Numeri 23:24 (Numbers 23:24)

Posted on May 20, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 23:24 Ecce populus ut leæna consurget, et quasi leo erigetur: non accubabit donec devoret prædam, et occisorum sanguinem bibat.

Behold, the people shall rise up like a lioness, and shall be lifted up like a lion: it shall not lie down until it devours the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain.”

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Ecce behold INTJ
2 populus people NOM.SG.M.2ND DECL
3 ut like CONJ
4 leæna lioness NOM.SG.F.1ST DECL
5 consurget shall rise up 3SG.FUT.ACT.IND
6 et and CONJ
7 quasi like ADV
8 leo lion NOM.SG.M.3RD DECL
9 erigetur shall be lifted up 3SG.FUT.PASS.IND
10 non not ADV
11 accubabit shall lie down 3SG.FUT.ACT.IND
12 donec until CONJ
13 devoret it devours 3SG.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
14 prædam prey ACC.SG.F.1ST DECL
15 et and CONJ
16 occisorum of the slain GEN.PL.M.PERF.PASS.PTCP
17 sanguinem blood ACC.SG.M.3RD DECL
18 bibat it drinks 3SG.PRES.ACT.SUBJ

Syntax

Exclamatory Introduction: Ecce introduces the prophetic image with dramatic emphasis.

Main Clause: populus ut leæna consurget compares Israel to a lioness rising for action.

Comparative Construction: ut leæna functions as a simile emphasizing fierce power and readiness.

Coordinated Clause: et quasi leo erigetur parallels the first comparison with the image of a lion rising in strength.

Negative Main Clause: non accubabit states that the people will not rest.

Temporal Clause: donec devoret prædam establishes the condition that must be fulfilled before rest comes.

Coordinated Subjunctive Clause: et occisorum sanguinem bibat intensifies the imagery of total victory and conquest.

Genitive Construction: occisorum sanguinem identifies the blood as belonging to the slain enemies.

Morphology

  1. Ecce — Lemma: ecce; Part of Speech: interjection; Form: indeclinable interjection; Function: introduces the prophetic declaration; Translation: “behold”; Notes: The interjection draws strong attention to the vivid prophetic imagery.
  2. populus — Lemma: populus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine second declension; Function: subject of consurget, erigetur, accubabit, devoret, and bibat; Translation: “people”; Notes: The singular noun collectively represents Israel as one nation.
  3. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: comparative conjunction; Function: introduces the simile; Translation: “like”; Notes: Here the conjunction has comparative force rather than temporal or purposive meaning.
  4. leæna — Lemma: leæna; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine first declension; Function: object of comparison; Translation: “lioness”; Notes: The lioness symbolizes ferocity, vigilance, and protective strength.
  5. consurget — Lemma: consurgo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular future active indicative; Function: main verb of the first clause; Translation: “shall rise up”; Notes: The future tense expresses the coming military or national triumph of Israel.
  6. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction; Function: joins the parallel clauses; Translation: “and”; Notes: The conjunction connects the two lion imagery comparisons.
  7. quasi — Lemma: quasi; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable comparative adverb; Function: introduces the second simile; Translation: “like”; Notes: The adverb reinforces the comparison with royal and predatory strength.
  8. leo — Lemma: leo; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine third declension; Function: object of comparison; Translation: “lion”; Notes: The lion symbolizes power, courage, and dominance.
  9. erigetur — Lemma: erigo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular future passive indicative; Function: verb of the second clause; Translation: “shall be lifted up”; Notes: The passive form conveys elevation, exaltation, or rising into strength.
  10. non — Lemma: non; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable adverb of negation; Function: negates accubabit; Translation: “not”; Notes: The negation stresses relentless action without rest.
  11. accubabit — Lemma: accubo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular future active indicative; Function: main verb of the negative clause; Translation: “shall lie down”; Notes: The verb suggests resting after satisfaction or victory.
  12. donec — Lemma: donec; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: temporal conjunction; Function: introduces the temporal clause; Translation: “until”; Notes: The conjunction establishes the completion of conquest before rest.
  13. devoret — Lemma: devoro; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present active subjunctive; Function: verb of the temporal clause; Translation: “it devours”; Notes: The subjunctive follows donec in a future-oriented temporal clause.
  14. prædam — Lemma: præda; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular feminine first declension; Function: direct object of devoret; Translation: “prey”; Notes: The noun evokes the spoils or victims of conquest.
  15. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction; Function: joins the two actions within the temporal clause; Translation: “and”; Notes: The conjunction intensifies the progression of conquest imagery.
  16. occisorum — Lemma: occido; Part of Speech: participle; Form: genitive plural masculine perfect passive participle; Function: modifies sanguinem; Translation: “of the slain”; Notes: The participle refers to enemies who have been killed.
  17. sanguinem — Lemma: sanguis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular masculine third declension; Function: direct object of bibat; Translation: “blood”; Notes: The noun heightens the fierce imagery of total victory.
  18. bibat — Lemma: bibo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present active subjunctive; Function: coordinated verb within the temporal clause; Translation: “it drinks”; Notes: The subjunctive continues the future-oriented clause introduced by donec.

 

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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