Numeri 12:5 (Numbers 12:5)

Posted on May 9, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 12:5 descendit Dominus in columna nubis, et stetit in introitu tabernaculi vocans Aaron et Mariam. Qui cum issent,

the LORD descended in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tabernacle, calling Aaron and Mariam. And when they had gone,

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 descendit descended 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
2 Dominus the LORD NOM.SG.M
3 in in PREP+ABL
4 columna pillar ABL.SG.F
5 nubis of cloud GEN.SG.F
6 et and CONJ
7 stetit stood 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
8 in at PREP+ABL
9 introitu entrance ABL.SG.M
10 tabernaculi of tabernacle GEN.SG.N
11 vocans calling NOM.SG.M PRES.PTCP.ACT
12 Aaron Aaron ACC.SG.M INDECL
13 et and CONJ
14 Mariam Mariam ACC.SG.F INDECL
15 Qui who NOM.PL.M REL
16 cum when CONJ
17 issent they had gone 3PL.PLUP.ACT.SUBJ

Syntax

Main Clause 1: Dominus is the subject of descendit. The phrase in columna nubis expresses the manner or form of descent.

Main Clause 2: Dominus remains the understood subject of stetit. The phrase in introitu tabernaculi indicates location.

Participial Phrase: vocans Aaron et Mariam modifies the subject Dominus, describing simultaneous action accompanying stetit.

Subordinate Clause: Qui cum issent is a relative-temporal clause. Qui refers to Aaron et Mariam, and issent expresses prior completed action.

Morphology

  1. descendit — Lemma: descendo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: main verb of the first clause; Translation: descended; Notes: The perfect tense marks a completed divine action in narrative sequence.
  2. Dominus — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine second declension; Function: subject of descendit and stetit; Translation: the LORD; Notes: Refers to YHWH, hence rendered with full reverential capitalization.
  3. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: preposition governing the ablative; Function: introduces a phrase of manner or medium; Translation: in; Notes: Here it expresses the form in which the descent occurs.
  4. columna — Lemma: columna; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine first declension; Function: object of in; Translation: pillar; Notes: A visible manifestation associated with divine presence.
  5. nubis — Lemma: nubes; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine third declension; Function: genitive modifying columna; Translation: of cloud; Notes: Specifies the substance or nature of the pillar.
  6. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable coordinating conjunction; Function: connects two main verbs; Translation: and; Notes: Links sequential actions.
  7. stetit — Lemma: sto; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: main verb of the second clause; Translation: stood; Notes: Indicates a fixed position following descent.
  8. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: preposition governing the ablative; Function: introduces a locative phrase; Translation: at; Notes: Specifies spatial position.
  9. introitu — Lemma: introitus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine fourth declension; Function: object of in; Translation: entrance; Notes: Refers to the entry point of the sacred structure.
  10. tabernaculi — Lemma: tabernaculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter second declension; Function: genitive modifying introitu; Translation: of tabernacle; Notes: Specifies the location more precisely.
  11. vocans — Lemma: voco; Part of Speech: verb; Form: nominative singular masculine present active participle; Function: participial modifier of Dominus; Translation: calling; Notes: Describes simultaneous action accompanying the standing.
  12. Aaron — Lemma: Aaron; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: accusative singular masculine indeclinable; Function: direct object of vocans; Translation: Aaron; Notes: Hebrew name retained without declension change.
  13. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable coordinating conjunction; Function: links direct objects; Translation: and; Notes: Connects the two individuals addressed.
  14. Mariam — Lemma: Mariam; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: accusative singular feminine indeclinable; Function: direct object of vocans; Translation: Mariam; Notes: Another indeclinable Hebrew proper name.
  15. Qui — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: relative pronoun; Form: nominative plural masculine; Function: subject of issent; Translation: who; Notes: Refers back to Aaron and Mariam collectively.
  16. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: subordinating conjunction; Function: introduces temporal clause; Translation: when; Notes: Signals a background action relative to the main narrative.
  17. issent — Lemma: eo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person plural pluperfect active subjunctive; Function: verb of subordinate clause; Translation: they had gone; Notes: The pluperfect marks the action as completed prior to the next event.

 

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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