Numeri 28:5 (Numbers 28:5)

Posted on May 25, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 28:5 decimam partem ephi similæ, quæ conspersa sit oleo purissimo, et habeat quartam partem hin.

A tenth part of an ephi of fine flour, which shall be mixed with the purest oil, and shall contain a fourth part of a hin.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 decimam tenth ACC.SG.F
2 partem part ACC.SG.F
3 ephi of ephah GEN.SG.N
4 similæ of fine flour GEN.SG.F
5 quæ which REL.NOM.SG.F
6 conspersa mixed PTCP.NOM.SG.F
7 sit shall be 3SG.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
8 oleo with oil ABL.SG.N
9 purissimo purest ABL.SG.N.SUPER
10 et and CONJ
11 habeat shall contain 3SG.PRES.ACT.SUBJ
12 quartam fourth ACC.SG.F
13 partem part ACC.SG.F
14 hin hin INDECL

Syntax

Measurement Phrase: decimam partem ephi similæ — specifies the quantity of fine flour accompanying the sacrifice.

Relative Clause: quæ conspersa sit oleo purissimo — modifies the offering portion, describing it as mixed with the purest oil.

Coordinated Clause: et habeat quartam partem hin — adds the required measure of oil.

Sacrificial Specification: The verse provides the exact grain-offering proportions to accompany the daily burnt offering.

Morphology

  1. decimam — Lemma: decimus; Part of Speech: Numeral Adjective; Form: Accusative Singular Feminine; Function: Modifies partem; Translation: “tenth”; Notes: Specifies a fractional measure.
  2. partem — Lemma: pars; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative Singular Feminine; Function: Main measured quantity; Translation: “part”; Notes: Forms part of a measurement expression.
  3. ephi — Lemma: ephi; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive Singular Neuter; Function: Genitive of measure; Translation: “of ephi”; Notes: An ancient dry measure.
  4. similæ — Lemma: simila; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive Singular Feminine; Function: Genitive modifying ephi; Translation: “of fine flour”; Notes: Refers to finely milled flour used in offerings.
  5. quæ — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: Relative Pronoun; Form: Nominative Singular Feminine; Function: Subject of the relative clause; Translation: “which”; Notes: Refers to the flour portion.
  6. conspersa — Lemma: conspergo; Part of Speech: Participle; Form: Perfect Passive Participle Nominative Singular Feminine; Function: Predicate participle; Translation: “mixed”; Notes: Indicates blending with oil.
  7. sit — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present Active Subjunctive 3rd Person Singular; Function: Verb of the relative clause; Translation: “shall be”; Notes: Expresses a prescribed requirement.
  8. oleo — Lemma: oleum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative Singular Neuter; Function: Ablative of means; Translation: “with oil”; Notes: Specifies the mixing ingredient.
  9. purissimo — Lemma: purus; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Ablative Singular Neuter Superlative Degree; Function: Modifies oleo; Translation: “purest”; Notes: Emphasizes the quality of the oil.
  10. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Connects clauses; Translation: “and”; Notes: Adds a further specification.
  11. habeat — Lemma: habeo; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present Active Subjunctive 3rd Person Singular; Function: Main verb of the coordinated clause; Translation: “shall contain”; Notes: States the required quantity.
  12. quartam — Lemma: quartus; Part of Speech: Numeral Adjective; Form: Accusative Singular Feminine; Function: Modifies partem; Translation: “fourth”; Notes: Indicates the fraction required.
  13. partem — Lemma: pars; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative Singular Feminine; Function: Direct object of habeat; Translation: “part”; Notes: Expresses a measured quantity.
  14. hin — Lemma: hin; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Indeclinable; Function: Genitive-like measure reference; Translation: “hin”; Notes: An ancient liquid measure used for oil and drink offerings.

 

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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