Genesis 34:15

Posted on February 3, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 34:15 Sed in hoc valebimus fœderari, si volueritis esse similes nostri, et circumcidatur in vobis omne masculini sexus;

But in this we will be able to make a covenant, if you are willing to be like us, and every male among you be circumcised;

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Sed but CONJ
2 in in PREP+ABL
3 hoc this / this matter ABL.SG.N (PRON)
4 valebimus we will be able 1PL.FUT.ACT.IND
5 fœderari to make a covenant PRES.INF.PASS (DEPONENT)
6 si if CONJ
7 volueritis you are willing 2PL.FUT.PERF.ACT.IND
8 esse to be PRES.ACT.INF
9 similes like / similar NOM.PL.M (ADJ)
10 nostri of us GEN.PL.1P.PRON
11 et and CONJ
12 circumcidatur let…be circumcised 3SG.PRES.SUBJ.PASS
13 in in / among PREP+ABL
14 vobis you / among you ABL.PL.2P.PRON
15 omne every NOM.SG.N (ADJ)
16 masculini of the male GEN.SG.M (ADJ)
17 sexus sex / gender GEN.SG.M

Syntax

Main Clause: Sed in hoc valebimus fœderari — “But in this we will be able to make a covenant.”
• Conjunction: Sed — introduces contrast with previous refusal.
• Prepositional Phrase: in hoc — specifies the condition or context of agreement.
• Verb: valebimus — future indicative of “valeo,” expressing capability or permission.
• Complementary Infinitive: fœderari — deponent infinitive meaning “to make a covenant.”

Conditional Clause: si volueritis esse similes nostri — “if you are willing to be like us.”
• Conjunction: si — introduces condition.
• Verb: volueritis — future perfect, anticipating prior willingness.
• Infinitive: esse — complements “volueritis.”
• Predicate Adjective: similes — “similar,” agrees with implied subject “you.”
• Genitive: nostri — “of us,” shows comparison.

Subjunctive Clause of Command: et circumcidatur in vobis omne masculini sexus — “and let every male among you be circumcised.”
• Verb: circumcidatur — subjunctive passive, expresses requirement.
• Prepositional Phrase: in vobis — “among you.”
• Subject: omne masculini sexus — collective noun phrase meaning “every male.”

Morphology

  1. Sed — Lemma: sed; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces contrast; Translation: “but”; Notes: Marks a shift from refusal to conditional agreement.
  2. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: expresses reference or condition; Translation: “in”; Notes: Used here to mean “in this matter.”
  3. hoc — Lemma: hic, haec, hoc; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: object of “in”; Translation: “this”; Notes: Refers to the condition of covenant-making.
  4. valebimus — Lemma: valeo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 1st person plural future active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: “we will be able”; Notes: Expresses ability or fitness for making a treaty.
  5. fœderari — Lemma: fœderor; Part of Speech: deponent verb; Form: present infinitive; Function: complementary infinitive to “valebimus”; Translation: “to make a covenant”; Notes: Deponent form emphasizing mutual binding in agreement.
  6. si — Lemma: si; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces conditional clause; Translation: “if”; Notes: Marks hypothetical requirement for the covenant.
  7. volueritis — Lemma: volo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 2nd person plural future perfect active indicative; Function: verb of condition; Translation: “you are willing”; Notes: Indicates willingness must precede circumcision.
  8. esse — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present infinitive active; Function: complement to “volueritis”; Translation: “to be”; Notes: Completes expression of desired likeness.
  9. similes — Lemma: similis; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative plural masculine; Function: predicate adjective; Translation: “like / similar”; Notes: Refers to ritual conformity, not ethnic identity.
  10. nostri — Lemma: nos; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: genitive plural; Function: genitive of comparison; Translation: “of us”; Notes: Specifies the standard of likeness — Jacob’s household.
  11. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: connects clauses; Translation: “and”; Notes: Links condition with required act of circumcision.
  12. circumcidatur — Lemma: circumcido; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd person singular present subjunctive passive; Function: jussive subjunctive expressing command; Translation: “let…be circumcised”; Notes: Passive voice emphasizes the ritual action to be performed.
  13. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: expresses sphere or community; Translation: “among”; Notes: Marks inclusion of all members of the addressed group.
  14. vobis — Lemma: vos; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: ablative plural; Function: object of “in”; Translation: “you / among you”; Notes: Denotes the Hivite community addressed by Jacob’s sons.
  15. omne — Lemma: omnis; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative singular neuter; Function: substantive adjective functioning as subject; Translation: “every”; Notes: Collectively refers to every male individual.
  16. masculini — Lemma: masculinus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: modifies “sexus”; Translation: “of the male”; Notes: Denotes biological gender requirement.
  17. sexus — Lemma: sexus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: dependent genitive; Translation: “sex / gender”; Notes: Specifies males as the subjects of circumcision.

 

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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