Numeri 31:50 (Numbers 31:50)

Posted on May 28, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 31:50 Ob hanc causam offerimus in donariis Domini singuli quod in præda auri potuimus invenire, periscelides et armillas, annulos et dextralia, ac murænulas, ut depreceris pro nobis Dominum.

For this reason, each of us offers among the gifts of the LORD whatever we were able to find in the spoil of gold: anklets and bracelets, rings and ornaments for the right arm, and necklaces, so that you may intercede with the LORD for us.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Ob on account of PREP+ACC
2 hanc this ACC.SG.F.DEM
3 causam reason ACC.SG.F
4 offerimus we offer 1PL.PRES.ACT.IND
5 in among PREP+ABL
6 donariis the gifts ABL.PL.N
7 Domini of the LORD GEN.SG.M
8 singuli each NOM.PL.M
9 quod whatever ACC.SG.N.REL.OBJ
10 in in PREP+ABL
11 præda the spoil ABL.SG.F
12 auri of gold GEN.SG.N
13 potuimus we were able 1PL.PERF.ACT.IND
14 invenire to find PRES.ACT.INF
15 periscelides anklets ACC.PL.F.APPOS
16 et and CONJ.INVAR
17 armillas bracelets ACC.PL.F.APPOS
18 annulos rings ACC.PL.M.APPOS
19 et and CONJ.INVAR
20 dextralia ornaments for the right arm ACC.PL.N.APPOS
21 ac and CONJ.INVAR
22 murænulas necklaces ACC.PL.F.APPOS
23 ut so that CONJ.INVAR
24 depreceris you may intercede 2SG.PRES.DEP.SUBJ
25 pro for PREP+ABL
26 nobis us ABL.PL.PERS
27 Dominum the LORD ACC.SG.M.OBJ

Syntax

Causal Phrase: Ob hanc causam is a prepositional phrase modifying offerimus. The preposition Ob governs the accusative phrase hanc causam and expresses the reason for the offering.

Main Clause: singuli is the distributive subject of offerimus. The plural verb refers to the speakers collectively, while singuli emphasizes that each person contributes individually.

Prepositional Phrase: in donariis Domini modifies offerimus. The ablative plural donariis denotes the category among which the objects are being presented, and Domini is a dependent genitive identifying them as gifts dedicated to the LORD.

Direct Object Clause: quod in præda auri potuimus invenire functions as the object of offerimus. The relative pronoun quod is used substantivally with the sense “whatever” and is the direct object of invenire.

Prepositional Phrase: in præda auri modifies invenire. The ablative præda identifies the spoil in which the objects were found, while auri specifies that the spoil consisted of gold.

Verbal Construction: potuimus invenire consists of the finite verb potuimus followed by the complementary infinitive invenire.

Appositional List: periscelides et armillas, annulos et dextralia, ac murænulas stands in apposition to quod and specifies the particular gold objects offered.

Purpose Clause: ut depreceris pro nobis Dominum expresses the intended purpose of the offering. The conjunction ut introduces the clause, and depreceris is a present subjunctive with the understood subject “you.”

Prepositional Phrase: pro nobis modifies depreceris and identifies those on whose behalf the intercession is requested.

Direct Object: Dominum is the accusative direct object of depreceris, identifying the LORD as the one being entreated.

