Genesis 22:11

Posted on January 22, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 22:11 Et ecce Angelus Domini de cælo clamavit, dicens: Abraham, Abraham. Qui respondit: Adsum.

And behold, the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, saying: “Abraham, Abraham.” And he answered: “Here I am.”

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Et and CONJ
2 ecce behold INTERJ
3 Angelus Angel NOM.SG.M
4 Domini of the LORD GEN.SG.M
5 de from PREP+ABL
6 cælo heaven ABL.SG.N
7 clamavit called 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
8 dicens saying PRES.ACT.PTCP.NOM.SG.M
9 Abraham Abraham VOC.SG.M
10 Abraham Abraham VOC.SG.M
11 Qui who REL.PRON.NOM.SG.M
12 respondit answered 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
13 Adsum I am here 1SG.PRES.ACT.IND

Syntax

Main Clause: Et ecce Angelus Domini de cælo clamavit — subject Angelus Domini, with prepositional phrase de cælo marking origin; clamavit functions as the main verb.
Participial Phrase: dicens introduces the direct speech (“Abraham, Abraham”), modifying Angelus.
Direct Speech: repetition of Abraham shows urgency and divine attention.
Relative Clause: Qui respondit — refers to Abraham as the one who answered.
Direct Response: Adsum — a concise self-identification meaning “Here I am,” expressing readiness and obedience.

Morphology

  1. Et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: connects sequential clauses; Translation: “and”; Notes: Continues narrative flow.
  2. ecce — Lemma: ecce; Part of Speech: interjection; Form: indeclinable; Function: draws attention to a sudden event; Translation: “behold”; Notes: Common in divine appearances.
  3. Angelus — Lemma: angelus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative masculine singular; Function: subject of clamavit; Translation: “Angel”; Notes: Refers to the divine messenger.
  4. Domini — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive masculine singular; Function: genitive of possession; Translation: “of the LORD”; Notes: Refers to YHWH; expresses divine origin.
  5. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: indicates source; Translation: “from”; Notes: Marks descent or origin.
  6. cælo — Lemma: cælum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative neuter singular; Function: object of de; Translation: “heaven”; Notes: Indicates the celestial realm of divine speech.
  7. clamavit — Lemma: clamo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: perfect indicative active third person singular; Function: main verb; Translation: “called”; Notes: Denotes a loud, urgent divine summons.
  8. dicens — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: participle; Form: present active participle nominative masculine singular; Function: participle of manner; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
  9. Abraham — Lemma: Abraham; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: vocative masculine singular; Function: direct address; Translation: “Abraham”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis and affection.
  10. Abraham — Lemma: Abraham; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: vocative masculine singular; Function: direct address; Translation: “Abraham”; Notes: Repetition underscores divine urgency.
  11. Qui — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: relative pronoun; Form: nominative masculine singular; Function: subject of respondit; Translation: “who”; Notes: Refers back to Abraham.
  12. respondit — Lemma: respondeo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: perfect indicative active third person singular; Function: main verb of relative clause; Translation: “answered”; Notes: Indicates immediate and obedient reply.
  13. Adsum — Lemma: adsum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present indicative active first person singular; Function: direct response; Translation: “I am here”; Notes: Expresses readiness, humility, and attentiveness to divine command.

 

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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