Genesis 4:18

Posted on January 4, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Gn 4:18 Porro Henoch genuit Irad, et Irad genuit Maviael, et Maviael genuit Mathusael, et Mathusael genuit Lamech.

And Henoch begot Irad, and Irad begot Maviael, and Maviael begot Mathusael, and Mathusael begot Lamech.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Porro furthermore / then ADV
2 Henoch Henoch NOM.SG.M (INDECL)
3 genuit begot 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
4 Irad Irad ACC.SG.M (INDECL)
5 et and CONJ
6 Irad Irad NOM.SG.M (INDECL)
7 genuit begot 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
8 Maviael Maviael ACC.SG.M (INDECL)
9 et and CONJ
10 Maviael Maviael NOM.SG.M (INDECL)
11 genuit begot 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
12 Mathusael Mathusael ACC.SG.M (INDECL)
13 et and CONJ
14 Mathusael Mathusael NOM.SG.M (INDECL)
15 genuit begot 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
16 Lamech Lamech ACC.SG.M (INDECL)

Syntax

Overall Structure: This verse contains four coordinated main clauses linked by et (“and”), forming a genealogical chain.
1️⃣ Porro Henoch genuit Irad — Adverb Porro introduces a new genealogical statement. Subject Henoch, verb genuit (perfect), and direct object Irad.
2️⃣ Irad genuit Maviael — Simple SVO structure with perfect verb.
3️⃣ Maviael genuit Mathusael — Same syntactic pattern.
4️⃣ Mathusael genuit Lamech — Same structure; et coordinates all clauses paratactically.

Morphology

  1. Porro — Lemma: porro; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Invariable; Function: Transitional marker; Translation: “furthermore / then”; Notes: Introduces new genealogical sequence.
  2. Henoch — Lemma: Henoch; Part of Speech: Proper noun (indeclinable); Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject of genuit; Translation: “Henoch”; Notes: Treated as indeclinable Hebrew proper name.
  3. genuit — Lemma: gigno; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect active indicative, 3rd person singular; Function: Main verb; Translation: “begot”; Notes: Denotes genealogical continuity.
  4. Irad — Lemma: Irad; Part of Speech: Proper noun (indeclinable); Form: Accusative singular masculine by syntax; Function: Direct object of genuit; Translation: “Irad”; Notes: Hebrew name functioning indeclinably in Latin.
  5. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable; Function: Connective between main clauses; Translation: “and”; Notes: Links genealogical clauses.
  6. Irad — Lemma: Irad; Part of Speech: Proper noun (indeclinable); Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject of next genuit; Translation: “Irad”; Notes: Repeated as new subject in the genealogical formula.
  7. genuit — Lemma: gigno; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect active indicative, 3rd person singular; Function: Predicate verb; Translation: “begot”; Notes: Continues genealogical sequence.
  8. Maviael — Lemma: Maviael; Part of Speech: Proper noun (indeclinable); Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Direct object; Translation: “Maviael”; Notes: Foreign indeclinable name.
  9. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable; Function: Clause coordinator; Translation: “and”; Notes: Continues narrative chain.
  10. Maviael — Lemma: Maviael; Part of Speech: Proper noun (indeclinable); Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject; Translation: “Maviael”; Notes: Resumes as subject in next clause.
  11. genuit — Lemma: gigno; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect active indicative, 3rd person singular; Function: Predicate verb; Translation: “begot”; Notes: Continues linear genealogy.
  12. Mathusael — Lemma: Mathusael; Part of Speech: Proper noun (indeclinable); Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Object of genuit; Translation: “Mathusael”; Notes: Name derived from Hebrew roots.
  13. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable; Function: Connective; Translation: “and”; Notes: Paratactic linkage.
  14. Mathusael — Lemma: Mathusael; Part of Speech: Proper noun (indeclinable); Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject of last genuit; Translation: “Mathusael”; Notes: Genealogical subject.
  15. genuit — Lemma: gigno; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Perfect active indicative, 3rd person singular; Function: Predicate verb; Translation: “begot”; Notes: Repetition underscores continuity of lineage.
  16. Lamech — Lemma: Lamech; Part of Speech: Proper noun (indeclinable); Form: Accusative singular masculine; Function: Direct object of genuit; Translation: “Lamech”; Notes: Descendant of Cain; culmination of the genealogical list.

 

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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