Numeri 20:6 (Numbers 20:6)

Posted on May 17, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 20:6 Ingressusque Moyses et Aaron, dimissa multitudine, tabernaculum fœderis, corruerunt proni in terram, clamaveruntque ad Dominum, atque dixerunt: Domine Deus audi clamorem huius populi, et aperi eis thesaurum tuum fontem aquæ vivæ, ut satiati, cesset murmuratio eorum. Et apparuit gloria Domini super eos.

And Moyses and Aaron entered, leaving the multitude behind, into the tabernacle of the covenant, and they fell face down upon the ground, and they cried out to the LORD, and said: “Lord God, hear the cry of this people, and open to them your treasury, the fountain of living water, so that having been satisfied, their murmuring may cease.” And the glory of the LORD appeared over them.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Ingressusque and having entered NOM.SG.M.PERF.DEP.PTCP
2 Moyses Moses NOM.SG.M
3 et and CONJ
4 Aaron Aaron NOM.SG.M
5 dimissa having left behind ABL.SG.F.PERF.PASS.PTCP
6 multitudine multitude ABL.SG.F
7 tabernaculum tabernacle ACC.SG.N
8 fœderis of the covenant GEN.SG.N
9 corruerunt they fell down 3PL.PERF.ACT.IND
10 proni face down NOM.PL.M
11 in upon PREP+ACC
12 terram ground ACC.SG.F
13 clamaveruntque and they cried out 3PL.PERF.ACT.IND
14 ad to PREP+ACC
15 Dominum LORD ACC.SG.M
16 atque and CONJ
17 dixerunt they said 3PL.PERF.ACT.IND
18 Domine Lord VOC.SG.M
19 Deus God VOC.SG.M
20 audi hear 2SG.PRES.ACT.IMP.MOOD
21 clamorem cry ACC.SG.M
22 huius of this GEN.SG.M
23 populi people GEN.SG.M
24 et and CONJ
25 aperi open 2SG.PRES.ACT.IMP.MOOD
26 eis to them DAT.PL
27 thesaurum treasury ACC.SG.M
28 tuum your ACC.SG.M
29 fontem fountain ACC.SG.M
30 aquæ of water GEN.SG.F
31 vivæ living GEN.SG.F
32 ut so that CONJ
33 satiati having been satisfied NOM.PL.M.PERF.PASS.PTCP
34 cesset may cease 3SG.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
35 murmuratio murmuring NOM.SG.F
36 eorum their GEN.PL
37 Et and CONJ
38 apparuit appeared 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
39 gloria glory NOM.SG.F
40 Domini LORD GEN.SG.M
41 super over PREP+ACC
42 eos them ACC.PL

Syntax

Participial Construction: Ingressusque Moyses et Aaron introduces the narrative movement into the sacred space through a participial opening.

Ablative Absolute: dimissa multitudine functions independently from the main clause and describes the multitude as having been left behind.

Object: tabernaculum fœderis functions as the destination toward which Moyses and Aaron entered.

Main Clause: corruerunt proni in terram describes an act of humility and supplication before the LORD.

Verb: clamaveruntque introduces direct appeal directed toward the LORD.

Phrase: ad Dominum functions as the object of prayer and supplication.

Direct Speech: Domine Deus audi clamorem huius populi forms an imperative petition asking divine attention to the suffering of the people.

Imperative Clause: aperi eis thesaurum tuum fontem aquæ vivæ requests divine provision through imagery of heavenly abundance and living water.

Purpose Clause: ut satiati, cesset murmuratio eorum expresses the desired result that satisfaction would bring an end to complaint.

Main Clause: Et apparuit gloria Domini super eos concludes the scene with divine manifestation.

