Genesis 10:23

Posted on January 10, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 10:23 Filii Aram: Us, et Hul, et Gether, et Mes.

The sons of Aram: Us, and Hul, and Gether, and Mes.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Filii sons NOM.PL.M
2 Aram Aram GEN.SG.M
3 Us Us ACC.SG.M
4 et and CONJ
5 Hul Hul ACC.SG.M
6 et and CONJ
7 Gether Gether ACC.SG.M
8 et and CONJ
9 Mes Mes ACC.SG.M

Syntax

Main Clause: Filii Aram: — “The sons of Aram:” introduces the genealogy of Aram, son of Sem. Filii is the subject, and Aram is a genitive of possession (“the sons of Aram”).
Enumeration: Us, et Hul, et Gether, et Mes — a list of four proper nouns functioning as appositive nominatives or, syntactically, as the predicate complement to the implied sunt (“are”).
This formulaic pattern mirrors that of the preceding genealogical verses, marking a transition toward Arphaxad’s line in the next verse.

Morphology

  1. Filii — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Subject of the implied sunt; Translation: “sons”; Notes: Opens the genealogical listing; structure parallels Filii Sem in verse 22.
  2. Aram — Lemma: Aram; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Genitive singular masculine; Function: Possessive genitive; Translation: “of Aram”; Notes: Indicates paternal lineage; Aram, son of Sem, represents the ancestor of the Aramean peoples (later Syrians).
  3. Us — Lemma: Us; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Appositive naming one of Aram’s sons; Translation: “Us”; Notes: Possibly the eponymous ancestor of the land of Uz, associated with Job’s homeland (Job 1:1).
  4. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects coordinate elements; Translation: “and”; Notes: Adds rhythmic and structural cohesion to the enumeration.
  5. Hul — Lemma: Hul; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Enumerated proper name; Translation: “Hul”; Notes: A Semitic name of uncertain geographical identification, possibly related to northern Mesopotamian groups.
  6. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connective; Translation: “and”; Notes: Continues paratactic enumeration, common in genealogical formulae.
  7. Gether — Lemma: Gether; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Appositive proper name; Translation: “Gether”; Notes: Possibly linked to ancient northern Syrian or Mesopotamian tribes.
  8. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Joins final element of list; Translation: “and”; Notes: Provides symmetry to genealogical sequence.
  9. Mes — Lemma: Mes; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Final coordinate name; Translation: “Mes”; Notes: Possibly the ancestor of the Mesheans or peoples near Mesopotamia; name uncertain but preserved in ancient versions.

 

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 Genesis. Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.