Numeri 16:21 (Numbers 16:21)

Posted on May 13, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 16:21 Separamini de medio congregationis huius, ut eos repente disperdam.

“Separate yourselves from the midst of this congregation, so that I may suddenly destroy them.”

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Separamini separate yourselves 2PL.PRES.PASS.IMP.MOOD
2 de from PREP+ABL
3 medio midst NOUN ABL.SG.N
4 congregationis of the congregation NOUN GEN.SG.F
5 huius this PRON DEM GEN.SG.F
6 ut so that CONJ
7 eos them PRON ACC.PL.M
8 repente suddenly ADV
9 disperdam I may destroy 1SG.PRES.ACT.SUBJ

Syntax

Main Clause (Imperative): Separamini — command directed to a group

Prepositional Phrase: de medio congregationis huius — expresses separation from within the group

Purpose Clause: ut eos repente disperdam — expresses divine intent

Object: eos — those to be destroyed

Adverbial Modifier: repente — indicates suddenness

Morphology

  1. Separamini — Lemma: separo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present tense passive voice imperative mood second person plural; Function: main command; Translation: separate yourselves; Notes: passive form with reflexive sense.
  2. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: takes ablative; Function: introduces separation; Translation: from; Notes: indicates movement away.
  3. medio — Lemma: medium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: object of preposition; Translation: midst; Notes: central position.
  4. congregationis — Lemma: congregatio; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: dependent genitive; Translation: of the congregation; Notes: identifies group.
  5. huius — Lemma: hic; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: modifies congregationis; Translation: this; Notes: emphasizes immediacy.
  6. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: subordinating conjunction; Function: introduces purpose clause; Translation: so that; Notes: governs subjunctive.
  7. eos — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: them; Notes: refers to rebellious group.
  8. repente — Lemma: repente; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: modifies verb; Translation: suddenly; Notes: expresses abruptness.
  9. disperdam — Lemma: disperdo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present tense active voice subjunctive mood first person singular; Function: verb of purpose clause; Translation: I may destroy; Notes: expresses intended divine action.

 

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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