Numeri 3:32 (Numbers 3:32)

Posted on April 30, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 3:32 Princeps autem principum Levitarum Eleazar filius Aaron sacerdotis, erit super excubitores custodiæ Sanctuarii.

But the chief of the chiefs of the Levites, Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, shall be over the overseers of the guard of the sanctuary.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Princeps chief NOM.SG.M
2 autem however CONJ
3 principum of chiefs GEN.PL.M
4 Levitarum of Levites GEN.PL.M
5 Eleazar Eleazar NOUN.NOM.SG.M.INDECL
6 filius son NOM.SG.M
7 Aaron Aaron NOUN.GEN.SG.M.INDECL
8 sacerdotis of priest GEN.SG.M
9 erit shall be 3SG.FUT.ACT.IND
10 super over PREP+ACC
11 excubitores overseers ACC.PL.M
12 custodiæ of guard GEN.SG.F
13 Sanctuarii of sanctuary GEN.SG.N

Syntax

Main Clause: Princeps (subject) + erit (copulative verb) + Eleazar (predicate nominative).

Genitive Chain: principum Levitarum — specifies hierarchy, “of the chiefs of the Levites.”

Apposition: filius Aaron sacerdotis — identifies lineage, “son of Aaron the priest.”

Prepositional Phrase: super excubitores — expresses authority over overseers.

Genitive Phrase: custodiæ Sanctuarii — specifies function, “of the guard of the sanctuary.”

Morphology

  1. Princeps — Lemma: princeps; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine, third declension; Function: subject; Translation: chief; Notes: Refers to a leader with authority.
  2. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: coordinating conjunction; Function: introduces contrast or transition; Translation: however; Notes: Often used postpositively to shift focus.
  3. principum — Lemma: princeps; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive plural masculine; Function: modifies Princeps; Translation: of chiefs; Notes: Indicates rank among leaders.
  4. Levitarum — Lemma: Levita; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive plural masculine; Function: modifies principum; Translation: of Levites; Notes: Specifies the group.
  5. Eleazar — Lemma: Eleazar; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine indeclinable; Function: predicate nominative; Translation: Eleazar; Notes: Names the individual holding authority.
  6. filius — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: apposition to Eleazar; Translation: son; Notes: Indicates lineage.
  7. Aaron — Lemma: Aaron; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular masculine indeclinable; Function: dependent on filius; Translation: Aaron; Notes: Identifies the father.
  8. sacerdotis — Lemma: sacerdos; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: in apposition to Aaron; Translation: of priest; Notes: Specifies Aaron’s role.
  9. erit — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular future active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: shall be; Notes: Expresses future assignment of role.
  10. super — Lemma: super; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: preposition governing the accusative; Function: introduces authority relation; Translation: over; Notes: Indicates oversight.
  11. excubitores — Lemma: excubitor; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative plural masculine; Function: object of super; Translation: overseers; Notes: Refers to those keeping watch.
  12. custodiæ — Lemma: custodia; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: modifies excubitores; Translation: of guard; Notes: Specifies duty.
  13. Sanctuarii — Lemma: sanctuarium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter; Function: modifies custodiæ; Translation: of sanctuary; Notes: Indicates sacred context.

 

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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