Genesis 12:14

Posted on January 12, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 12:14 Cum itaque ingressus esset Abram Ægyptum, viderunt Ægyptii mulierem quod esset pulchra nimis.

And so, when Abram had entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Cum when SUB.CONJ
2 itaque therefore / so ADV
3 ingressus having entered PERF.ACT.PART.NOM.SG.M
4 esset had been 3SG.PLUPERF.SUBJ.ACT
5 Abram Abram NOM.SG.M
6 Ægyptum Egypt ACC.SG.F
7 viderunt they saw 3PL.PERF.ACT.IND
8 Ægyptii Egyptians NOM.PL.M
9 mulierem woman ACC.SG.F
10 quod that CONJ
11 esset she was 3SG.IMPF.SUBJ.ACT
12 pulchra beautiful ADJ.NOM.SG.F
13 nimis very / exceedingly ADV

Syntax

Temporal Clause: Cum itaque ingressus esset Abram Ægyptum — cum introduces a temporal clause with the pluperfect subjunctive ingressus esset, indicating completed prior action (“when Abram had entered Egypt”).
Main Clause: viderunt Ægyptii mulierem — The Egyptians are the subject; mulierem is the object of the verb viderunt.
Subordinate Clause (Content Clause): quod esset pulchra nimis — Dependent on viderunt, expressing what the Egyptians saw: that she was exceedingly beautiful.

Morphology

  1. Cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: Subordinating conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Introduces temporal clause; Translation: “when”; Notes: Often governs the subjunctive for temporal or causal nuance.
  2. itaque — Lemma: itaque; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Transitional marker; Translation: “therefore / and so”; Notes: Introduces logical continuation of prior context.
  3. ingressus — Lemma: ingredior; Part of Speech: Verb (deponent participle); Form: Perfect participle, nominative singular masculine; Function: Part of periphrastic pluperfect; Translation: “having entered”; Notes: Deponent participle agrees with Abram.
  4. esset — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Pluperfect subjunctive, 3rd person singular; Function: Auxiliary verb forming pluperfect periphrastic with ingressus; Translation: “had entered”; Notes: Subjunctive used in temporal subordinate clause.
  5. Abram — Lemma: Abram; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject of ingressus esset; Translation: “Abram”; Notes: Main actor of the narrative.
  6. Ægyptum — Lemma: Ægyptus; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Accusative singular feminine; Function: Object of motion; Translation: “Egypt”; Notes: Destination of Abram’s entry.
  7. viderunt — Lemma: video; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect active indicative, 3rd person plural; Function: Main verb; Translation: “they saw”; Notes: Denotes completed visual perception.
  8. Ægyptii — Lemma: Ægyptius; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Subject of viderunt; Translation: “Egyptians”; Notes: Agents perceiving Sarai’s beauty.
  9. mulierem — Lemma: mulier; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative singular feminine; Function: Direct object of viderunt; Translation: “woman”; Notes: Refers to Sarai, the cause of Abram’s concern.
  10. quod — Lemma: quod; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Introduces content clause; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces perceived fact within direct observation.
  11. esset — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Imperfect subjunctive, 3rd person singular; Function: Verb of subordinate clause; Translation: “was”; Notes: Subjunctive marks indirect perception (reported thought or speech).
  12. pulchra — Lemma: pulcher; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Nominative singular feminine; Function: Predicate adjective; Translation: “beautiful”; Notes: Describes the woman’s appearance.
  13. nimis — Lemma: nimis; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Degree modifier; Translation: “very / exceedingly”; Notes: Strengthens the adjective pulchra to emphasize intensity.

 

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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