Genesis 13:5

Posted on January 13, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 13:5 Sed et Lot qui erat cum Abram, fuerunt greges ovium, et armenta, et tabernacula.

But Lot also, who was with Abram, had flocks of sheep, and herds, and tents.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Sed but CONJ
2 et also / even ADV
3 Lot Lot NOM.SG.M
4 qui who REL.PRON.NOM.SG.M
5 erat was 3SG.IMPF.ACT.IND
6 cum with PREP+ABL
7 Abram Abram ABL.SG.M (indecl. Hebr.)
8 fuerunt had / there were 3PL.PERF.ACT.IND
9 greges flocks NOM.PL.M
10 ovium of sheep GEN.PL.F
11 et and CONJ
12 armenta herds NOM.PL.N
13 et and CONJ
14 tabernacula tents NOM.PL.N

Syntax

Main Clause: Sed et Lot … fuerunt greges ovium, et armenta, et tabernacula — Lot is the subject; fuerunt is the main verb (plural, agreeing with the plural predicate nominatives). The phrase et Lot adds Lot to the narrative focus.
Relative Clause: qui erat cum Abram — describes Lot’s relationship with Abram (“who was with Abram”), functioning adjectivally to specify which Lot.
Predicate Nouns: greges ovium, armenta, tabernacula — coordinated nouns as complements of fuerunt, enumerating Lot’s possessions.

Morphology

  1. Sed — Lemma: sed; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Introduces contrast or addition; Translation: “but”; Notes: Connects this clause to the preceding description of Abram’s wealth.
  2. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Adverb (intensive); Form: Indeclinable; Function: Reinforces inclusion; Translation: “also / even”; Notes: Highlights Lot’s participation in prosperity.
  3. Lot — Lemma: Lot; Part of Speech: Proper noun (indeclinable Hebrew name); Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject; Translation: “Lot”; Notes: Abram’s nephew, beneficiary of shared wealth.
  4. qui — Lemma: qui, quae, quod; Part of Speech: Relative pronoun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject of the relative clause; Translation: “who”; Notes: Refers to Lot.
  5. erat — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Imperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular; Function: Main verb of the relative clause; Translation: “was”; Notes: Indicates continuous association with Abram.
  6. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs ablative; Function: Marks accompaniment; Translation: “with”; Notes: Introduces companion phrase.
  7. Abram — Lemma: Abram; Part of Speech: Proper noun (indeclinable Hebrew name); Form: Ablative singular masculine; Function: Object of cum; Translation: “Abram”; Notes: Denotes Lot’s proximity and partnership with Abram.
  8. fuerunt — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect active indicative, 3rd person plural; Function: Main verb of the clause; Translation: “had / there were”; Notes: Describes Lot’s state of possession.
  9. greges — Lemma: grex; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Predicate nominative; Translation: “flocks”; Notes: Refers to sheep or small livestock under Lot’s ownership.
  10. ovium — Lemma: ovis; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive plural feminine; Function: Genitive of specification; Translation: “of sheep”; Notes: Clarifies type of flocks owned by Lot.
  11. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects series of nouns; Translation: “and”; Notes: Sequentially joins elements in list.
  12. armenta — Lemma: armentum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural neuter; Function: Predicate nominative; Translation: “herds”; Notes: Refers to large cattle; second item in the list of possessions.
  13. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Links the final noun; Translation: “and”; Notes: Continues coordination of items.
  14. tabernacula — Lemma: tabernaculum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural neuter; Function: Predicate nominative; Translation: “tents”; Notes: Symbolic of nomadic lifestyle; indicates Lot’s self-sufficiency and growing wealth.

 

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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