Genesis 16:7

Posted on January 16, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 16:7 Cumque invenisset eam angelus Domini iuxta fontem aquæ in solitudine, qui est in via Sur in deserto,

And when the angel of the LORD had found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, which is on the way to Sur in the desert,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Cumque and when CONJ+ENCLITIC
2 invenisset had found 3SG.PLUPERF.ACT.SUBJ
3 eam her ACC.SG.F PRON
4 angelus angel NOM.SG.M
5 Domini of the LORD GEN.SG.M
6 iuxta near / by PREP+ACC
7 fontem spring / fountain ACC.SG.M
8 aquæ of water GEN.SG.F
9 in in PREP+ABL
10 solitudine wilderness ABL.SG.F
11 qui which NOM.SG.M REL.PRON
12 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
13 in in / on PREP+ABL
14 via way / road ABL.SG.F
15 Sur Shur ABL.SG.F PROPN
16 in in PREP+ABL
17 deserto desert ABL.SG.N

Syntax

Temporal Clause: Cumque invenisset eam angelus Domini — subordinate temporal clause using cum + pluperfect subjunctive to indicate prior action (“when the angel of the LORD had found her”). The subject is angelus Domini, the object eam.
Prepositional Phrase: iuxta fontem aquæ — expresses location (“by a spring of water”); iuxta governs the accusative fontem.
Locative Extension: in solitudine — further specifies setting (“in the wilderness”).
Relative Clause: qui est in via Sur in deserto — modifies fons; qui refers to the spring, with in via Sur identifying its position on the road to Shur.

Morphology

  1. Cumque — Lemma: cum + que; Part of Speech: Conjunction with enclitic; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Introduces temporal clause; Translation: “and when”; Notes: Combines sequential and temporal relation between preceding narrative and new event.
  2. invenisset — Lemma: invenio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Pluperfect active subjunctive, 3rd person singular; Function: Verb of temporal clause; Translation: “had found”; Notes: Subjunctive required after cum expressing circumstance rather than strict time.
  3. eam — Lemma: is, ea, id; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Accusative singular feminine; Function: Direct object; Translation: “her”; Notes: Refers to Hagar as the one found by the angel.
  4. angelus — Lemma: angelus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject; Translation: “angel”; Notes: Designates a divine messenger acting under the LORD’s authority.
  5. Domini — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive singular masculine; Function: Possessive genitive; Translation: “of the LORD”; Notes: Indicates the angel’s divine commission and identity.
  6. iuxta — Lemma: iuxta; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs accusative; Function: Expresses proximity; Translation: “by / near”; Notes: Marks immediate location beside the spring.
  7. fontem — Lemma: fons; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Object of iuxta; Translation: “spring / fountain”; Notes: Refers to the physical water source where the angel appears.
  8. aquæ — Lemma: aqua; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive singular feminine; Function: Genitive of material or content; Translation: “of water”; Notes: Qualifies the type of spring.
  9. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs ablative; Function: Indicates location; Translation: “in”; Notes: Marks static position.
  10. solitudine — Lemma: solitudo; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular feminine; Function: Object of in; Translation: “wilderness”; Notes: Denotes desolate region symbolizing exile and divine encounter.
  11. qui — Lemma: qui, quae, quod; Part of Speech: Relative pronoun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject of subordinate clause; Translation: “which”; Notes: Refers back to fons.
  12. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present active indicative, 3rd person singular; Function: Main verb of relative clause; Translation: “is”; Notes: Links subject with locative predicate.
  13. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs ablative; Function: Denotes position or route; Translation: “on / in”; Notes: Indicates the location of the spring.
  14. via — Lemma: via; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular feminine; Function: Object of in; Translation: “way / road”; Notes: Refers to the trade route toward Egypt.
  15. Sur — Lemma: Sur; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Ablative singular; Function: Object of in with via; Translation: “Shur”; Notes: Geographical region east of Egypt; significant in Hagar’s journey.
  16. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs ablative; Function: Specifies larger setting; Translation: “in”; Notes: Reiterates broad spatial context.
  17. deserto — Lemma: desertum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular neuter; Function: Object of in; Translation: “desert”; Notes: Concludes the chain of locatives, symbolizing isolation where divine revelation occurs.

 

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.