Genesis 17:26

Posted on January 17, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 17:26 Eadem die circumcisus est Abraham et Ismael filius eius.

On the same day Abraham and Ismael his son were circumcised.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Eadem the same ABL.SG.F.DEMON.ADJ
2 die day ABL.SG.F
3 circumcisus was circumcised NOM.SG.M.PERF.PASS.PTCP
4 est was 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
5 Abraham Abraham NOM.SG.M.PROP.NOUN
6 et and CONJ
7 Ismael Ishmael NOM.SG.M.PROP.NOUN
8 filius son NOM.SG.M
9 eius his GEN.SG.M.PRON

Syntax

Temporal Phrase: Eadem die — ablative of time, meaning “on the same day,” connects this action with the previous narrative of circumcision.
Main Clause: circumcisus est Abraham et Ismael filius eius — circumcisus est is a perfect passive periphrastic verb meaning “was circumcised”; Abraham and Ismael filius eius are coordinated nominative subjects, emphasizing simultaneous fulfillment of the divine command. The construction succinctly summarizes both participants’ obedience.

Morphology

  1. Eadem — Lemma: idem; Part of Speech: demonstrative adjective; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: modifies “die”; Translation: “the same”; Notes: Refers to the precise day mentioned in the preceding verse, emphasizing simultaneity.
  2. die — Lemma: dies; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: ablative of time; Translation: “day”; Notes: Indicates the specific day when the circumcision took place.
  3. circumcisus — Lemma: circumcido; Part of Speech: participle; Form: nominative singular masculine, perfect passive; Function: predicate adjective in periphrastic construction with “est”; Translation: “was circumcised”; Notes: Describes the completed action of the covenantal sign.
  4. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: perfect active indicative, third person singular; Function: auxiliary in perfect passive construction; Translation: “was”; Notes: Forms the periphrastic perfect passive with “circumcisus.”
  5. Abraham — Lemma: Abraham; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject; Translation: “Abraham”; Notes: The patriarch, performing and receiving the covenantal mark first.
  6. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating; Function: joins the compound subject; Translation: “and”; Notes: Links Abraham with his son Ishmael as joint participants.
  7. Ismael — Lemma: Ismael; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: conjoined subject; Translation: “Ishmael”; Notes: The son of Abraham, included as covenant heir in the rite.
  8. filius — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: apposition to “Ismael”; Translation: “son”; Notes: Clarifies Ishmael’s relationship to Abraham.
  9. eius — Lemma: is, ea, id; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: possessive modifier of “filius”; Translation: “his”; Notes: Refers to Abraham, confirming filial connection and covenantal succession.

 

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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