Genesis 14:18

Posted on January 14, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 14:18 At vero Melchisedech rex Salem, proferens panem et vinum, erat enim Sacerdos Dei altissimi,

And indeed Melchisedech, king of Salem, bringing forth bread and wine, for he was Priest of God the Most High.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 At and indeed CONJ
2 vero indeed ADV
3 Melchisedech Melchisedech NOM.SG.M
4 rex king NOM.SG.M
5 Salem of Salem GEN.SG.M
6 proferens bringing forth PRES.ACT.PTCP.NOM.SG.M
7 panem bread ACC.SG.M
8 et and CONJ
9 vinum wine ACC.SG.N
10 erat he was 3SG.IMPF.ACT.IND
11 enim for PARTICLE
12 Sacerdos priest NOM.SG.M
13 Dei of God GEN.SG.M
14 altissimi the Most High GEN.SG.M.SUPERL

Syntax

Main Clause: Melchisedech rex Salem (subject) + erat (verb)
Complement: Sacerdos Dei altissimi (predicate nominative) — identifies the subject’s role.
Adverbial participle phrase: proferens panem et vinum — modifies the subject, describing concurrent action.
Connector: At vero — introduces and emphasizes the statement; enim marks explanation.

Morphology

  1. At — Lemma: at; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: simple coordinating conjunction; Function: introduces and emphasizes the clause; Translation: “and indeed”; Notes: often foregrounds a new development in narrative.
  2. vero — Lemma: vero; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: uninflected, positive degree; Function: intensifier with postpositive force; Translation: “indeed”; Notes: typically follows the first word in its clause.
  3. Melchisedech — Lemma: Melchisedech; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject; Translation: “Melchisedech”; Notes: personal name functioning as subject in apposition with rex.
  4. rex — Lemma: rex; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: appositive to the subject; Translation: “king”; Notes: titles commonly stand in apposition to names.
  5. Salem — Lemma: Salem; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular (indeclinable in form); Function: complements rex (“king of …”); Translation: “of Salem”; Notes: toponym indicating realm.
  6. proferens — Lemma: prōferō; Part of Speech: participle (verbal adjective); Form: present active participle, nominative singular masculine; Function: adverbial modifier of the subject indicating simultaneous action; Translation: “bringing forth”; Notes: participial nuance of attendant circumstance.
  7. panem — Lemma: panis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object of the participle; Translation: “bread”; Notes: first element in a coordinated object pair.
  8. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: simple coordinating; Function: links coordinated objects; Translation: “and”; Notes: copulative coordinator.
  9. vinum — Lemma: vīnum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: second direct object of the participle; Translation: “wine”; Notes: paired with panem.
  10. erat — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: imperfect active indicative, third person singular; Function: linking verb connecting subject and predicate nominative; Translation: “he was”; Notes: imperfect portrays state or ongoing role.
  11. enim — Lemma: enim; Part of Speech: particle; Form: uninflected; Function: introduces explanatory comment; Translation: “for”; Notes: postpositive logical connector.
  12. Sacerdos — Lemma: sacerdōs; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: predicate nominative; Translation: “priest”; Notes: identifies the subject’s office.
  13. Dei — Lemma: Deus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: dependent genitive modifying Sacerdos; Translation: “of God”; Notes: specifies possession/affiliation.
  14. altissimi — Lemma: altissimus; Part of Speech: adjective (superlative); Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: attributive to Dei; Translation: “the Most High”; Notes: superlative heightening divine title.

 

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.