Numeri 15:5 (Numbers 15:5)

Posted on May 12, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 15:5 et vinum ad liba fundenda eiusdem mensuræ dabit in holocaustum sive in victimam. Per agnos singulos

and wine for the drink offerings to be poured out, of the same measure, he shall give in the holocaust or in the victim. For each lamb

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 et and CONJ
2 vinum wine ACC.SG.N.2ND DECL.OBJ
3 ad for PREP+ACC
4 liba drink offerings ACC.PL.N.2ND DECL
5 fundenda to be poured GERUNDV.ACC.PL.N
6 eiusdem of the same GEN.SG.M/F/N.DEM.PRON
7 mensuræ measure GEN.SG.F.1ST DECL
8 dabit he shall give 3SG.FUT.ACT.IND
9 in in PREP+ACC
10 holocaustum holocaust ACC.SG.N.2ND DECL
11 sive or CONJ
12 in in PREP+ACC
13 victimam victim ACC.SG.F.1ST DECL
14 Per for PREP+ACC
15 agnos lambs ACC.PL.M.2ND DECL
16 singulos each ACC.PL.M.ADJ

Syntax

Main Clause: dabit governs the direct object vinum, indicating the giving of wine.

Purpose Phrase: ad liba fundenda expresses purpose, “for drink offerings to be poured,” with the gerundive construction indicating necessity or intended use.

Genitive Phrase: eiusdem mensuræ modifies vinum, specifying that it is of the same measure.

Sacrificial Context: in holocaustum sive in victimam indicates the context or type of sacrifice in which the wine is used.

Distribution Phrase: Per agnos singulos indicates distribution, meaning “for each lamb,” specifying that the quantity applies per individual animal.

Morphology

  1. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction; Function: connects this instruction to the preceding regulation; Translation: and; Notes: Continues the sequence of sacrificial prescriptions.
  2. vinum — Lemma: vinum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter second declension; Function: direct object of dabit; Translation: wine; Notes: Refers to the liquid component used in drink offerings.
  3. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing the accusative; Function: introduces purpose; Translation: for; Notes: Indicates intended use or direction toward an action.
  4. liba — Lemma: libum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural neuter second declension; Function: object of ad; Translation: drink offerings; Notes: Refers to offerings poured out, especially liquid offerings such as wine.
  5. fundenda — Lemma: fundo; Part of Speech: gerundive; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: modifies liba expressing purpose or necessity; Translation: to be poured; Notes: The gerundive conveys obligation or intended action.
  6. eiusdem — Lemma: idem; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun; Form: genitive singular masculine/feminine/neuter; Function: modifies mensuræ; Translation: of the same; Notes: Emphasizes equivalence with a previously specified measure.
  7. mensuræ — Lemma: mensura; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine first declension; Function: genitive of description; Translation: of measure; Notes: Specifies the quantitative standard applied to the offering.
  8. dabit — Lemma: do; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular future active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: he shall give; Notes: Expresses a prescribed future action within ritual law.
  9. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing the accusative; Function: indicates purpose or context; Translation: in; Notes: With the accusative, often expresses direction or purpose.
  10. holocaustum — Lemma: holocaustum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter second declension; Function: object of in; Translation: holocaust; Notes: A whole burnt offering entirely consumed by fire.
  11. sive — Lemma: sive; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating alternative conjunction; Function: introduces alternative; Translation: or; Notes: Presents equivalent options within ritual practice.
  12. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing the accusative; Function: indicates purpose or context; Translation: in; Notes: Maintains parallel structure with the preceding phrase.
  13. victimam — Lemma: victima; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine first declension; Function: object of in; Translation: victim; Notes: Refers to the sacrificial animal.
  14. Per — Lemma: per; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing the accusative; Function: indicates distribution; Translation: for; Notes: Expresses distribution across individual units.
  15. agnos — Lemma: agnus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine second declension; Function: object of per; Translation: lambs; Notes: Refers to sacrificial lambs.
  16. singulos — Lemma: singulus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: modifies agnos; Translation: each; Notes: Emphasizes individual distribution per lamb.

 

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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