Genesis 14:13

Posted on January 14, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 14:13 Et ecce unus, qui evaserat, nunciavit Abram Hebræo, qui habitabat in convalle Mambre Amorrhæi fratris Escol, et fratris Aner: hi enim pepigerant fœdus cum Abram.

And behold, one who had escaped reported to Abram the Hebrew, who was dwelling in the valley of Mamre the Amorrite, brother of Escol and brother of Aner; for these had made a covenant with Abram.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Et and CONJ
2 ecce behold INTERJ
3 unus one NOM.SG.M
4 qui who NOM.SG.M REL.PRON
5 evaserat had escaped 3SG.PLUPERF.ACT.IND
6 nunciavit announced / reported 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
7 Abram Abram DAT.SG.M (INDECL. HEBR.)
8 Hebræo Hebrew DAT.SG.M
9 qui who NOM.SG.M REL.PRON
10 habitabat was dwelling 3SG.IMPF.ACT.IND
11 in in PREP+ABL
12 convalle valley ABL.SG.F
13 Mambre of Mamre GEN.SG.M (INDECL. HEBR.)
14 Amorrhæi of the Amorrite GEN.SG.M
15 fratris of (the) brother GEN.SG.M
16 Escol Escol GEN.SG.M (INDECL. HEBR.)
17 et and CONJ
18 fratris of (the) brother GEN.SG.M
19 Aner Aner GEN.SG.M (INDECL. HEBR.)
20 hi these NOM.PL.M DEM.PRON
21 enim for CONJ
22 pepigerant had made / agreed upon 3PL.PLUPERF.ACT.IND
23 fœdus covenant / treaty ACC.SG.N
24 cum with PREP+ABL
25 Abram Abram ABL.SG.M (INDECL. HEBR.)

Syntax

Main Clause: Et ecce unus qui evaserat nunciavit Abram Hebræo — subject (unus), relative clause (qui evaserat) qualifying the messenger, main verb (nunciavit), indirect object (Abram Hebræo).
Relative Clause: qui habitabat in convalle Mambre Amorrhæi fratris Escol et fratris Aner — modifies Abram, providing location and association details.
Explanatory Clause: hi enim pepigerant fœdus cum Abram — causal explanation showing reason for the alliance, introduced by enim.

Morphology

  1. Et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connective; Translation: “and”; Notes: Continues narrative sequence from previous verse.
  2. ecce — Lemma: ecce; Part of Speech: Interjection; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Deictic particle introducing new event; Translation: “behold”; Notes: Marks narrative immediacy, common in biblical style to draw attention to action.
  3. unus — Lemma: unus; Part of Speech: Adjective (used substantively); Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject; Translation: “one”; Notes: Indicates the sole survivor or messenger from the battle.
  4. qui — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: Relative pronoun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject of subordinate clause; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces relative clause explaining the subject’s identity.
  5. evaserat — Lemma: evado; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Pluperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular; Function: Verb of relative clause; Translation: “had escaped”; Notes: Denotes completed escape prior to the act of reporting.
  6. nunciavit — Lemma: nuncio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect active indicative, 3rd person singular; Function: Main verb; Translation: “reported / announced”; Notes: The messenger’s action introduces Abram into the military narrative.
  7. Abram — Lemma: Abram; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Dative singular masculine (indeclinable Hebrew name); Function: Indirect object of nunciavit; Translation: “to Abram”; Notes: The patriarch’s earlier name before being renamed Abraham.
  8. Hebræo — Lemma: Hebræus; Part of Speech: Noun/adjective; Form: Dative singular masculine; Function: Appositive modifier of Abram; Translation: “the Hebrew”; Notes: Distinguishes Abram ethnically from surrounding peoples.
  9. qui — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: Relative pronoun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject of subordinate clause; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces locative relative clause about Abram’s dwelling.
  10. habitabat — Lemma: habito; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Imperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular; Function: Main verb of the relative clause; Translation: “was dwelling”; Notes: Continuous action emphasizing Abram’s semi-nomadic residence.
  11. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs ablative; Function: Locative; Translation: “in”; Notes: Introduces location.
  12. convalle — Lemma: convallis; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular feminine; Function: Object of in; Translation: “valley”; Notes: Refers to the region where Abram’s camp was located.
  13. Mambre — Lemma: Mambre; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Genitive singular masculine (indeclinable Hebrew name); Function: Genitive of possession modifying convalle; Translation: “of Mamre”; Notes: A Canaanite ally of Abram; his grove becomes a key location in Genesis.
  14. Amorrhæi — Lemma: Amorrhæus; Part of Speech: Noun/adjective; Form: Genitive singular masculine; Function: Modifier of Mambre; Translation: “of the Amorrite”; Notes: Identifies Mamre’s ethnic origin.
  15. fratris — Lemma: frater; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive singular masculine; Function: Genitive of relation; Translation: “of the brother”; Notes: Expresses kinship connection to Escol.
  16. Escol — Lemma: Escol; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Genitive singular masculine (indeclinable Hebrew name); Function: Dependent genitive; Translation: “of Escol”; Notes: Companion of Abram mentioned among his allies.
  17. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connective; Translation: “and”; Notes: Joins second kinship phrase fratris Aner.
  18. fratris — Lemma: frater; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive singular masculine; Function: Repetition emphasizing relation; Translation: “of (the) brother”; Notes: Parallel to the previous genitive, indicating shared lineage.
  19. Aner — Lemma: Aner; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Genitive singular masculine (indeclinable Hebrew name); Function: Dependent genitive; Translation: “of Aner”; Notes: Another Amorrite ally; included in the covenantal coalition.
  20. hi — Lemma: hic, haec, hoc; Part of Speech: Demonstrative pronoun; Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Subject; Translation: “these”; Notes: Refers back to Mamre, Escol, and Aner collectively.
  21. enim — Lemma: enim; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Causal connector; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces explanatory reason for their association with Abram.
  22. pepigerant — Lemma: pango; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Pluperfect active indicative, 3rd person plural; Function: Main verb; Translation: “had made / had agreed upon”; Notes: Describes prior covenantal action, emphasizing legal and mutual obligation.
  23. fœdus — Lemma: fœdus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative singular neuter; Function: Direct object of pepigerant; Translation: “covenant”; Notes: Refers to a formal pact or treaty between Abram and the Amorrites.
  24. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs ablative; Function: Introduces prepositional phrase; Translation: “with”; Notes: Indicates the parties bound in agreement.
  25. Abram — Lemma: Abram; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Ablative singular masculine (indeclinable Hebrew name); Function: Object of cum; Translation: “with Abram”; Notes: The patriarch serves as central covenantal figure among regional allies.

 

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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