Leviticus 8:8

Posted on April 8, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Lv 8:8 quod astringens cingulo aptavit rationali, in quo erat Doctrina et Veritas.

which fastening with a girdle he fitted with the breastpiece, in which were Doctrine and Truth.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 quod which ACC.SG.N.REL
2 astringens fastening PTCP.PRES.ACT.NOM.SG.M
3 cingulo girdle ABL.SG.N
4 aptavit fitted 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
5 rationali breastpiece ABL.SG.N
6 in in PREP+ABL
7 quo which ABL.SG.N.REL
8 erat was 3SG.IMPF.ACT.IND
9 Doctrina Doctrine NOM.SG.F
10 et and CONJ
11 Veritas Truth NOM.SG.F

Syntax

Relative Continuation: quod — refers back to the previously mentioned humerale
Participial Action: astringens cingulo — manner by which the fitting is secured
Main Verb: aptavit — completes the action of attachment
Instrumental Phrase: rationali — ablative expressing association with the breastpiece
Locative Relative Clause: in quo erat Doctrina et Veritas — describes the contents associated with the breastpiece

Morphology

  1. quod — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: relative pronoun; Form: accusative neuter singular; Function: direct object referring back to the ephod; Translation: which; Notes: Neuter agreement reflects reference to humerale.
  2. astringens — Lemma: astringo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active participle nominative masculine singular; Function: circumstantial participle; Translation: fastening; Notes: Describes the means by which the fitting occurs.
  3. cingulo — Lemma: cingulum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative neuter singular second declension; Function: ablative of means; Translation: girdle; Notes: Instrument used to secure the garment.
  4. aptavit — Lemma: apto; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: fitted; Notes: Indicates precise and intentional arrangement.
  5. rationali — Lemma: rationale; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative neuter singular third declension; Function: ablative of association; Translation: breastpiece; Notes: Technical priestly term for the sacred breastpiece.
  6. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs the ablative; Function: expresses location; Translation: in; Notes: Introduces the clause describing contents.
  7. quo — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: relative pronoun; Form: ablative neuter singular; Function: object of in; Translation: which; Notes: Refers back to rationali.
  8. erat — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular imperfect active indicative; Function: copular verb; Translation: was; Notes: Describes a continuing state.
  9. Doctrina — Lemma: doctrina; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative feminine singular first declension; Function: subject; Translation: Doctrine; Notes: Rendered with capitalization reflecting its formal cultic sense.
  10. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: coordinates nouns; Translation: and; Notes: Joins two conceptual elements.
  11. Veritas — Lemma: veritas; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative feminine singular third declension; Function: subject coordinated with Doctrina; Translation: Truth; Notes: Paired with Doctrina as a sacred attribute.

 

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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