Numeri 13:5 (Numbers 13:5)

Posted on May 10, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 13:5 De tribu Ruben, Sammua filium Zechur.

From the tribe of Ruben, Sammua the son of Zechur.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 De from PREP+ABL
2 tribu tribe ABL.SG.F
3 Ruben Reuben GEN.SG.INDECL
4 Sammua Shammua ACC.SG.M
5 filium son ACC.SG.M
6 Zechur Zaccur GEN.SG.INDECL

Syntax

Phrase: De tribu Ruben is a prepositional phrase indicating origin, “from the tribe of Ruben.”

Apposition: Sammua filium Zechur functions as an appositional identification of the individual selected.

Structure: The phrase is elliptical, depending on the previous clause, listing the representative from the tribe.

Morphology

  1. De — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs the ablative; Function: introduces origin; Translation: from; Notes: Marks source of selection.
  2. tribu — Lemma: tribus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine fourth declension; Function: object of De; Translation: tribe; Notes: Denotes one division of Israel.
  3. Ruben — Lemma: Ruben; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular indeclinable; Function: dependent genitive modifying tribu; Translation: of Ruben; Notes: Identifies the tribe.
  4. Sammua — Lemma: Sammua; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: object implied from previous verb of sending; Translation: Sammua; Notes: Name of the representative.
  5. filium — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine second declension; Function: in apposition to Sammua; Translation: son; Notes: Indicates lineage.
  6. Zechur — Lemma: Zechur; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular indeclinable; Function: dependent genitive modifying filium; Translation: of Zechur; Notes: Identifies the father.

 

Numeri 13:5 (Numbers 13:5) = Numeri 13:4 (Numbers 13:4)

 

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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