Morphology

  1. Ob — Lemma: ob; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Invariable preposition governing the accusative; Function: Introduces the causal phrase Ob hanc causam; Translation: “on account of”; Notes: It expresses the reason or motive for presenting the gifts.
  2. hanc — Lemma: hic; Part of Speech: Demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally; Form: Accusative singular feminine; Function: Modifier of causam; Translation: “this”; Notes: It points back to the complete survival of the fighting men described in the preceding statement.
  3. causam — Lemma: causa; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative singular feminine, first declension; Function: Object of the preposition Ob; Translation: “reason”; Notes: The noun identifies the circumstance motivating the offering.
  4. offerimus — Lemma: offero; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: First person plural, present active indicative, irregular compound of fero; Function: Main verb of the sentence; Translation: “we offer”; Notes: The present tense presents the act of giving as occurring at the moment of speech.
  5. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Invariable preposition governing the ablative; Function: Introduces in donariis Domini; Translation: “among”; Notes: Here it places the objects within the category of gifts dedicated to the LORD.
  6. donariis — Lemma: donarium; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative plural neuter, second declension; Function: Object of the preposition in; Translation: “the gifts”; Notes: It refers to votive offerings or objects presented for sacred use.
  7. Domini — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive singular masculine, second declension; Function: Possessive genitive modifying donariis; Translation: “of the LORD”; Notes: It identifies the gifts as offerings dedicated to YHWH.
  8. singuli — Lemma: singuli; Part of Speech: Distributive adjective used substantivally; Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Subject associated with offerimus; Translation: “each”; Notes: The distributive form emphasizes that the members of the group contribute individually.
  9. quod — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: Relative pronoun; Form: Accusative singular neuter; Function: Direct object of invenire and substantive object of offerimus; Translation: “whatever”; Notes: Used without an expressed antecedent, it introduces a free relative clause referring collectively to the objects found.
  10. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Invariable preposition governing the ablative; Function: Introduces in præda auri; Translation: “in”; Notes: It indicates the location or sphere in which the gold objects were discovered.
  11. præda — Lemma: præda; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative singular feminine, first declension; Function: Object of the preposition in; Translation: “the spoil”; Notes: It denotes goods taken from the defeated enemy.
  12. auri — Lemma: aurum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive singular neuter, second declension; Function: Genitive modifying præda; Translation: “of gold”; Notes: It specifies the material or type of spoil from which the listed ornaments came.
  13. potuimus — Lemma: possum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: First person plural, perfect active indicative, irregular; Function: Finite verb governing the complementary infinitive invenire; Translation: “we were able”; Notes: It expresses the speakers’ ability or opportunity to locate the objects in the spoil.
  14. invenire — Lemma: invenio; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Present active infinitive, fourth conjugation; Function: Complementary infinitive dependent on potuimus; Translation: “to find”; Notes: Its action is completed in relation to the perfect verb potuimus, although the infinitive itself is morphologically present.
  15. periscelides — Lemma: periscelis; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative plural feminine, third declension; Function: Apposition to the substantive relative pronoun quod; Translation: “anklets”; Notes: The noun refers to ornamental bands worn around the leg or ankle.
  16. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable coordinating conjunction; Function: Connects periscelides and armillas; Translation: “and”; Notes: It joins the first pair of ornaments in the list.
  17. armillas — Lemma: armilla; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative plural feminine, first declension; Function: Apposition to quod; Translation: “bracelets”; Notes: It denotes ornamental bands worn around the arm or wrist.
  18. annulos — Lemma: annulus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative plural masculine, second declension; Function: Apposition to quod; Translation: “rings”; Notes: The noun commonly refers to finger rings or circular ornaments.
  19. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable coordinating conjunction; Function: Connects annulos and dextralia; Translation: “and”; Notes: It joins the second pair of gold ornaments.
  20. dextralia — Lemma: dextrale; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative plural neuter, third declension; Function: Apposition to quod; Translation: “ornaments for the right arm”; Notes: The term denotes ornaments associated with the right arm or wrist.
  21. ac — Lemma: ac; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable coordinating conjunction; Function: Connects murænulas to the preceding list; Translation: “and”; Notes: It adds the final type of ornament to the enumeration.
  22. murænulas — Lemma: murænula; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative plural feminine, first declension; Function: Apposition to quod; Translation: “necklaces”; Notes: The diminutive noun refers to ornamental chains or necklaces.
  23. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable subordinating conjunction; Function: Introduces the purpose clause ut depreceris pro nobis Dominum; Translation: “so that”; Notes: It marks the intended purpose of presenting the gold offerings.
  24. depreceris — Lemma: deprecor; Part of Speech: Deponent verb; Form: Second person singular, present deponent subjunctive, first conjugation; Function: Verb of the purpose clause; Translation: “you may intercede”; Notes: The verb can mean to entreat, plead with, or seek to avert displeasure through supplication.
  25. pro — Lemma: pro; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Invariable preposition governing the ablative; Function: Introduces pro nobis; Translation: “for”; Notes: It expresses representation or action undertaken on another’s behalf.
  26. nobis — Lemma: nos; Part of Speech: Personal pronoun; Form: Ablative plural, first person; Function: Object of the preposition pro; Translation: “us”; Notes: It identifies the officers as those for whom the intercession is requested.
  27. Dominum — Lemma: Dominus; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative singular masculine, second declension; Function: Direct object of depreceris; Translation: “the LORD”; Notes: It refers to YHWH as the one whom Moyses is asked to entreat on behalf of the officers.

 

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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