Genesis 24:44

Posted on January 24, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

44 et dixerit mihi: Et tu bibe, et camelis tuis hauriam: ipsa est mulier quam præparavit Dominus filio domini mei.

And she will say to me: ‘You drink also, and I will draw water for your camels.’ She is the woman whom the LORD has prepared for the son of my master.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 et and CONJ
2 dixerit she will have said 3SG.FUT.PERF.ACT.IND
3 mihi to me DAT.SG.1P.PRON
4 Et and CONJ
5 tu you NOM.SG.2P.PRON
6 bibe drink 2SG.PRES.ACT.IMP
7 et and CONJ
8 camelis for (the) camels DAT.PL.M
9 tuis your DAT.PL.M POSS.ADJ
10 hauriam I will draw (water) 1SG.FUT.ACT.IND
11 ipsa she (herself) NOM.SG.F DEM.PRON
12 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
13 mulier woman NOM.SG.F
14 quam whom ACC.SG.F REL.PRON
15 præparavit has prepared 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
16 Dominus LORD NOM.SG.M
17 filio for (the) son DAT.SG.M
18 domini of (the) master GEN.SG.M
19 mei my GEN.SG.M POSS.ADJ

Syntax

Conditional/Temporal Clause: et dixerit mihi — introduces a dependent clause with dixerit (future perfect), marking a hypothetical future event (“and when she will have said to me”). The dative mihi identifies the indirect object of speech.
Direct Quotation: Et tu bibe, et camelis tuis hauriam — imperative bibe and future hauriam express both an immediate act and a promised follow-up. camelis tuis functions as dative of advantage (“for your camels”).
Main Clause: ipsa est mulier — equative clause identifying the awaited person (“she is the woman”).
Relative Clause: quam præparavit Dominus filio domini mei — quam introduces the object of præparavit, with Dominus as subject and filio domini mei as the dative of purpose or beneficiary (“for the son of my master”).
The overall syntax reflects the servant’s discernment formula — a test of divine providence through a predicted response of generous hospitality.

Morphology

  1. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects conditional and main clauses; Translation: “and”; Notes: Introduces sequential condition.
  2. dixerit — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Future Perfect Active Indicative Third Person Singular; Function: Verb of conditional clause; Translation: “she will have said”; Notes: Marks future event completed before next action.
  3. mihi — Lemma: ego; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Dative Singular; Function: Indirect object; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Recipient of speech.
  4. Et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Introduces quotation; Translation: “and”; Notes: Paratactic linkage common in Latin dialogue.
  5. tu — Lemma: tu; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Nominative Singular; Function: Subject of bibe; Translation: “you”; Notes: Emphatic personal pronoun in direct speech.
  6. bibe — Lemma: bibo; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present Active Imperative Second Person Singular; Function: Command within quotation; Translation: “drink”; Notes: Expresses courtesy and eagerness to serve.
  7. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Coordinates bibe and hauriam; Translation: “and”; Notes: Connects immediate and future actions.
  8. camelis — Lemma: camelus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Dative Plural Masculine; Function: Indirect object; Translation: “for camels”; Notes: Marks recipients of the offered service.
  9. tuis — Lemma: tuus; Part of Speech: Adjective (Possessive); Form: Dative Plural Masculine; Function: Modifies camelis; Translation: “your”; Notes: Indicates ownership of animals.
  10. hauriam — Lemma: haurio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Future Active Indicative First Person Singular; Function: Verb of main statement in quotation; Translation: “I will draw (water)”; Notes: Future tense conveys intention of further generosity.
  11. ipsa — Lemma: ipse; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Nominative Singular Feminine; Function: Subject; Translation: “she herself”; Notes: Demonstrative emphasis identifying the divinely chosen woman.
  12. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present Active Indicative Third Person Singular; Function: Linking verb; Translation: “is”; Notes: Connects predicate mulier with subject ipsa.
  13. mulier — Lemma: mulier; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative Singular Feminine; Function: Predicate nominative; Translation: “woman”; Notes: Identifies the one meeting the test’s conditions.
  14. quam — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: Relative Pronoun; Form: Accusative Singular Feminine; Function: Object of præparavit; Translation: “whom”; Notes: Introduces relative clause specifying the chosen woman.
  15. præparavit — Lemma: præparo; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect Active Indicative Third Person Singular; Function: Main verb of relative clause; Translation: “has prepared”; Notes: Indicates completed divine arrangement.
  16. Dominus — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative Singular Masculine; Function: Subject of præparavit; Translation: “LORD”; Notes: Refers to YHWH; highlights divine orchestration.
  17. filio — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Dative Singular Masculine; Function: Indirect object of præparavit; Translation: “for (the) son”; Notes: Expresses benefaction toward Isaac.
  18. domini — Lemma: dominus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive Singular Masculine; Function: Possessive with filio; Translation: “of (the) master”; Notes: Refers to Abraham, the master of the servant.
  19. mei — Lemma: meus; Part of Speech: Adjective (Possessive); Form: Genitive Singular Masculine; Function: Modifies domini; Translation: “my”; Notes: Indicates the servant’s allegiance to 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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