Numeri 11:23 (Numbers 11:23)

Posted on May 8, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 11:23 Cui respondit Dominus: Numquid manus Domini invalida est? Iam nunc videbis utrum meus sermo opere compleatur.

To him the LORD answered: “Is the hand of the LORD weak? Now you shall see whether My word shall be fulfilled in deed.”

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Cui to whom DAT.SG.M.REL
2 respondit answered 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
3 Dominus the LORD NOM.SG.M
4 Numquid is it really ADV
5 manus hand NOM.SG.F
6 Domini of the LORD GEN.SG.M
7 invalida weak NOM.SG.F
8 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
9 Iam now ADV
10 nunc indeed now ADV
11 videbis you will see 2SG.FUT.ACT.IND
12 utrum whether CONJ
13 meus My NOM.SG.M.POSS
14 sermo word NOM.SG.M
15 opere in deed ABL.SG.N
16 compleatur may be fulfilled 3SG.PRES.PASS.SUBJ

Syntax

Introductory Clause: Cui respondit Dominus forms a relative construction functioning as a narrative bridge. Cui is an indirect object referring back to Moyses, Dominus is the subject, and respondit is the main verb.

Interrogative Clause: Numquid manus Domini invalida est is a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer. manus is the subject, Domini is a dependent genitive, invalida is a predicate adjective, and est is the copular verb.

Main Clause: Iam nunc videbis contains the subject implied in the verb videbis, with Iam nunc functioning adverbially to emphasize immediacy.

Content Clause: utrum meus sermo opere compleatur is an indirect question dependent on videbis. meus sermo is the subject, compleatur is the verb in the subjunctive, and opere is an ablative of means or manner.

Morphology

  1. Cui — Lemma: quī; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: dative singular masculine relative pronoun; Function: indirect object referring to the person addressed; Translation: to whom; Notes: It links the response directly to the preceding speaker. The word Cui is a central component of Latin syntax, often serving as the “connective tissue” between sentences in Vulgate texts. In this specific context, Cui is the dative singular form of the relative pronoun qui, quae, quod (who, which, what). In English, we usually start new sentences with “And he…” or “Then he…” However, Latin frequently uses a Relative Connecting Pronoun at the beginning of a sentence to link it to the person or idea mentioned immediately before. ​While a literal translation might be “To whom the Lord answered,” in fluid English, we translate it as:

    ​“To him the LORD answered…” or “And the LORD said to him…”

  2. respondit — Lemma: respondeō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: main verb of the introductory clause; Translation: answered; Notes: The perfect tense marks a completed response in narrative sequence.
  3. Dominus — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine, second declension; Function: subject of respondit; Translation: the LORD; Notes: Here Dominus refers to YHWH and is rendered “LORD.”
  4. Numquid — Lemma: numquid; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: interrogative particle; Function: introduces a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer; Translation: is it really; Notes: It challenges the doubt expressed by Moyses.
  5. manus — Lemma: manus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine, fourth declension; Function: subject of est; Translation: hand; Notes: Symbolically represents power or ability.
  6. Domini — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine, second declension; Function: dependent genitive modifying manus; Translation: of the LORD; Notes: Identifies the hand as belonging to YHWH.
  7. invalida — Lemma: invalidus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative singular feminine positive degree; Function: predicate adjective with manus; Translation: weak; Notes: Denies any limitation in divine power.
  8. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present active indicative; Function: copular verb; Translation: is; Notes: Establishes the present reality of divine capability.
  9. Iam — Lemma: iam; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable adverb; Function: modifies videbis; Translation: now; Notes: Signals immediacy in time.
  10. nunc — Lemma: nunc; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable adverb; Function: reinforces Iam; Translation: indeed now; Notes: The pairing intensifies the temporal emphasis.
  11. videbis — Lemma: videō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person singular future active indicative; Function: main verb of the statement; Translation: you will see; Notes: The future tense promises imminent verification.
  12. utrum — Lemma: utrum; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: interrogative conjunction; Function: introduces an indirect question; Translation: whether; Notes: It frames the content of what is to be seen.
  13. meus — Lemma: meus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative singular masculine possessive adjective; Function: modifies sermo; Translation: My; Notes: Emphasizes divine ownership of the word.
  14. sermo — Lemma: sermo; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine, third declension; Function: subject of compleatur; Translation: word; Notes: Refers to the spoken promise or decree.
  15. opere — Lemma: opus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter, third declension; Function: ablative of means or manner; Translation: in deed; Notes: Contrasts spoken word with realized action.
  16. compleatur — Lemma: compleō; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present passive subjunctive; Function: verb of the indirect question; Translation: may be fulfilled; Notes: The passive voice highlights the bringing to completion of the divine word.

 

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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