Numeri 16:32 (Numbers 16:32)

Posted on May 13, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 16:32 et aperiens os suum, devoravit illos cum tabernaculis suis et universa substantia eorum.

then, opening its mouth, it devoured them with their tents and all their possessions.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 et then CONJ
2 aperiens opening NOM.SG.F.PTCP.PRES
3 os mouth ACC.SG.N
4 suum its own ACC.SG.N.POSS
5 devoravit devoured 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
6 illos them ACC.PL.M
7 cum with PREP+ABL
8 tabernaculis tents ABL.PL.N
9 suis their own ABL.PL.N.POSS
10 et and CONJ
11 universa all ACC.PL.N
12 substantia substance ACC.SG.F
13 eorum their GEN.PL.M

Syntax

Main Clause: devoravit (verb) + illos (direct object)

Participial Phrase: aperiens os suum — modifies the subject (understood as terra), describing manner.

Accompaniment Phrase: cum tabernaculis suis — expresses association, “with their tents.”

Coordinated Object Phrase: et universa substantia eorum — adds total possessions as object.

Morphology

  1. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction; Function: connects with previous narrative; Translation: then; Notes: contextual rendering shows continuation.
  2. aperiens — Lemma: aperio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: nominative singular feminine present active participle; Function: modifies subject; Translation: opening; Notes: indicates simultaneous action.
  3. os — Lemma: os; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object of participle; Translation: mouth; Notes: metaphorical usage.
  4. suum — Lemma: suus; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: modifies os; Translation: its own; Notes: reflexive possessive.
  5. devoravit — Lemma: devoro; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: devoured; Notes: expresses completed action.
  6. illos — Lemma: ille; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: direct object; Translation: them; Notes: refers to judged group.
  7. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: accompaniment; Translation: with; Notes: denotes inclusion.
  8. tabernaculis — Lemma: tabernaculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative plural neuter; Function: object of preposition; Translation: tents; Notes: refers to dwellings.
  9. suis — Lemma: suus; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: ablative plural neuter; Function: modifies tabernaculis; Translation: their own; Notes: reflexive possessive.
  10. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction; Function: connects objects; Translation: and; Notes: additive link.
  11. universa — Lemma: universus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative plural neuter; Function: modifies substantia; Translation: all; Notes: totality emphasized.
  12. substantia — Lemma: substantia; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: direct object; Translation: substance; Notes: denotes possessions or property.
  13. eorum — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: genitive plural masculine; Function: possessive modifier; Translation: their; Notes: refers to those consumed.

 

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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