Numeri 28:13 (Numbers 28:13)

Posted on May 25, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 28:13 et decimam decimæ similæ ex oleo in sacrificio per agnos singulos. holocaustum suavissimi odoris atque incensi est Domino.

and a tenth of a tenth of fine flour from oil as an offering for each individual lamb. It is a burnt offering of a most pleasing odor and of incense to the LORD.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 et and CONJ
2 decimam tenth ACC.SG.F
3 decimæ of-a-tenth GEN.SG.F
4 similæ fine flour GEN.SG.F
5 ex from PREP+ABL
6 oleo oil ABL.SG.N
7 in as PREP+ACC
8 sacrificio offering ABL.SG.N
9 per for PREP+ACC
10 agnos lambs ACC.PL.M
11 singulos individual ACC.PL.M
12 holocaustum burnt offering NOM.SG.N
13 suavissimi most pleasing GEN.SG.M.SUPER
14 odoris odor GEN.SG.M
15 atque and CONJ
16 incensi of incense GEN.SG.N
17 est is 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
18 Domino to the LORD DAT.SG.M

Syntax

Main Clause: holocaustum (subject) + est (copulative verb).

Predicate Description: suavissimi odoris atque incensi — genitive expressions describing the character of the burnt offering as one characterized by a most pleasing odor and incense.

Dative Phrase: Domino — dative of recipient/reference, indicating that the offering belongs to or is presented to the LORD.

Offering Specification: decimam decimæ similæ ex oleo in sacrificio per agnos singulos — specifies the required grain offering portion accompanying each lamb.

Morphology

  1. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable coordinating conjunction; Function: Connects this requirement with the preceding instructions; Translation: “and”; Notes: Continues the sacrificial regulations.
  2. decimam — Lemma: decimus; Part of Speech: Adjective used substantively; Form: Accusative singular feminine; Function: Direct object specifying the quantity offered; Translation: “a tenth”; Notes: Refers to a tenth measure.
  3. decimæ — Lemma: decimus; Part of Speech: Adjective used substantively; Form: Genitive singular feminine; Function: Dependent genitive modifying decimam; Translation: “of a tenth”; Notes: Produces the expression “a tenth of a tenth.”
  4. similæ — Lemma: simila; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive singular feminine, 1st Declension; Function: Genitive of material/content; Translation: “of fine flour”; Notes: Specifies the substance measured.
  5. ex — Lemma: ex; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Takes ablative; Function: Introduces source or composition; Translation: “from”; Notes: Governs oleo.
  6. oleo — Lemma: oleum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular neuter, 2nd Declension; Function: Object of the preposition ex; Translation: “oil”; Notes: Indicates the flour is associated with oil.
  7. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governing ablative here; Function: Introduces the sphere or manner of offering; Translation: “in”; Notes: Linked with sacrificio.
  8. sacrificio — Lemma: sacrificium; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular neuter, 2nd Declension; Function: Object of in; Translation: “offering”; Notes: Describes the sacrificial context.
  9. per — Lemma: per; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Takes accusative; Function: Expresses distribution; Translation: “for”; Notes: Indicates the amount required for each lamb.
  10. agnos — Lemma: agnus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative plural masculine, 2nd Declension; Function: Object of per; Translation: “lambs”; Notes: Refers to the sacrificial animals.
  11. singulos — Lemma: singulus; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Accusative plural masculine; Function: Modifies agnos; Translation: “individual”; Notes: Stresses one-by-one distribution.
  12. holocaustum — Lemma: holocaustum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative singular neuter, 2nd Declension; Function: Subject of est; Translation: “burnt offering”; Notes: The entire offering is consumed by fire.
  13. suavissimi — Lemma: suavis; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Genitive singular masculine superlative; Function: Modifies odoris; Translation: “most pleasing”; Notes: Emphasizes exceptional pleasantness.
  14. odoris — Lemma: odor; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive singular masculine, 3rd Declension; Function: Genitive of description; Translation: “odor”; Notes: Represents divine acceptance.
  15. atque — Lemma: atque; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects parallel genitive descriptions; Translation: “and”; Notes: Slightly stronger than simple et.
  16. incensi — Lemma: incensum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive singular neuter, 2nd Declension; Function: Genitive coordinated with odoris; Translation: “of incense”; Notes: Adds imagery of fragrant worship.
  17. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present active indicative, 3rd person singular; Function: Main verb; Translation: “is”; Notes: Links subject and predicate description.
  18. Domino — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Dative singular masculine, 2nd Declension; Function: Dative of reference/recipient; Translation: “to the LORD”; Notes: Refers to YHWH as the recipient of the offering.

 

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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