Numeri 29:17 (Numbers 29:17)

Posted on May 26, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 29’17 In die altero offeretis vitulos de armento duodecim, arietes duos, agnos anniculos immaculatos quattuordecim:

On the second day you shall offer twelve young bulls from the herd, two rams, and fourteen spotless yearling lambs;

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 In on PREP+ABL
2 die day ABL.SG.F
3 altero second ABL.SG.M
4 offeretis you shall offer 2PL.FUT.ACT.IND
5 vitulos bulls ACC.PL.M
6 de from PREP+ABL
7 armento herd ABL.SG.N
8 duodecim twelve INDECL
9 arietes rams ACC.PL.M
10 duos two ACC.PL.M
11 agnos lambs ACC.PL.M
12 anniculos yearling ACC.PL.M
13 immaculatos spotless ACC.PL.M
14 quattuordecim fourteen INDECL

Syntax

Temporal Phrase: In die altero functions as an ablative expression of time, indicating when the prescribed sacrifices are to be offered.

Main Clause: offeretis is the principal verb with an implied second-person plural subject. The direct objects are vitulos de armento duodecim, arietes duos, and agnos anniculos immaculatos quattuordecim.

Source Phrase: de armento modifies vitulos, specifying that the bulls are taken from the herd.

Appositional List: The three groups of sacrificial animals form a coordinated list specifying the complete offering required on the second day of the feast.

Morphology

  1. In — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governing the Ablative; Function: Introduces temporal phrase; Translation: “on”; Notes: Marks the specific day on which the offering is presented.
  2. die — Lemma: dies; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative Singular Masculine; Function: Object of In; Translation: “day”; Notes: Indicates the time of the prescribed sacrifice.
  3. altero — Lemma: alter; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Ablative Singular Masculine; Function: Modifies die; Translation: “second”; Notes: Identifies the second day of the festival sequence.
  4. offeretis — Lemma: offero; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Second Person Plural Future Active Indicative; Function: Main verb; Translation: “you shall offer”; Notes: Expresses a future command or obligation.
  5. vitulos — Lemma: vitulus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative Plural Masculine; Function: First direct object; Translation: “bulls”; Notes: The largest sacrificial animals in the prescribed offering.
  6. de — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Governing the Ablative; Function: Introduces source phrase; Translation: “from”; Notes: Specifies the source category of the animals.
  7. armento — Lemma: armentum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative Singular Neuter; Function: Object of de; Translation: “herd”; Notes: Refers to domesticated cattle.
  8. duodecim — Lemma: duodecim; Part of Speech: Numeral; Form: Indeclinable Cardinal Number; Function: Modifies vitulos; Translation: “twelve”; Notes: Specifies the required number of bulls.
  9. arietes — Lemma: aries; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative Plural Masculine; Function: Second direct object; Translation: “rams”; Notes: Mature male sheep offered in sacrifice.
  10. duos — Lemma: duo; Part of Speech: Numeral; Form: Accusative Plural Masculine; Function: Modifies arietes; Translation: “two”; Notes: Specifies the required number of rams.
  11. agnos — Lemma: agnus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative Plural Masculine; Function: Third direct object; Translation: “lambs”; Notes: Young sheep suitable for sacrifice.
  12. anniculos — Lemma: anniculus; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Accusative Plural Masculine; Function: Modifies agnos; Translation: “yearling”; Notes: Indicates that the lambs are one year old.
  13. immaculatos — Lemma: immaculatus; Part of Speech: Adjective; Form: Accusative Plural Masculine; Function: Modifies agnos; Translation: “spotless”; Notes: Indicates freedom from physical defect.
  14. quattuordecim — Lemma: quattuordecim; Part of Speech: Numeral; Form: Indeclinable Cardinal Number; Function: Modifies agnos; Translation: “fourteen”; Notes: Specifies the required number of lambs.

 

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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