Genesis 18:20

Posted on January 18, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 18:20 Dixit itaque Dominus: Clamor Sodomorum et Gomorrhæ multiplicatus est, et peccatum eorum aggravatum est nimis.

Then the LORD said: “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah has multiplied, and their sin has become very grievous.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Dixit said 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
2 itaque therefore / then CONJ
3 Dominus the LORD NOM.SG.M
4 Clamor outcry NOM.SG.M
5 Sodomorum of Sodom GEN.PL.F
6 et and CONJ
7 Gomorrhæ of Gomorrah GEN.SG.F
8 multiplicatus has multiplied NOM.SG.M.PERF.PASS.PTCP
9 est is / has 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
10 et and CONJ
11 peccatum sin NOM.SG.N
12 eorum of them / their GEN.PL.M/NEUT.PRON
13 aggravatum has become heavy / grievous NOM.SG.N.PERF.PASS.PTCP
14 est is / has 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
15 nimis very / exceedingly ADV

Syntax

Main Clause: Dixit itaque Dominus — Dominus is the subject, and Dixit (“said”) is the perfect active indicative verb introducing divine speech. The conjunction itaque (“then / therefore”) connects this verse logically to the previous divine deliberation.
Subordinate Statement (Direct Speech): Clamor Sodomorum et Gomorrhæ multiplicatus est — Clamor is the subject; the genitives Sodomorum et Gomorrhæ specify whose outcry is described. The predicate multiplicatus est forms a perfect passive meaning “has multiplied,” describing the growing moral outcry of the cities.
Coordinated Clause: et peccatum eorum aggravatum est nimis — peccatum eorum serves as the subject phrase, with aggravatum est (“has become grievous”) as a perfect passive predicate, intensified by the adverb nimis (“exceedingly”), describing the enormity of their sin.

Morphology

  1. Dixit — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: verb; Form: perfect active indicative, third person singular; Function: main verb; Translation: “said”; Notes: Marks the start of divine speech, continuing the dialogue between the LORD and Abraham.
  2. itaque — Lemma: itaque; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: transitional; Translation: “then / therefore”; Notes: Signals logical consequence from the previous declaration.
  3. Dominus — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject; Translation: “the LORD”; Notes: Refers to YHWH, continuing His direct discourse with Abraham.
  4. Clamor — Lemma: clamor; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of “multiplicatus est”; Translation: “outcry”; Notes: Figuratively refers to the moral and judicial cry rising to heaven.
  5. Sodomorum — Lemma: Sodoma; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive plural feminine; Function: genitive of possession; Translation: “of Sodom”; Notes: Indicates the source of the cry, marking Sodom as one of the sinful cities.
  6. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating; Function: connects nouns; Translation: “and”; Notes: Links Sodom and Gomorrah as paired subjects of judgment.
  7. Gomorrhæ — Lemma: Gomorrha; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: genitive dependent on “Clamor”; Translation: “of Gomorrah”; Notes: Paired with Sodom to emphasize collective guilt.
  8. multiplicatus — Lemma: multiplico; Part of Speech: participle; Form: nominative singular masculine, perfect passive; Function: part of periphrastic perfect; Translation: “has multiplied”; Notes: Indicates moral escalation and intensification of wrongdoing.
  9. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active indicative, third person singular; Function: auxiliary in periphrastic construction; Translation: “is / has”; Notes: Forms perfect passive construction with “multiplicatus.”
  10. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating; Function: connects clauses; Translation: “and”; Notes: Links the second divine observation to the first.
  11. peccatum — Lemma: peccatum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular neuter; Function: subject of “aggravatum est”; Translation: “sin”; Notes: Represents collective moral corruption of Sodom and Gomorrah.
  12. eorum — Lemma: is, ea, id; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: genitive plural masculine/neuter; Function: possessive modifier; Translation: “of them / their”; Notes: Refers to the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah.
  13. aggravatum — Lemma: aggravō; Part of Speech: participle; Form: nominative singular neuter, perfect passive; Function: predicate adjective; Translation: “has become grievous”; Notes: Describes the deepening seriousness of their sin, metaphorically “weighed down.”
  14. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active indicative, third person singular; Function: auxiliary; Translation: “is / has”; Notes: Completes the perfect passive construction.
  15. nimis — Lemma: nimis; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: intensifier; Translation: “very / exceedingly”; Notes: Emphasizes the extreme moral corruption, justifying divine investigation and impending judgment.

 

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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