Genesis 21:28

Posted on January 21, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 21:28 Et statuit Abraham septem agnas gregis seorsum.

And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Et and CONJ
2 statuit set / placed 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
3 Abraham Abraham NOM.SG.M.PROP.NOUN
4 septem seven NUM.CARD.INVAR
5 agnas ewe lambs ACC.PL.F
6 gregis of the flock GEN.SG.M
7 seorsum apart / separately ADV

Syntax

Main Clause: Et statuit Abraham septem agnas gregis seorsum — Abraham is the subject; statuit is the perfect main verb; the direct object is septem agnas, specified by the genitive gregis (“of the flock”); seorsum functions adverbially, marking ritual separation.

Morphology

  1. Et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction; Function: links this clause to the prior narrative; Translation: “and”; Notes: Continues the covenant scene without introducing subordination.
  2. statuit — Lemma: statuo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: perfect indicative active, third person singular; Function: main verb of the clause; Translation: “set / placed”; Notes: Perfect aspect presents a completed, deliberate act, often with legal/ritual overtones.
  3. Abraham — Lemma: Abraham; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of “statuit”; Translation: “Abraham”; Notes: Agent who performs the formal act of separation.
  4. septem — Lemma: septem; Part of Speech: numeral (cardinal); Form: indeclinable; Function: numeric modifier of “agnas”; Translation: “seven”; Notes: Seven frequently signals completeness or covenantal fullness in biblical contexts.
  5. agnas — Lemma: agna; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural feminine; Function: direct object of “statuit”; Translation: “ewe lambs”; Notes: Choice of young females may suggest dedicatory or symbolic gift within treaty confirmation.
  6. gregis — Lemma: grex; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: possessive/descriptive genitive modifying “agnas”; Translation: “of the flock”; Notes: Identifies provenance (Abraham’s own flock), reinforcing legitimacy of the offering.
  7. seorsum — Lemma: seorsum; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: simple adverb of separation; Function: adverbial modifier of “statuit”; Translation: “apart / separately”; Notes: Marks ritual distinction, setting these animals aside as a sign within the covenant process.

 

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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