Numeri 11:22 (Numbers 11:22)

Posted on May 8, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 11:22 Numquid ovium et boum multitudo cædetur, ut possit sufficere ad cibum? vel omnes pisces maris in unum congregabuntur, ut eos satient?

Shall a multitude of sheep and cattle be slaughtered, that it may be able to suffice for food? Or shall all the fishes of the sea be gathered into one, that they may satisfy them?”

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Numquid surely / is it really ADV
2 ovium of sheep GEN.PL.F
3 et and CONJ
4 boum of cattle GEN.PL.M
5 multitudo multitude NOM.SG.F
6 cædetur shall be cut down 3SG.FUT.PASS.IND
7 ut so that CONJ
8 possit it may be able 3SG.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
9 sufficere to suffice PRES.ACT.INF
10 ad for PREP+ACC
11 cibum food ACC.SG.M
12 vel or CONJ
13 omnes all NOM.PL.M
14 pisces fishes NOM.PL.M
15 maris of the sea GEN.SG.N
16 in into PREP+ACC
17 unum one ACC.SG.N
18 congregabuntur shall be gathered 3PL.FUT.PASS.IND
19 ut so that CONJ
20 eos them ACC.PL.M
21 satient they may satisfy 3PL.PRES.ACT.SUBJ

Syntax

Interrogative Main Clause 1: Numquid introduces a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer. multitudo is the subject, and cædetur is the verb. ovium et boum forms a partitive genitive modifying multitudo.

Purpose Clause 1: ut possit sufficere ad cibum expresses intended result. possit is the finite verb, sufficere is a complementary infinitive, and ad cibum indicates purpose or end.

Interrogative Main Clause 2: vel omnes pisces maris in unum congregabuntur is coordinated with the first question. omnes pisces is the subject, congregabuntur is the verb, maris is a dependent genitive, and in unum expresses result or direction into a single mass.

Purpose Clause 2: ut eos satient explains the intended outcome. satient is the verb, and eos is the direct object referring back to the people.

Morphology

  1. Numquid — Lemma: numquid; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: interrogative particle; Function: introduces a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer; Translation: surely / is it really; Notes: It conveys skepticism and challenges the plausibility of the scenario.
  2. ovium — Lemma: ovis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive plural feminine, third declension; Function: partitive genitive with multitudo; Translation: of sheep; Notes: Specifies one class of animals within the larger multitude.
  3. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction; Function: links ovium and boum; Translation: and; Notes: It joins two categories of livestock as a single conceptual group.
  4. boum — Lemma: bos; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive plural masculine, third declension; Function: partitive genitive with multitudo; Translation: of cattle; Notes: Complements ovium to cover major domesticated animals.
  5. multitudo — Lemma: multitudo; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine, third declension; Function: subject of cædetur; Translation: multitude; Notes: Emphasizes the vast quantity required to feed the people.
  6. cædetur — Lemma: caedō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular future passive indicative; Function: main verb of the first interrogative clause; Translation: shall be slaughtered; Notes: The passive voice focuses on the act being done rather than the agent.
  7. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: subordinating conjunction; Function: introduces a purpose clause; Translation: so that; Notes: It signals intended result following the hypothetical action.
  8. possit — Lemma: possum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present active subjunctive; Function: main verb of the purpose clause; Translation: it may be able; Notes: Expresses potential ability contingent on the preceding action.
  9. sufficere — Lemma: sufficiō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active infinitive; Function: complementary infinitive with possit; Translation: to suffice; Notes: Indicates adequacy in meeting the need.
  10. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: preposition governing the accusative; Function: introduces purpose or end; Translation: for; Notes: Specifies the intended use of the provision.
  11. cibum — Lemma: cibus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine, second declension; Function: object of ad; Translation: food; Notes: Denotes nourishment broadly rather than a specific type.
  12. vel — Lemma: vel; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction; Function: introduces an alternative scenario; Translation: or; Notes: Offers a second hypothetical that is equally improbable.
  13. omnes — Lemma: omnis; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative plural masculine; Function: modifies pisces; Translation: all; Notes: Stresses totality, leaving nothing out.
  14. pisces — Lemma: piscis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural masculine, third declension; Function: subject of congregabuntur; Translation: fishes; Notes: Refers to sea creatures as an alternative food source.
  15. maris — Lemma: mare; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter, third declension; Function: dependent genitive modifying pisces; Translation: of the sea; Notes: Specifies origin and scope of the fish.
  16. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: preposition governing the accusative; Function: indicates motion toward a result; Translation: into; Notes: Suggests gathering into a single place or mass.
  17. unum — Lemma: unus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: object of in; Translation: one; Notes: Implies unity or a single collected body.
  18. congregabuntur — Lemma: congregō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person plural future passive indicative; Function: main verb of the second interrogative clause; Translation: shall be gathered; Notes: The passive emphasizes the action of gathering rather than the gatherer.
  19. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: subordinating conjunction; Function: introduces a second purpose clause; Translation: so that; Notes: Again expresses intended outcome.
  20. eos — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: direct object of satient; Translation: them; Notes: Refers to the people in need of food.
  21. satient — Lemma: satiō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person plural present active subjunctive; Function: verb of the purpose clause; Translation: they may satisfy; Notes: Conveys fullness or complete satisfaction of hunger.

 

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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