Genesis 15:21

Posted on January 15, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 15:21 et Amorrhæos, et Chananæos, et Gergesæos, et Iebusæos.

and the Amorrites, and the Chananites, and the Gergesites, and the Jebusites.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 et and CONJ
2 Amorrhæos Amorites ACC.PL.M PROPN
3 et and CONJ
4 Chananæos Canaanites ACC.PL.M PROPN
5 et and CONJ
6 Gergesæos Girgashites ACC.PL.M PROPN
7 et and CONJ
8 Iebusæos Jebusites ACC.PL.M PROPN

Syntax

Coordinated Series: The construction et Amorrhæos, et Chananæos, et Gergesæos, et Iebusæos completes the list of ten nations in the divine land grant. Each ethnic name remains in the accusative plural masculine, governed by the implied dabo (“I will give”) from verse 18.
Stylistic Function: The repeated et (polysyndeton) emphasizes the abundance and completeness of YHWH’s promise to Abram, underscoring the territorial scope and covenantal magnitude.

Morphology

  1. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Links nouns in sequence; Translation: “and”; Notes: Repetition produces rhetorical emphasis and rhythm within divine decree.
  2. Amorrhæos — Lemma: Amorrhæus; Part of Speech: Proper noun (ethnic); Form: Accusative plural masculine; Function: Object of implied dabo; Translation: “Amorites”; Notes: Major Canaanite tribe symbolizing opposition to YHWH’s covenant people.
  3. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Links coordinated objects; Translation: “and”; Notes: Maintains syntactic cohesion in parallel ethnic listing.
  4. Chananæos — Lemma: Chananæus; Part of Speech: Proper noun (ethnic); Form: Accusative plural masculine; Function: Object of implied dabo; Translation: “Canaanites”; Notes: The general name encompassing inhabitants of the promised land region.
  5. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects next noun; Translation: “and”; Notes: Polysyndetic style reinforces solemn enumeration.
  6. Gergesæos — Lemma: Gergesæus; Part of Speech: Proper noun (ethnic); Form: Accusative plural masculine; Function: Object of implied dabo; Translation: “Girgashites”; Notes: Lesser-known Canaanite tribe, possibly east of the Jordan, illustrating inclusivity of the land promise.
  7. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects final noun; Translation: “and”; Notes: Closes cumulative enumeration of nations.
  8. Iebusæos — Lemma: Iebusæus; Part of Speech: Proper noun (ethnic); Form: Accusative plural masculine; Function: Object of implied dabo; Translation: “Jebusites”; Notes: People of ancient Jerusalem (Jebus); the final group symbolizes the covenant’s culmination in the heartland of sacred geography.

 

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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