Genesis 15:20

Posted on January 15, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 15:20 et Hethæos, et Pherezæos, Raphaim quoque,

and the Hethites, and the Pherezites, and also the Rephaim,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 et and CONJ
2 Hethæos Hittites ACC.PL.M PROPN
3 et and CONJ
4 Pherezæos Perizzites ACC.PL.M PROPN
5 Raphaim Rephaim ACC.PL.M PROPN
6 quoque also ADV

Syntax

Enumerative Coordination: The phrase et Hethæos, et Pherezæos, Raphaim quoque continues the covenantal list of Canaanite peoples. Each noun in the accusative plural masculine remains syntactically dependent on the implied verb dabo (“I will give”) from verse 18.
Adverbial Emphasis: quoque (“also”) broadens the scope of inclusion, marking Raphaim as an additional group beyond the expected sequence.

Morphology

  1. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects coordinated nouns; Translation: “and”; Notes: Standard conjunction joining successive items in covenant list.
  2. Hethæos — Lemma: Hethæus; Part of Speech: Proper noun (ethnic); Form: Accusative plural masculine; Function: Object of implied dabo; Translation: “Hittites”; Notes: Descendants of Heth, associated with early Anatolian-Canaanite settlements.
  3. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Coordinates successive objects; Translation: “and”; Notes: Maintains parallel structure in ethnic enumeration.
  4. Pherezæos — Lemma: Pherezæus; Part of Speech: Proper noun (ethnic); Form: Accusative plural masculine; Function: Object of implied dabo; Translation: “Perizzites”; Notes: Indigenous Canaanite people often associated with agrarian communities.
  5. Raphaim — Lemma: Raphaim; Part of Speech: Proper noun (ethnic); Form: Accusative plural masculine; Function: Object of implied dabo; Translation: “Rephaim”; Notes: Legendary race of giants inhabiting Canaanite regions east of the Jordan.
  6. quoque — Lemma: quoque; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Adds emphatic inclusion; Translation: “also”; Notes: Indicates addition of the Raphaim as noteworthy among the listed nations.

 

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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