Genesis 24:34

Posted on January 24, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 24:34 At ille: Servus, inquit, Abraham sum:

But he said: “I am the servant of Abraham;

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 At but CONJ
2 ille he NOM.SG.M DEM.PRON
3 Servus servant NOM.SG.M
4 inquit said 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
5 Abraham Abraham GEN.SG.M PROPN
6 sum I am 1SG.PRES.ACT.IND

Syntax

Introductory Clause: At ille marks a narrative shift with contrastive conjunction at (“but”) and demonstrative pronoun ille (“he”), referring to Abraham’s servant.
Direct Speech: Servus, inquit, Abraham sum — direct speech framed by inquit (“he said”), a standard Latin parenthetical for dialogue. The predicate nominal servus is equated with the subject implied by sum. The genitive Abraham functions as possessive, showing servitude relationship (“servant of Abraham”).
The syntax is concise and declarative, establishing identity before recounting his mission — a stylistic prelude to formal speech.

Morphology

  1. At — Lemma: at; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Introduces contrast or transition; Translation: “but”; Notes: Often used for narrative shifts or contrast in speeches.
  2. ille — Lemma: ille; Part of Speech: Demonstrative pronoun; Form: Nominative Singular Masculine; Function: Subject of inquit; Translation: “he”; Notes: Refers to the servant introduced earlier.
  3. Servus — Lemma: servus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative Singular Masculine; Function: Predicate nominative with sum; Translation: “servant”; Notes: Identifies social and relational status of the speaker.
  4. inquit — Lemma: inquam; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present Active Indicative Third Person Singular; Function: Parenthetic verb introducing direct speech; Translation: “said”; Notes: Formulaic verb frequently inserted mid-sentence for reported dialogue.
  5. Abraham — Lemma: Abraham; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Genitive Singular Masculine (indeclinable in Hebrew form); Function: Possessive genitive with servus; Translation: “of Abraham”; Notes: Indicates belonging or subordination; reflects Semitic possessive structure preserved in Latin.
  6. sum — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present Active Indicative First Person Singular; Function: Copula linking servus and subject; Translation: “I am”; Notes: Expresses identification; establishes servant’s allegiance and authority under Abraham.

 

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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