Morphology

  1. Ingressusque — Lemma: ingredior; Part of Speech: participle; Form: nominative singular masculine perfect deponent participle; Function: circumstantial participle introducing narrative action; Translation: “and having entered”; Notes: the deponent form carries active meaning while the enclitic -que tightly connects the action to the previous context.
  2. Moyses — Lemma: Moyses; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject of the participial action; Translation: “Moyses”; Notes: presented as the principal intercessor for the people.
  3. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: coordinating conjunction; Translation: “and”; Notes: joins Moyses and Aaron in shared action.
  4. Aaron — Lemma: Aaron; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: coordinated subject; Translation: “Aaron”; Notes: accompanies Moyses in priestly mediation.
  5. dimissa — Lemma: dimitto; Part of Speech: participle; Form: ablative singular feminine perfect passive participle; Function: part of ablative absolute construction; Translation: “having left behind”; Notes: describes separation from the multitude before prayer.
  6. multitudine — Lemma: multitudo; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: noun of the ablative absolute; Translation: “multitude”; Notes: refers to the gathered people of Israel.
  7. tabernaculum — Lemma: tabernaculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: object indicating destination; Translation: “tabernacle”; Notes: denotes the sacred dwelling place associated with divine presence.
  8. fœderis — Lemma: fœdus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter; Function: possessive genitive modifying tabernaculum; Translation: “of the covenant”; Notes: emphasizes the covenantal relationship between the LORD and Israel.
  9. corruerunt — Lemma: corruo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person plural perfect active indicative; Function: main narrative verb; Translation: “they fell down”; Notes: depicts physical prostration in reverence or distress.
  10. proni — Lemma: pronus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: nominative plural masculine positive; Function: predicate adjective describing posture; Translation: “face down”; Notes: intensifies the humility of their prostration.
  11. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing accusative; Function: introduces directional phrase; Translation: “upon”; Notes: with the accusative it emphasizes movement toward the ground.
  12. terram — Lemma: terra; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine; Function: object of in; Translation: “ground”; Notes: highlights the complete lowering of the body in supplication.
  13. clamaveruntque — Lemma: clamo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person plural perfect active indicative; Function: main narrative verb; Translation: “and they cried out”; Notes: expresses urgent prayer and distress.
  14. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing accusative; Function: introduces direction toward the recipient; Translation: “to”; Notes: marks the LORD as the object of supplication.
  15. Dominum — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: object of ad; Translation: “LORD”; Notes: here Dominus refers to YHWH and is therefore translated as “LORD.”
  16. atque — Lemma: atque; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: connective conjunction; Translation: “and”; Notes: links the act of crying out with spoken prayer.
  17. dixerunt — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person plural perfect active indicative; Function: introduces direct speech; Translation: “they said”; Notes: formally introduces the spoken petition.
  18. Domine — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: vocative singular masculine; Function: direct address; Translation: “Lord”; Notes: used here as a vocative title within prayer.
  19. Deus — Lemma: Deus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: vocative singular masculine; Function: second term of direct address; Translation: “God”; Notes: reinforces the solemnity of the invocation.
  20. audi — Lemma: audio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person singular present active imperative; Function: imperative verb of petition; Translation: “hear”; Notes: requests divine attention and response.
  21. clamorem — Lemma: clamor; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object of audi; Translation: “cry”; Notes: conveys loud distress and communal anguish.
  22. huius — Lemma: hic; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: genitive singular masculine demonstrative; Function: modifies populi; Translation: “of this”; Notes: points specifically to the present community.
  23. populi — Lemma: populus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: possessive genitive modifying clamorem; Translation: “people”; Notes: identifies the source of the cry.
  24. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: coordinating conjunction; Translation: “and”; Notes: joins the two imperatives of the prayer.
  25. aperi — Lemma: aperio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person singular present active imperative; Function: imperative petition; Translation: “open”; Notes: requests divine provision and generosity.
  26. eis — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: dative plural; Function: indirect object of aperi; Translation: “to them”; Notes: refers to the needy people.
  27. thesaurum — Lemma: thesaurus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: direct object of aperi; Translation: “treasury”; Notes: metaphorically describes divine abundance.
  28. tuum — Lemma: tuus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: accusative singular masculine possessive; Function: modifies thesaurum; Translation: “your”; Notes: attributes the source of provision to God.
  29. fontem — Lemma: fons; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: appositional accusative to thesaurum; Translation: “fountain”; Notes: depicts abundant and flowing provision.
  30. aquæ — Lemma: aqua; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: genitive modifying fontem; Translation: “of water”; Notes: identifies the substance flowing from the fountain.
  31. vivæ — Lemma: vivus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: genitive singular feminine positive; Function: modifies aquæ; Translation: “living”; Notes: describes fresh and flowing water rather than stagnant water.
  32. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces purpose clause; Translation: “so that”; Notes: expresses intended result.
  33. satiati — Lemma: satio; Part of Speech: participle; Form: nominative plural masculine perfect passive participle; Function: circumstantial participle modifying implied subject; Translation: “having been satisfied”; Notes: indicates fulfillment of physical need.
  34. cesset — Lemma: cesso; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present active subjunctive; Function: verb of purpose clause; Translation: “may cease”; Notes: expresses desired cessation of rebellion.
  35. murmuratio — Lemma: murmuratio; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: subject of cesset; Translation: “murmuring”; Notes: refers to communal complaint against leadership and God.
  36. eorum — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: genitive plural; Function: possessive genitive modifying murmuratio; Translation: “their”; Notes: identifies the murmuring as belonging to the people.
  37. Et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: narrative conjunction; Translation: “and”; Notes: introduces the divine response.
  38. apparuit — Lemma: appareo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: main narrative verb; Translation: “appeared”; Notes: describes visible manifestation of divine presence.
  39. gloria — Lemma: gloria; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: subject of apparuit; Translation: “glory”; Notes: refers to the visible majesty associated with divine revelation.
  40. Domini — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: possessive genitive modifying gloria; Translation: “LORD”; Notes: here Dominus refers to YHWH and is therefore translated as “LORD.”
  41. super — Lemma: super; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governing accusative; Function: introduces spatial phrase; Translation: “over”; Notes: indicates divine presence manifested above the people.
  42. eos — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: pronoun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: object of super; Translation: “them”; Notes: refers to Moyses, Aaron, or the gathered people within the scene.

 

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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