Numeri 11:3 (Numbers 11:3)

Posted on May 8, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 11:3 Vocavitque nomen loci illius, Incensio: eo quod incesus fuisset contra eos ignis Domini.

And he called the name of that place Burning, because the fire of the LORD had been kindled against them.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Vocavitque and he called 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
2 nomen name ACC.SG.N
3 loci of the place GEN.SG.M
4 illius of that GEN.SG.M
5 Incensio Burning NOM.SG.F
6 eo for this reason ABL.SG.N
7 quod because CONJ
8 incesus having been kindled NOM.SG.M.PTCP.PERF.PASS
9 fuisset had been 3SG.PLUP.ACT.SUBJ
10 contra against PREP+ACC
11 eos them ACC.PL.M.PERS.PRON
12 ignis fire NOM.SG.M
13 Domini of the LORD GEN.SG.M

Syntax

Main Clause: Vocavitque is the main finite verb, with an implied subject “he.” nomen is the direct object, while loci illius is a dependent genitive phrase specifying whose name is meant.

Predicate Naming: Incensio functions as the name assigned to the place, standing in predicate relation to nomen.

Causal Clause: eo quod introduces the reason for the naming. Within this clause, ignis Domini is the subject of the verbal idea, incesus fuisset forms a pluperfect passive periphrastic sense, and contra eos expresses the hostile direction of the fire.

Phrase: loci illius is a genitival phrase modifying nomen and identifying the specific place being named.

Phrase: contra eos is a prepositional phrase functioning adverbially, marking the object toward whom the divine fire was directed.

Morphology

  1. Vocavitque — Lemma: voco; Part of Speech: verb + conjunction; Form: 3rd person singular perfect active indicative with enclitic -que; Function: main verb introducing the naming action and linking it to the previous narrative; Translation: and he called; Notes: the enclitic -que joins this action tightly to what precedes.
  2. nomen — Lemma: nomen; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter, 3rd declension; Function: direct object of Vocavitque; Translation: name; Notes: this noun is commonly used in naming formulas with a verb of calling.
  3. loci — Lemma: locus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine, 2nd declension; Function: dependent genitive modifying nomen; Translation: of the place; Notes: it specifies the object named rather than serving as an independent participant.
  4. illius — Lemma: ille; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: genitive singular masculine demonstrative; Function: modifies loci; Translation: of that; Notes: the demonstrative points to a definite, already identifiable location.
  5. Incensio — Lemma: incensio; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine, 3rd declension; Function: predicate name assigned to the place; Translation: Burning; Notes: the noun encapsulates the event memorialized in the place name.
  6. eo — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: ablative singular neuter demonstrative; Function: ablative of cause or ground in the idiom eo quod; Translation: for this reason; Notes: together with quod it forms a causal connector meaning “because.”
  7. quod — Lemma: quod; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: introduces the causal clause; Translation: because; Notes: in this construction it does not function as a relative pronoun but as a subordinating conjunction.
  8. incesus — Lemma: incendo; Part of Speech: participle; Form: nominative singular masculine perfect passive participle; Function: participial element with fuisset in a passive pluperfect sense, agreeing with ignis; Translation: having been kindled; Notes: the form corresponds contextually to the fire being set ablaze or aroused against the people.
  9. fuisset — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: 3rd person singular pluperfect active subjunctive; Function: auxiliary completing the passive periphrastic sense with incesus inside the subordinate clause; Translation: had been; Notes: the subjunctive appears because the verb stands within a dependent causal clause.
  10. contra — Lemma: contra; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: invariable, governing the accusative; Function: introduces a prepositional phrase of hostile direction; Translation: against; Notes: it emphasizes opposition or movement directed toward a target.
  11. eos — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: accusative plural masculine personal pronoun; Function: object of contra; Translation: them; Notes: the pronoun refers to the people against whom the divine fire turned.
  12. ignis — Lemma: ignis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine, 3rd declension; Function: subject of incesus fuisset; Translation: fire; Notes: it is the active force in the event remembered by the place name.
  13. Domini — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine, 2nd declension; Function: possessive genitive modifying ignis; Translation: of the LORD; Notes: the genitive marks the fire as belonging to or proceeding from YHWH.

 

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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