Numeri 25:17 (Numbers 25:17)

Posted on May 22, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 25:17 Hostes vos sentiant Madianitæ, et percutite eos:

“Let the Madianites perceive that you are enemies, and strike them;

# # Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Hostes enemies NOM.PL.M
2 vos you NOM.PL.PERS
3 sentiant let perceive 3PL.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
4 Madianitæ Midianites NOM.PL.M
5 et and CONJ
6 percutite strike 2PL.PRES.ACT.IMP.MOOD
7 eos them ACC.PL.M.PERS

Syntax

Jussive Clause: Hostes vos sentiant Madianitæ uses the subjunctive sentiant with jussive force, expressing a command or desired realization.

Predicate Construction: Hostes vos functions as the predicate accusative idea perceived by the Midianites.

Subject: Madianitæ functions as the subject of sentiant.

Imperative Clause: percutite eos contains a direct plural command addressed to Israel.

Direct Object: eos functions as the object of percutite.

Morphology

  1. Hostes — Lemma: hostis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural masculine, 3rd declension; Function: predicate nominative associated with vos; Translation: “enemies”; Notes: denotes hostile adversaries or opponents.
  2. vos — Lemma: vos; Part of Speech: personal pronoun; Form: nominative plural; Function: predicate element within indirect perception construction; Translation: “you”; Notes: refers collectively to Israel.
  3. sentiant — Lemma: sentio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person plural present active subjunctive, 4th conjugation; Function: jussive subjunctive verb; Translation: “let perceive”; Notes: subjunctive mood expresses command or desired recognition.
  4. Madianitæ — Lemma: Madianita; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative plural masculine, 1st declension; Function: subject of sentiant; Translation: “Midianites”; Notes: refers to the Midianite people targeted for judgment.
  5. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable coordinating conjunction; Function: joins two commands; Translation: “and”; Notes: coordinates recognition with military action.
  6. percutite — Lemma: percutio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person plural present active imperative, 3rd conjugation; Function: imperative command verb; Translation: “strike”; Notes: forceful command implying violent attack or destruction.
  7. eos — Lemma: is; Part of Speech: personal pronoun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: direct object of percutite; Translation: “them”; Notes: refers to the Midianites.

 

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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