Genesis 24:51

Posted on January 24, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 24:51 En Rebecca coram te est, tolle eam, et proficiscere, et sit uxor filii domini tui, sicut locutus est Dominus.

Behold, Rebecca is before you; take her, and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, just as the LORD has spoken.”

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 En behold INTERJ
2 Rebecca Rebecca NOM.SG.F PROPN
3 coram before / in the presence of PREP+ABL
4 te you ABL.SG.2P.PRON
5 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
6 tolle take 2SG.PRES.ACT.IMP
7 eam her ACC.SG.F PRON
8 et and CONJ
9 proficiscere set out / go forth 2SG.PRES.DEP.IMP
10 et and CONJ
11 sit let her be 3SG.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
12 uxor wife NOM.SG.F
13 filii of the son GEN.SG.M
14 domini of (your) master GEN.SG.M
15 tui your GEN.SG.M POSS.ADJ
16 sicut just as CONJ
17 locutus spoken NOM.SG.M PTC.PERF.DEP
18 est has 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND AUX
19 Dominus LORD NOM.SG.M

Syntax

Main Clause: En Rebecca coram te est — exclamatory declaration presenting Rebecca (“Behold, Rebecca is before you”). The preposition coram with ablative te expresses presence or immediate availability.
Imperative Sequence: tolle eam, et proficiscere — two commands directed at the servant: tolle (“take her”) and proficiscere (“go forth”). The reflexive deponent proficiscere emphasizes voluntary movement.
Jussive Subjunctive: et sit uxor filii domini tui — subjunctive sit conveys a wish or divine permission (“let her be”). The genitive chain filii domini tui expresses relationship (“the wife of your master’s son”).
Final Clause: sicut locutus est Dominus — comparative clause affirming divine authorization: “just as the LORD has spoken.” The perfect locutus est marks completed divine decree.
Overall, the syntax combines blessing, command, and consent — confirming that the marriage aligns perfectly with divine intent.

Morphology

  1. En — Lemma: en; Part of Speech: Interjection; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Calls attention; Translation: “behold”; Notes: Demonstrative exclamation introducing proclamation.
  2. Rebecca — Lemma: Rebecca; Part of Speech: Proper Noun; Form: Nominative Singular Feminine; Function: Subject of est; Translation: “Rebecca”; Notes: Hebrew name indicating the bride-to-be.
  3. coram — Lemma: coram; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governs Ablative; Function: Expresses spatial relation; Translation: “before / in the presence of”; Notes: Often used in legal or covenantal contexts.
  4. te — Lemma: tu; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Ablative Singular Second Person; Function: Object of coram; Translation: “you”; Notes: Direct address to the servant.
  5. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present Active Indicative Third Person Singular; Function: Copula; Translation: “is”; Notes: Establishes presence and readiness.
  6. tolle — Lemma: tollo; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present Active Imperative Second Person Singular; Function: Command; Translation: “take”; Notes: Directs the servant to act.
  7. eam — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: Pronoun; Form: Accusative Singular Feminine; Function: Direct object of tolle; Translation: “her”; Notes: Refers to Rebecca.
  8. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects commands; Translation: “and”; Notes: Sequential coordination.
  9. proficiscere — Lemma: proficiscor; Part of Speech: Verb (Deponent); Form: Present Deponent Imperative Second Person Singular; Function: Command; Translation: “go forth / depart”; Notes: Deponent verb with active sense, expresses initiation of journey.
  10. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Links final clause; Translation: “and”; Notes: Polysyndetic continuation of orders.
  11. sit — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present Active Subjunctive Third Person Singular; Function: Jussive; Translation: “let her be”; Notes: Expresses permission or divine consent.
  12. uxor — Lemma: uxor; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative Singular Feminine; Function: Predicate nominative; Translation: “wife”; Notes: Denotes intended marital role.
  13. filii — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive Singular Masculine; Function: Genitive of possession; Translation: “of the son”; Notes: Marks filial relationship.
  14. domini — Lemma: dominus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive Singular Masculine; Function: Possessive genitive modifying filii; Translation: “of (your) master”; Notes: Refers to Abraham as master of the servant.
  15. tui — Lemma: tuus; Part of Speech: Adjective (Possessive); Form: Genitive Singular Masculine; Function: Modifies domini; Translation: “your”; Notes: Reinforces subordination of the servant.
  16. sicut — Lemma: sicut; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Comparative connector; Translation: “just as”; Notes: Introduces divine confirmation clause.
  17. locutus — Lemma: loquor; Part of Speech: Verb (Deponent Participle); Form: Perfect Deponent Participle Nominative Singular Masculine; Function: Predicate with est; Translation: “spoken”; Notes: Deponent form meaning “has spoken.”
  18. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb (Auxiliary); Form: Present Active Indicative Third Person Singular; Function: Forms perfect tense with locutus; Translation: “has”; Notes: Expresses completed divine speech.
  19. Dominus — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative Singular Masculine; Function: Subject of locutus est; Translation: “LORD”; Notes: Refers to YHWH, emphasizing divine sanction of the union.

 

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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