Numeri 14:42 (Numbers 14:42)

Posted on May 11, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 14:42 Nolite ascendere: non enim est Dominus vobiscum: ne corruatis coram inimicis vestris.

Do not go up, for the LORD is not with you, lest you fall before your enemies.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Nolite do not 2PL.PRES.ACT.IMP.MOOD
2 ascendere to go up INF.PRES.ACT
3 non not ADV
4 enim for CONJ
5 est he is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
6 Dominus the LORD NOM.SG.M
7 vobiscum with you ABL.PL.2P.PERS
8 ne lest CONJ
9 corruatis you fall 2PL.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
10 coram before PREP+ABL
11 inimicis enemies ABL.PL.M
12 vestris your POSS.ABL.PL.M

Syntax

Prohibitive Clause: Nolite ascendere forms a negative command, using Nolite with the infinitive ascendere.

Causal Clause: non enim est Dominus vobiscum explains the reason, with Dominus as subject and vobiscum as a prepositional phrase of accompaniment.

Purpose Clause: ne corruatis expresses a negative result or prevention.

Prepositional Phrase: coram inimicis vestris indicates presence or confrontation before enemies.

Morphology

  1. Nolite — Lemma: nolo; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Second person plural present active imperative; Function: Prohibitive auxiliary; Translation: do not; Notes: Used with infinitive to express negative command.
  2. ascendere — Lemma: ascendo; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present active infinitive; Function: Complement of Nolite; Translation: to go up; Notes: Expresses the forbidden action.
  3. non — Lemma: non; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Negates est; Translation: not; Notes: Denies presence.
  4. enim — Lemma: enim; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Introduces explanation; Translation: for; Notes: Gives reason.
  5. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular present active indicative; Function: Main verb; Translation: he is; Notes: Links subject and complement.
  6. Dominus — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative masculine singular; Function: Subject; Translation: the LORD; Notes: Refers to YHWH.
  7. vobiscum — Lemma: vos + cum; Part of Speech: Pronoun with enclitic preposition; Form: Ablative plural second person; Function: Complement of accompaniment; Translation: with you; Notes: Compound form of pronoun and preposition.
  8. ne — Lemma: ne; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Introduces negative purpose clause; Translation: lest; Notes: Governs subjunctive.
  9. corruatis — Lemma: corruo; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Second person plural present active subjunctive; Function: Verb of purpose clause; Translation: you fall; Notes: Subjunctive expresses feared outcome.
  10. coram — Lemma: coram; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governing ablative; Function: Introduces location; Translation: before; Notes: Indicates presence.
  11. inimicis — Lemma: inimicus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative masculine plural; Function: Object of coram; Translation: enemies; Notes: Refers to hostile forces.
  12. vestris — Lemma: vester; Part of Speech: Possessive adjective; Form: Ablative masculine plural; Function: Modifies inimicis; Translation: your; Notes: Agrees in case, number, and gender.

 

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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