Numeri 14:17 (Numbers 14:17)

Posted on May 11, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 14:17 Magnificetur ergo fortitudo Domini sicut iurasti, dicens:

Therefore let the power of the LORD be magnified, just as you swore, saying:

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Magnificetur let be magnified 3SG.PRES.PASS.SUBJ
2 ergo therefore ADV
3 fortitudo power NOM.SG.F.NOUN
4 Domini of the LORD GEN.SG.M.NOUN
5 sicut just as ADV
6 iurasti you swore 2SG.PERF.ACT.IND
7 dicens saying NOM.SG.M.PRES.ACT.PTCP

Syntax

Main Clause: Magnificetur fortitudo Domini — fortitudo is the subject; Magnificetur is a passive subjunctive expressing a wish or exhortation.

Adverbial Modifier: ergo links the statement as a conclusion from previous reasoning.

Comparative Clause: sicut iurasti — refers to the prior divine oath, with iurasti as the verb.

Participial Phrase: dicens introduces the forthcoming content of the oath.

Morphology

  1. Magnificetur — Lemma: magnifico; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present passive subjunctive; Function: main verb expressing wish; Translation: let be magnified; Notes: Jussive subjunctive expressing desire or appeal.
  2. ergo — Lemma: ergo; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: inferential connector; Translation: therefore; Notes: Draws conclusion from prior argument.
  3. fortitudo — Lemma: fortitudo; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: subject; Translation: power; Notes: Refers to divine strength or might.
  4. Domini — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: dependent genitive; Translation: of the LORD; Notes: Indicates possession.
  5. sicut — Lemma: sicut; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: comparative; Translation: just as; Notes: Introduces comparison.
  6. iurasti — Lemma: iuro; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person singular perfect active indicative; Function: verb of comparative clause; Translation: you swore; Notes: Refers to divine oath.
  7. dicens — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: participle; Form: nominative singular masculine present active participle; Function: participial modifier; Translation: saying; Notes: Introduces direct speech to follow.

 

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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