Numeri 24:6 (Numbers 24:6)

Posted on May 21, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 24:6 ut valles nemorosæ, ut horti iuxta fluvios irrigui, ut tabernacula quæ fixit Dominus, quasi cedri prope aquas.

like wooded valleys, like watered gardens beside rivers, like tabernacles which the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 ut like CONJ
2 valles valleys NOM.PL.F
3 nemorosæ wooded NOM.PL.F.POS
4 ut like CONJ
5 horti gardens NOM.PL.M
6 iuxta beside PREP+ACC
7 fluvios rivers ACC.PL.M
8 irrigui watered NOM.PL.M.POS
9 ut like CONJ
10 tabernacula tabernacles NOM.PL.N
11 quæ which ACC.PL.N.REL
12 fixit has planted 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
13 Dominus the LORD NOM.SG.M
14 quasi like ADV
15 cedri cedars NOM.PL.F
16 prope beside PREP+ACC
17 aquas waters ACC.PL.F

Syntax

Comparative Sequence: The repeated ut introduces a series of poetic comparisons describing the beauty and flourishing state of Israel.

First Comparison: ut valles nemorosæ compares Israel to fertile wooded valleys.

Second Comparison: ut horti iuxta fluvios irrigui portrays Israel as well-watered gardens beside rivers.

Prepositional Phrase: iuxta fluvios modifies horti irrigui, specifying proximity to abundant water.

Third Comparison: ut tabernacula quæ fixit Dominus likens Israel’s dwellings to divinely established tabernacles.

Relative Clause: quæ fixit Dominus modifies tabernacula, attributing their establishment to the LORD.

Final Comparison: quasi cedri prope aquas compares Israel to strong cedars flourishing near waters.

Morphology

  1. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Comparative conjunction; Function: Introduces simile; Translation: “like”; Notes: Begins a poetic comparison emphasizing beauty and abundance.
  2. valles — Lemma: vallis; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural feminine third declension; Function: Subject of implied comparison; Translation: “valleys”; Notes: Suggests fertility and natural richness.
  3. nemorosæ — Lemma: nemorosus; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Nominative plural feminine positive degree; Function: Modifies valles; Translation: “wooded”; Notes: Describes valleys covered with groves or forests.
  4. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Comparative conjunction; Function: Introduces second simile; Translation: “like”; Notes: Continues the poetic parallelism.
  5. horti — Lemma: hortus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural masculine second declension; Function: Subject of implied comparison; Translation: “gardens”; Notes: Symbolizes cultivated beauty and fruitfulness.
  6. iuxta — Lemma: iuxta; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Preposition governing accusative; Function: Introduces locative phrase; Translation: “beside”; Notes: Indicates close proximity.
  7. fluvios — Lemma: fluvius; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative plural masculine second declension; Function: Object of iuxta; Translation: “rivers”; Notes: Represents a source of continual life and fertility.
  8. irrigui — Lemma: irriguus; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Nominative plural masculine positive degree; Function: Modifies horti; Translation: “watered”; Notes: Emphasizes abundant nourishment and flourishing growth.
  9. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Comparative conjunction; Function: Introduces third simile; Translation: “like”; Notes: Continues the sequence of prophetic imagery.
  10. tabernacula — Lemma: tabernaculum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural neuter second declension; Function: Subject of implied comparison; Translation: “tabernacles”; Notes: Refers to dwelling places or sacred tents.
  11. quæ — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: Relative pronoun; Form: Accusative plural neuter; Function: Direct object within the relative clause; Translation: “which”; Notes: Refers back to tabernacula.
  12. fixit — Lemma: figo; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: Verb of the relative clause; Translation: “has planted”; Notes: Conveys establishment or firm placement by divine action.
  13. Dominus — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative singular masculine second declension; Function: Subject of fixit; Translation: “the LORD”; Notes: Refers to YHWH as the one establishing Israel securely.
  14. quasi — Lemma: quasi; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Indeclinable comparative adverb; Function: Introduces final simile; Translation: “like”; Notes: Adds vivid poetic comparison.
  15. cedri — Lemma: cedrus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural feminine second declension; Function: Subject of implied comparison; Translation: “cedars”; Notes: Cedars symbolize majesty, durability, and strength.
  16. prope — Lemma: prope; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Preposition governing accusative; Function: Introduces locative phrase; Translation: “beside”; Notes: Indicates nearness to sustaining waters.
  17. aquas — Lemma: aqua; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative plural feminine first declension; Function: Object of prope; Translation: “waters”; Notes: Symbolizes life, fertility, and divine provision.

 

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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