Genesis 13:13

Posted on January 13, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 13:13 Homines autem Sodomitæ pessimi erant, et peccatores coram Domino nimis.

But the men of Sodom were very wicked and sinners before the LORD.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Homines men NOM.PL.M
2 autem but / however CONJ
3 Sodomitæ Sodomites NOM.PL.M
4 pessimi very wicked / worst NOM.PL.M (SUPERLATIVE ADJ)
5 erant were 3PL.IMPF.ACT.IND
6 et and CONJ
7 peccatores sinners NOM.PL.M
8 coram before / in the presence of PREP+ABL
9 Domino the LORD ABL.SG.M
10 nimis exceedingly / very much ADV

Syntax

Main Clause: Homines autem Sodomitæ pessimi erant — Homines (men) is the subject, erant the copula, and pessimi the predicate adjective. The adverbial particle autem introduces contrast (“but the men…”).
Coordinated Predicate: et peccatores coram Domino nimis — “and sinners before the LORD exceedingly,” adding a second predicate complement (peccatores) with an adverbial prepositional phrase coram Domino and intensifier nimis.

Morphology

  1. Homines — Lemma: homo; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Subject; Translation: “men”; Notes: Refers collectively to the inhabitants of Sodom.
  2. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Introduces contrast; Translation: “but / however”; Notes: Marks transition or contrast in the narrative.
  3. Sodomitæ — Lemma: Sodomita; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Apposition to Homines; Translation: “Sodomites”; Notes: Identifies the men as belonging to Sodom, hence morally characterized by that city.
  4. pessimi — Lemma: malus; Part of Speech: Adjective (superlative); Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Predicate adjective; Translation: “very wicked / worst”; Notes: Superlative emphasizing extreme moral depravity.
  5. erant — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Imperfect active indicative, 3rd person plural; Function: Copula linking subject and predicate; Translation: “were”; Notes: Indicates enduring state of character, not momentary action.
  6. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects coordinated predicates; Translation: “and”; Notes: Adds second predicate (peccatores).
  7. peccatores — Lemma: peccator; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Predicate nominative; Translation: “sinners”; Notes: Moral description reinforcing pessimi.
  8. coram — Lemma: coram; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs ablative; Function: Expresses presence before or in sight of; Translation: “before / in the presence of”; Notes: Often implies divine observation or judgment.
  9. Domino — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: Noun (title); Form: Ablative singular masculine; Function: Object of coram; Translation: “the LORD”; Notes: Refers to YHWH; denotes moral accountability to divine authority.
  10. nimis — Lemma: nimis; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Modifies peccatores; Translation: “exceedingly / very much”; Notes: Intensifier underscoring the gravity of sin in Sodom.

 

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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