Leviticus 4:31

Posted on April 4, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Lv 4:31 Omnem autem adipem auferens, sicut auferri solet de victimis pacificorum, adolebit super altare in odorem suavitatis Domino: rogabitque pro eo, et dimittetur ei.

But taking away all the fat, just as it is accustomed to be removed from the victims of peace offerings, he shall burn it upon the altar as a sweet odor to the LORD; and he shall pray for him, and it shall be forgiven him.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Omnem all ADJ, ACC.SG.M, POS
2 autem however ADV
3 adipem fat NOUN, ACC.SG.M
4 auferens removing PARTICIPLE, PRES.ACT.NOM.SG.M
5 sicut just as CONJ
6 auferri to be removed VERB, PRES.PASS.INF
7 solet it is accustomed VERB, 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
8 de from PREP+ABL
9 victimis victims NOUN, ABL.PL.F
10 pacificorum of peace offerings NOUN, GEN.PL.M
11 adolebit he shall burn VERB, 3SG.FUT.ACT.IND
12 super upon PREP+ACC
13 altare altar NOUN, ACC.SG.N
14 in as PREP+ACC
15 odore odor NOUN, ABL.SG.M
16 suavitatis of sweetness NOUN, GEN.SG.F
17 Domino to the LORD NOUN, DAT.SG.M
18 rogabitque and he shall pray VERB, 3SG.FUT.ACT.IND
19 pro for PREP+ABL
20 eo him PRON, ABL.SG.M
21 et and CONJ
22 dimittetur it shall be forgiven VERB, 3SG.FUT.PASS.IND
23 ei to him PRON, DAT.SG.M

Syntax

Participial clause: Omnem … adipem auferens — the priest removes all the fat before burning.
Comparative clause: sicut auferri solet de victimis pacificorum — establishes ritual precedent from peace offerings.
Main clause: adolebit super altare — burning of fat upon the altar as an offering.
Phrasal complement: in odorem suavitatis Domino — purpose/result: producing a “sweet odor” to the LORD.
Final clause: rogabitque pro eo, et dimittetur ei — priestly intercession followed by divine forgiveness.

Morphology

  1. Omnem — Lemma: omnis; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: modifies adipem; Translation: all; Notes: totality of fat to be removed.
  2. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: transitional; Translation: however; Notes: continues instructions with contrast.
  3. adipem — Lemma: adeps; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object of auferens; Translation: fat; Notes: key sacrificial element.
  4. auferens — Lemma: aufero; Part of Speech: participle; Form: present active nominative singular masculine; Function: circumstantial participle; Translation: removing; Notes: describes preparatory ritual act.
  5. sicut — Lemma: sicut; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces comparison; Translation: just as; Notes: links to standard procedure.
  6. auferri — Lemma: aufero; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present passive infinitive; Function: complement of solet; Translation: to be removed; Notes: describes habitual action.
  7. solet — Lemma: soleo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present active indicative; Function: main verb of comparative clause; Translation: it is accustomed; Notes: expresses ritual custom.
  8. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: source phrase; Translation: from; Notes: introduces locus of action.
  9. victimis — Lemma: victima; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural feminine; Function: object of de; Translation: victims; Notes: refers to peace offerings.
  10. pacificorum — Lemma: pacificus; Part of Speech: noun functioning as adjective; Form: genitive plural masculine; Function: modifies victimis; Translation: of peace offerings; Notes: sacrificial classification.
  11. adolebit — Lemma: adoleo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular future active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: he shall burn; Notes: describes burning of fat on altar.
  12. super — Lemma: super; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: spatial; Translation: upon; Notes: altar placement.
  13. altare — Lemma: altare; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: object of super; Translation: altar; Notes: primary sacrificial structure.
  14. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: expresses result; Translation: as; Notes: introduces purpose/result phrase.
  15. odore — Lemma: odor; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: object of in; Translation: odor; Notes: refers metaphorically to divine acceptance.
  16. suavitatis — Lemma: suavitas; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: modifies odore; Translation: of sweetness; Notes: idiom for divine favor.
  17. Domino — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: dative singular masculine; Function: indirect object; Translation: to the LORD; Notes: refers to YHWH.
  18. rogabitque — Lemma: rogo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular future active indicative with enclitic -que; Function: main verb; Translation: and he shall pray; Notes: priestly intercession.
  19. pro — Lemma: pro; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: introduces beneficiary; Translation: for; Notes: prayer on behalf of sinner.
  20. eo — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: object of pro; Translation: him; Notes: refers to offerer.
  21. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: connects to final clause; Translation: and; Notes: links prayer to result.
  22. dimittetur — Lemma: dimitto; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular future passive indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: it shall be forgiven; Notes: divine response to intercession.
  23. ei — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: dative singular masculine; Function: indirect object; Translation: to him; Notes: recipient of forgiveness.

 

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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