Leviticus 13:31

Posted on April 13, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Lv 13:31 Sin autem viderit locum maculæ æqualem vicinæ carni, et capillum nigrum: recludet eum septem diebus,

But if he sees the spot equal to the neighboring flesh, and the hair black; he shall confine him for seven days,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Sin but if CONJ
2 autem however ADV
3 viderit he has seen 3SG.PERF.SUBJ.ACT
4 locum spot ACC.SG.M
5 maculæ of the blemish GEN.SG.F
6 æqualem equal ACC.SG.M ADJ.POS
7 vicinæ neighboring GEN.SG.F ADJ.POS
8 carni flesh DAT.SG.F
9 et and CONJ
10 capillum hair ACC.SG.M
11 nigrum black ACC.SG.M ADJ.POS
12 recludet he shall confine 3SG.FUT.ACT.IND
13 eum him ACC.SG.M PERS.PRON
14 septem seven INDECL.NUM
15 diebus days ABL.PL.M

Syntax

Conditional Opening: Sin autem introduces a contrasting diagnostic outcome.
Inspection Clause: viderit locum maculæ æqualem vicinæ carni evaluates equivalence to surrounding flesh.
Hair Criterion: et capillum nigrum adds a confirming visual sign.
Main Directive: recludet eum septem diebus orders temporary isolation for observation.

Morphology

  1. Sin — Lemma: sin; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: conditional; Function: introduces alternative case; Translation: but if; Notes: Marks a contrasting ruling.
  2. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: adds contrast; Translation: however; Notes: Shifts to a different diagnostic result.
  3. viderit — Lemma: video; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular perfect subjunctive active; Function: verb of the conditional clause; Translation: he has seen; Notes: Subjunctive expresses a future contingent assessment.
  4. locum — Lemma: locus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: spot; Notes: The affected area under inspection.
  5. maculæ — Lemma: macula; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: modifies locum; Translation: of the blemish; Notes: Specifies the type of mark.
  6. æqualem — Lemma: æqualis; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular masculine positive; Function: modifies locum; Translation: equal; Notes: Indicates no depression or elevation.
  7. vicinæ — Lemma: vicinus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: genitive singular feminine positive; Function: modifies carni; Translation: neighboring; Notes: Refers to adjacent healthy tissue.
  8. carni — Lemma: caro; Part of Speech: noun; Form: dative singular feminine; Function: dative of comparison; Translation: flesh; Notes: Standard of equivalence.
  9. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates criteria; Translation: and; Notes: Adds an additional sign.
  10. capillum — Lemma: capillus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: object of observation; Translation: hair; Notes: Hair color is diagnostically significant.
  11. nigrum — Lemma: niger; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular masculine positive; Function: modifies capillum; Translation: black; Notes: Normal coloration suggests non-leprous status.
  12. recludet — Lemma: recludo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular future indicative active; Function: main directive; Translation: he shall confine; Notes: Orders temporary separation.
  13. eum — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: personal pronoun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: him; Notes: The person examined.
  14. septem — Lemma: septem; Part of Speech: numeral; Form: indeclinable; Function: modifies diebus; Translation: seven; Notes: Prescribed observation period.
  15. diebus — Lemma: dies; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural masculine; Function: ablative of time; Translation: days; Notes: Duration of confinement.

 

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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