Genesis 18:23

Posted on January 18, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 18:23 Et appropinquans ait: Numquid perdes iustum cum impio?

And drawing near, he said: “Will You indeed destroy the righteous with the wicked?

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Et and CONJ
2 appropinquans drawing near NOM.SG.M.PRES.ACT.PTCP
3 ait he said 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
4 Numquid surely not / will You indeed INTERROG.PART
5 perdes will You destroy 2SG.FUT.ACT.IND
6 iustum the righteous ACC.SG.M.ADJ.SUBST
7 cum with PREP+ABL
8 impio the wicked ABL.SG.M.ADJ.SUBST

Syntax

Introductory Clause: Et appropinquans ait — The conjunction Et links this to the previous verse. The participle appropinquans (“drawing near”) functions circumstantially, showing Abraham’s reverent yet bold movement toward YHWH. The verb ait introduces Abraham’s plea.
Main Interrogative Clause: Numquid perdes iustum cum impio? — The particle Numquid signals a rhetorical question expecting the answer “No.” perdes is the main verb (future active), expressing divine action under consideration. iustum and impio are substantivized adjectives, representing two moral categories: “the righteous” and “the wicked.” The prepositional phrase cum impio expresses association or shared fate, the heart of Abraham’s ethical question.

Morphology

  1. Et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: connects clauses; Translation: “and”; Notes: Marks narrative continuation, introducing Abraham’s intercession.
  2. appropinquans — Lemma: appropinquo; Part of Speech: participle; Form: nominative singular masculine, present active; Function: circumstantial participle modifying Abraham; Translation: “drawing near”; Notes: Denotes both physical approach and spiritual readiness to plead before YHWH.
  3. ait — Lemma: aio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: perfect active indicative, third person singular; Function: main verb of speech; Translation: “he said”; Notes: Introduces direct discourse of intercession, a stylistic marker in biblical narrative.
  4. Numquid — Lemma: numquid; Part of Speech: interrogative particle; Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces rhetorical question; Translation: “surely not”; Notes: Used to invite a negative response, underscoring Abraham’s appeal to divine justice.
  5. perdes — Lemma: perdo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: future active indicative, second person singular; Function: main verb of question; Translation: “will You destroy”; Notes: Expresses Abraham’s concern about indiscriminate judgment by the LORD.
  6. iustum — Lemma: iustus; Part of Speech: adjective (substantive); Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object of “perdes”; Translation: “the righteous”; Notes: Used substantively, denoting a morally upright individual under potential judgment.
  7. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: expresses accompaniment; Translation: “with”; Notes: Links the righteous and wicked in shared circumstance, intensifying the ethical tension of Abraham’s question.
  8. impio — Lemma: impius; Part of Speech: adjective (substantive); Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: object of “cum”; Translation: “the wicked”; Notes: The moral opposite of “iustus,” representing those who violate divine law; contrasts righteousness and wickedness in God’s justice.

 

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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