Numeri 24:3 (Numbers 24:3)

Posted on May 21, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 24:3 assumpta parabola ait: Dixit Balaam filius Beor: dixit homo, cuius obturatus est oculus:

having taken up the parable, he said: “Balaam son of Beor said: the man whose eye has been closed said:

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 assumpta having been taken up ABL.SG.F.PERF.PASS.PTCP
2 parabola parable ABL.SG.F
3 ait he said 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
4 Dixit said 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
5 Balaam Balaam NOM.SG.M
6 filius son NOM.SG.M
7 Beor Beor GEN.SG.M
8 dixit said 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
9 homo man NOM.SG.M
10 cuius whose GEN.SG.M.REL
11 obturatus closed NOM.SG.M.PERF.PASS.PTCP
12 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
13 oculus eye NOM.SG.M

Syntax

Ablative Absolute: assumpta parabola forms an ablative absolute construction introducing the prophetic utterance after the parable has been taken up.

Main Clause: ait functions as the introductory narrative verb leading into direct prophetic speech.

Direct Speech Formula: Dixit Balaam filius Beor serves as a formal prophetic declaration identifying the speaker.

Appositional Expression: homo stands in apposition to Balaam, further describing the prophetic figure.

Relative Clause: cuius obturatus est oculus modifies homo, characterizing the man by the state of his eye.

Predicate Construction: obturatus est forms a perfect passive verbal expression describing completed condition or state.

Morphology

  1. assumpta — Lemma: assumo; Part of Speech: Participle; Form: Ablative singular feminine perfect passive participle; Function: Part of ablative absolute construction; Translation: “having been taken up”; Notes: Introduces the solemn assumption or utterance of prophetic speech.
  2. parabola — Lemma: parabola; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular feminine first declension; Function: Noun within the ablative absolute; Translation: “parable”; Notes: Refers to a prophetic discourse or inspired oracle.
  3. ait — Lemma: aio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular present active indicative; Function: Main introductory verb; Translation: “he said”; Notes: Frequently used in direct speech introductions in biblical Latin.
  4. Dixit — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: Introduces formal prophetic declaration; Translation: “said”; Notes: Repetition heightens the solemnity of the oracle.
  5. Balaam — Lemma: Balaam; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine indeclinable; Function: Subject of Dixit; Translation: “Balaam”; Notes: The Hebrew name remains unchanged in Latin form.
  6. filius — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine second declension; Function: Apposition to Balaam; Translation: “son”; Notes: Identifies Balaam through paternal lineage.
  7. Beor — Lemma: Beor; Part of Speech: Proper noun; Form: Genitive singular masculine indeclinable; Function: Genitive modifier of filius; Translation: “Beor”; Notes: Specifies Balaam’s father in genealogical style.
  8. dixit — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: Repeated verb of declaration; Translation: “said”; Notes: Reinforces prophetic proclamation rhythmically.
  9. homo — Lemma: homo; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine third declension; Function: Appositional subject description; Translation: “man”; Notes: Highlights Balaam’s human identity before divine inspiration.
  10. cuius — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: Relative pronoun; Form: Genitive singular masculine; Function: Introduces relative clause modifying homo; Translation: “whose”; Notes: Expresses possession within the descriptive clause.
  11. obturatus — Lemma: obturo; Part of Speech: Participle; Form: Nominative singular masculine perfect passive participle; Function: Predicate participle with est; Translation: “closed”; Notes: Describes a completed condition affecting the eye.
  12. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular present active indicative; Function: Auxiliary verb in passive construction; Translation: “is”; Notes: Combines with the participle to form a perfect passive sense.
  13. oculus — Lemma: oculus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine second declension; Function: Subject of obturatus est; Translation: “eye”; Notes: Symbolically associated with prophetic sight and perception.

 

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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