Numeri 23:2 (Numbers 23:2)

Posted on May 20, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 23:2 Cumque fecisset iuxta sermonem Balaam, imposuerunt simul vitulum et arietem super aram.

And when he had done according to the word of Balaam, they placed together a calf and a ram upon the altar.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Cumque and when CONJ
2 fecisset he had done 3SG.PLUP.ACT.SUBJ
3 iuxta according to PREP+ACC
4 sermonem word ACC.SG.M.3RD DECL
5 Balaam Balaam GEN.SG.M.INDECL
6 imposuerunt they placed upon 3PL.PERF.ACT.IND
7 simul together ADV
8 vitulum a calf ACC.SG.M.2ND DECL
9 et and CONJ
10 arietem a ram ACC.SG.M.3RD DECL
11 super upon PREP+ACC
12 aram altar ACC.SG.F.1ST DECL

Syntax

Subordinate Temporal Clause: Cumque fecisset introduces the prior action, “and when he had done.” The subject is implied from context, most naturally Balac, who carried out Balaam’s instruction.

Prepositional Phrase: iuxta sermonem Balaam modifies fecisset, indicating that the action was done according to Balaam’s word.

Main Clause: imposuerunt is the main verb, with an implied plural subject. vitulum and arietem are the direct objects.

Adverbial Modifier: simul describes the placing of the two animals together.

Prepositional Phrase: super aram indicates the location onto which the calf and ram were placed.

Morphology

  1. Cumque — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: conjunction with enclitic conjunction; Form: temporal conjunction with enclitic -que; Function: introduces a subordinate temporal clause; Translation: “and when”; Notes: The form links this action to the preceding command and frames it as completed before the main action.
  2. fecisset — Lemma: facio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular pluperfect active subjunctive; Function: verb of the subordinate temporal clause; Translation: “he had done”; Notes: The subjunctive is expected after cum in a temporal-circumstantial clause.
  3. iuxta — Lemma: iuxta; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: preposition governing the accusative; Function: introduces the standard according to which the action was performed; Translation: “according to”; Notes: Here iuxta expresses conformity to Balaam’s instruction.
  4. sermonem — Lemma: sermo; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine third declension; Function: object of the preposition iuxta; Translation: “word”; Notes: The noun refers to Balaam’s spoken instruction rather than merely casual speech.
  5. Balaam — Lemma: Balaam; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular masculine indeclinable; Function: possessive genitive modifying sermonem; Translation: “of Balaam”; Notes: The indeclinable form remains unchanged, while the genitive function is understood from syntax.
  6. imposuerunt — Lemma: impono; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person plural perfect active indicative; Function: main verb of the sentence; Translation: “they placed upon”; Notes: The compound verb naturally governs the idea of placing something on a surface or object.
  7. simul — Lemma: simul; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable adverb; Function: modifies imposuerunt; Translation: “together”; Notes: It indicates that the two sacrificial animals were placed in coordinated action.
  8. vitulum — Lemma: vitulus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine second declension; Function: direct object of imposuerunt; Translation: “a calf”; Notes: The singular form corresponds to one calf placed upon the altar.
  9. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction; Function: joins vitulum and arietem; Translation: “and”; Notes: The conjunction pairs the two sacrificial animals as coordinated objects.
  10. arietem — Lemma: aries; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine third declension; Function: direct object of imposuerunt; Translation: “a ram”; Notes: The ram is paired with the calf as part of the sacrificial arrangement.
  11. super — Lemma: super; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: preposition governing the accusative; Function: introduces the place onto which the objects were placed; Translation: “upon”; Notes: With the accusative, super commonly expresses motion or placement onto something.
  12. aram — Lemma: ara; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine first declension; Function: object of the preposition super; Translation: “altar”; Notes: The altar is the ritual surface upon which the sacrificial animals are placed.

 

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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