Numeri 23:29 (Numbers 23:29)

Posted on May 20, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 23:29 dixit ei Balaam: Ædifica mihi hic septem aras, et para totidem vitulos, eiusdemque numeri arietes.

Balaam said to him: “Build for me here seven altars, and prepare as many calves, and rams of the same number.”

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 dixit said 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
2 ei to him DAT.SG.PERS.PRON
3 Balaam Balaam NOM.SG.M.INDECL
4 Ædifica build 2SG.PRES.ACT.IMP.MOOD
5 mihi for me DAT.SG.PERS.PRON
6 hic here ADV
7 septem seven INDECL.NUM
8 aras altars ACC.PL.F.1ST DECL
9 et and CONJ
10 para prepare 2SG.PRES.ACT.IMP.MOOD
11 totidem as many INDECL.NUM
12 vitulos calves ACC.PL.M.2ND DECL
13 eiusdemque and of the same GEN.SG.N.DEM.PRON+CONJ
14 numeri number GEN.SG.M.2ND DECL
15 arietes rams ACC.PL.M.3RD DECL

Syntax

Main Narrative Clause: dixit ei Balaam introduces Balaam’s instructions directed to Balac.

Dative Construction: ei functions as the indirect object of dixit.

Imperative Clause: Ædifica mihi hic septem aras commands the construction of seven altars.

Dative of Advantage: mihi expresses that the altars are to be built for Balaam’s ritual purpose.

Adverbial Modifier: hic specifies the location where the altars are to be built.

Coordinated Imperative Clause: et para totidem vitulos commands the preparation of an equal number of calves.

Genitive Construction: eiusdem numeri specifies equivalence in quantity regarding the rams.

Elliptical Coordination: eiusdemque numeri arietes omits a repeated verb understood from para.

Morphology

  1. dixit — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: main narrative verb; Translation: “said”; Notes: The perfect tense advances the narrative with Balaam’s formal instruction.
  2. ei — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: personal pronoun; Form: dative singular masculine; Function: indirect object of dixit; Translation: “to him”; Notes: The pronoun refers to Balac.
  3. Balaam — Lemma: Balaam; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine indeclinable; Function: subject of dixit; Translation: “Balaam”; Notes: The indeclinable proper name identifies the speaker.
  4. Ædifica — Lemma: ædifico; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person singular present active imperative; Function: command directed to Balac; Translation: “build”; Notes: The imperative initiates the ritual preparations.
  5. mihi — Lemma: ego; Part of Speech: personal pronoun; Form: dative singular first person; Function: dative of advantage; Translation: “for me”; Notes: The pronoun indicates Balaam as beneficiary of the preparations.
  6. hic — Lemma: hic; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: indeclinable adverb of place; Function: modifies Ædifica; Translation: “here”; Notes: The adverb specifies the exact ritual location.
  7. septem — Lemma: septem; Part of Speech: numeral; Form: indeclinable cardinal numeral; Function: modifies aras; Translation: “seven”; Notes: The number carries ritual and symbolic significance in biblical contexts.
  8. aras — Lemma: ara; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural feminine first declension; Function: direct object of Ædifica; Translation: “altars”; Notes: The altars are intended for sacrificial offerings.
  9. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction; Function: joins the imperative clauses; Translation: “and”; Notes: The conjunction links the altar-building with the sacrificial preparations.
  10. para — Lemma: paro; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person singular present active imperative; Function: second command directed to Balac; Translation: “prepare”; Notes: The imperative calls for preparation of sacrificial animals.
  11. totidem — Lemma: totidem; Part of Speech: numeral; Form: indeclinable distributive numeral; Function: modifies vitulos; Translation: “as many”; Notes: The numeral indicates equality in number with the altars.
  12. vitulos — Lemma: vitulus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine second declension; Function: direct object of para; Translation: “calves”; Notes: The animals are intended for sacrificial ritual.
  13. eiusdemque — Lemma: idem; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun with enclitic conjunction; Form: genitive singular neuter with enclitic -que; Function: modifies numeri; Translation: “and of the same”; Notes: The expression emphasizes identical numerical quantity.
  14. numeri — Lemma: numerus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine second declension; Function: dependent genitive construction; Translation: “number”; Notes: The genitive defines equivalence of quantity.
  15. arietes — Lemma: aries; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine third declension; Function: implied direct object of the understood verb para; Translation: “rams”; Notes: The rams complete the prescribed sacrificial set.

 

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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