma: gigno; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect active indicative, 3rd person singular; Function: Main verb; Translation: “begot”; Notes: Describes procreative descent; key genealogical verb throughout Genesis 10.
  4. Sidonem — Lemma: Sidon; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Direct object of genuit; Translation: “Sidon”; Notes: Identified as the firstborn son of Canaan and founder of the Phoenician city Sidon.
  5. primogenitum — Lemma: primogenitus; Part of Speech: Adjective (used substantively); Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Appositive to Sidonem; Translation: “firstborn”; Notes: Denotes birth order and preeminence among siblings.
  6. suum — Lemma: suus; Part of Speech: Reflexive possessive adjective; Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Modifies primogenitum; Translation: “his”; Notes: Refers back to Chanaan as the father.
  7. Hethæum — Lemma: Hethæus; Part of Speech: Proper noun (ethnic designation); Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Second direct object of genuit; Translation: “the Hethite”; Notes: Founder of the Hittite people, descendants of Heth, another son of Canaan.

 

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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