Genesis 36:9

Posted on February 5, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 36:9 Hæ autem sunt generationes Esau patris Edom in monte Seir,

Now these are the generations of Esau, the father of Edom, in Mount Seir,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Hæ these PRON.DEM.NOM.PL.F
2 autem now / moreover ADV
3 sunt are 3PL.PRES.ACT.IND
4 generationes generations NOUN.NOM.PL.F
5 Esau of Esau PROP.NOUN.GEN.SG.M
6 patris of the father NOUN.GEN.SG.M
7 Edom of Edom PROP.NOUN.GEN.SG.M
8 in in PREP+ABL
9 monte mount NOUN.ABL.SG.M
10 Seir Seir PROP.NOUN.ABL.SG.M

Syntax

Main Clause: Hæ autem sunt generationes Esau patris Edom in monte Seir —
The demonstrative pronoun Hæ (nominative plural feminine) serves as the subject; the verb sunt is the copula; the predicate nominative generationes is defined by the genitive Esau patris Edom, meaning “the generations of Esau, the father of Edom.” The prepositional phrase in monte Seir indicates geographic location.

The clause introduces a genealogical section, functioning formulaically like other tôledôt structures in Genesis.

Morphology

  1. Hæ — Lemma: hic, haec, hoc; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun; Form: nominative plural feminine; Function: subject of sunt; Translation: “these”; Notes: Refers to the genealogical list that follows.
  2. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: adverb/postpositive conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: transitional particle introducing a new section; Translation: “now / moreover”; Notes: Typical narrative connective in genealogical transitions.
  3. sunt — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active indicative 3rd plural; Function: copula linking Hæ with generationes; Translation: “are”; Notes: Simple declarative structure identifying the subject.
  4. generationes — Lemma: generātiō; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural feminine; Function: predicate nominative; Translation: “generations”; Notes: Introduces a genealogical formula common in Genesis.
  5. Esau — Lemma: Esau; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: dependent genitive with generationes; Translation: “of Esau”; Notes: Specifies to whom the generations belong.
  6. patris — Lemma: pater; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: genitive apposition with Esau; Translation: “of the father”; Notes: Explains Esau’s patriarchal role as ancestor of Edom.
  7. Edom — Lemma: Edom; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: dependent genitive modifying patris; Translation: “of Edom”; Notes: Indicates descent and national identity of Esau’s lineage.
  8. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: introduces locative phrase; Translation: “in”; Notes: Marks the location of Esau’s settlement.
  9. monte — Lemma: mōns; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: object of in; Translation: “mount”; Notes: Refers to the elevated region where Esau lived.
  10. Seir — Lemma: Seir; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: genitive apposition with monte; Translation: “Seir”; Notes: Specifies the geographic name of the region identified with Esau’s descendants.

 

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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