Leviticus 3:17

Posted on April 3, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Lv 3:17 iure perpetuo in generationibus, et cunctis habitaculis vestris: nec sanguinem nec adipem omnino comedetis.

by a perpetual statute throughout your generations and in all your dwellings; neither blood nor fat shall you eat at all.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 iure by statute NOUN, ABL.SG.N, 3RD DECL
2 perpetuo perpetual ADJ, ABL.SG.N, POS
3 in in PREP+ABL
4 generationibus generations NOUN, ABL.PL.F, 3RD DECL
5 et and CONJ
6 cunctis all ADJ, ABL.PL.N, POS
7 habitaculis dwellings NOUN, ABL.PL.N, 3RD DECL
8 vestris your ADJ, ABL.PL.N, POSS
9 nec nor CONJ
10 sanguinem blood NOUN, ACC.SG.M, 3RD DECL
11 nec nor CONJ
12 adipem fat NOUN, ACC.SG.M, 3RD DECL
13 omnino at all ADV
14 comedetis you shall eat VERB, 2PL.FUT.ACT.IND

Syntax

Ablative Absolute / Legal Heading: iure perpetuo — introduces the binding legal nature of the command.
Locative Phrase: in generationibus … et cunctis habitaculis vestris — extends the decree across time and space.
Negative Coordinated Prohibition: nec sanguinem nec adipem — double negation marking absolute prohibition.
Main Verb: comedetis — states the binding command in the future indicative, the legal register for divine statutes.

Morphology

  1. iure — Lemma: ius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: expresses means or manner; Translation: by statute; Notes: introduces the legality of the command.
  2. perpetuo — Lemma: perpetuus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: modifies iure; Translation: perpetual; Notes: expresses enduring validity.
  3. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: locative; Translation: in; Notes: introduces sphere of application.
  4. generationibus — Lemma: generatio; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural feminine; Function: object of in; Translation: generations; Notes: marks temporal scope.
  5. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordination; Translation: and; Notes: links two locative elements.
  6. cunctis — Lemma: cunctus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative plural neuter; Function: modifies habitaculis; Translation: all; Notes: expresses totality.
  7. habitaculis — Lemma: habitaculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural neuter; Function: object of in; Translation: dwellings; Notes: refers to residences of Israel.
  8. vestris — Lemma: vester; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative plural neuter; Function: modifies habitaculis; Translation: your; Notes: second person plural possession.
  9. nec — Lemma: nec; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: negative coordination; Translation: nor; Notes: introduces prohibition.
  10. sanguinem — Lemma: sanguis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: blood; Notes: forbidden food item in Israelite law.
  11. nec — Lemma: nec; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates second object; Translation: nor; Notes: reinforces scope of prohibition.
  12. adipem — Lemma: adeps; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: fat; Notes: refers to sacred fat reserved for burning.
  13. omnino — Lemma: omnino; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: intensifier; Translation: at all; Notes: strengthens absolute prohibition.
  14. comedetis — Lemma: comedo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person plural future active indicative; Function: main verb of prohibition; Translation: you shall eat; Notes: future indicative used for legal commands.

 

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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