Numeri 20:4 (Numbers 20:4)

Posted on May 17, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 20:4 Cur eduxistis Ecclesiam Domini in solitudinem, ut et nos et nostra iumenta moriamur?

Why have you led out the assembly of the LORD into the wilderness, so that both we and our cattle may die?

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Cur why ADV
2 eduxistis you led out 2PL.PERF.ACT.IND
3 Ecclesiam assembly ACC.SG.F
4 Domini LORD GEN.SG.M
5 in into PREP+ACC
6 solitudinem wilderness ACC.SG.F
7 ut so that CONJ
8 et both CONJ
9 nos we NOM.PL
10 et and CONJ
11 nostra our NOM.PL.N
12 iumenta cattle NOM.PL.N
13 moriamur may die 1PL.PRES.DEP.SUBJ

Syntax

Interrogative Clause: Cur eduxistis Ecclesiam Domini in solitudinem functions as a direct question accusing Moyses and Aaron of bringing the people into danger.

Verb: eduxistis governs the direct object Ecclesiam Domini and the directional phrase in solitudinem.

Object: Ecclesiam Domini functions as the entity brought out into the wilderness.

Phrase: in solitudinem functions as a directional phrase expressing movement into a desolate place.

Purpose Clause: ut et nos et nostra iumenta moriamur expresses the perceived result or consequence of the action.

Compound Subject: nos et nostra iumenta functions as the compound subject of moriamur.

Morphology

  1. Cur — Lemma: cur; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable; Function: interrogative adverb; Translation: “why”; Notes: introduces a rhetorical question expressing complaint and frustration.
  2. eduxistis — Lemma: educo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person plural perfect active indicative; Function: main verb of the interrogative clause; Translation: “you led out”; Notes: directly addresses Moyses and Aaron as responsible leaders.
  3. Ecclesiam — Lemma: ecclesia; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: direct object of eduxistis; Translation: “assembly”; Notes: refers to the gathered covenant community.
  4. Domini — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: possessive genitive modifying Ecclesiam; Translation: “LORD”; Notes: here Dominus refers to YHWH and is therefore translated as “LORD.”
  5. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing accusative; Function: introduces directional phrase; Translation: “into”; Notes: with the accusative it expresses movement toward a place.
  6. solitudinem — Lemma: solitudo; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: object of in; Translation: “wilderness”; Notes: emphasizes barrenness, isolation, and danger.
  7. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces purpose or result clause; Translation: “so that”; Notes: introduces the consequence perceived by the speakers.
  8. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: emphatic coordinating conjunction; Translation: “both”; Notes: emphasizes inclusion of the people themselves.
  9. nos — Lemma: nos; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: nominative plural first person personal pronoun; Function: part of compound subject; Translation: “we”; Notes: places the speakers directly within the threatened outcome.
  10. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: coordinating conjunction; Translation: “and”; Notes: joins the people with their livestock in shared danger.
  11. nostra — Lemma: noster; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative plural neuter possessive; Function: modifies iumenta; Translation: “our”; Notes: stresses personal ownership and dependence upon the animals.
  12. iumenta — Lemma: iumentum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural neuter; Function: second part of compound subject; Translation: “cattle”; Notes: refers broadly to beasts of burden or livestock.
  13. moriamur — Lemma: morior; Part of Speech: verb; Form: first person plural present deponent subjunctive; Function: verb of the purpose-result clause; Translation: “may die”; Notes: the subjunctive expresses the feared consequence of being brought into the wilderness.

 

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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