Numeri 20:3 (Numbers 20:3)

Posted on May 17, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 20:3 et versi in seditionem, dixerunt: Utinam periissemus inter fratres nostros coram Domino.

and having turned into rebellion, they said: “If only we had perished among our brothers before the LORD.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 et and CONJ
2 versi having turned NOM.PL.M.PERF.PASS.PTCP
3 in into PREP+ACC
4 seditionem rebellion ACC.SG.F
5 dixerunt they said 3PL.PERF.ACT.IND
6 Utinam if only ADV
7 periissemus we had perished 1PL.PLUP.ACT.SUBJ
8 inter among PREP+ACC
9 fratres brothers ACC.PL.M
10 nostros our ACC.PL.M
11 coram before PREP+ABL
12 Domino LORD ABL.SG.M

Syntax

Participial Phrase: versi in seditionem functions as a circumstantial participial construction describing the rebellious disposition of the people before speaking.

Verb: versi governs the phrase in seditionem, expressing movement into a state of rebellion.

Main Clause: dixerunt introduces the direct speech of complaint.

Direct Speech: Utinam periissemus expresses a wish contrary to reality using the pluperfect subjunctive.

Phrase: inter fratres nostros functions as a relational phrase identifying the group among whom they wished to perish.

Phrase: coram Domino functions as a prepositional phrase expressing presence before the LORD.

Morphology

  1. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: coordinating conjunction; Translation: “and”; Notes: links this statement directly with the preceding narrative of unrest.
  2. versi — Lemma: verto; Part of Speech: participle; Form: nominative plural masculine perfect passive participle; Function: circumstantial participle modifying the implied subject; Translation: “having turned”; Notes: describes a transition into a rebellious condition or attitude.
  3. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing accusative; Function: introduces directional or transformational phrase; Translation: “into”; Notes: with the accusative it expresses movement into a state or condition.
  4. seditionem — Lemma: seditio; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: object of in; Translation: “rebellion”; Notes: denotes dissension, revolt, or mutinous opposition.
  5. dixerunt — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person plural perfect active indicative; Function: main narrative verb; Translation: “they said”; Notes: introduces the spoken complaint of the community.
  6. Utinam — Lemma: utinam; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces optative expression; Translation: “if only”; Notes: commonly used with the subjunctive to express longing or regret.
  7. periissemus — Lemma: pereo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: first person plural pluperfect active subjunctive; Function: verb of unreal wish; Translation: “we had perished”; Notes: the pluperfect subjunctive expresses a wish concerning an unreal past event.
  8. inter — Lemma: inter; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing accusative; Function: introduces relational phrase; Translation: “among”; Notes: expresses position within a group.
  9. fratres — Lemma: frater; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: object of inter; Translation: “brothers”; Notes: refers to fellow members of the covenant community.
  10. nostros — Lemma: noster; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative plural masculine possessive; Function: modifies fratres; Translation: “our”; Notes: emphasizes kinship and shared identity.
  11. coram — Lemma: coram; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing ablative; Function: introduces spatial-presential phrase; Translation: “before”; Notes: conveys being in the presence or sight of another.
  12. Domino — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: object of coram; Translation: “LORD”; Notes: here Dominus refers to YHWH and is therefore translated as “LORD.”

 

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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