Numeri 32:16 (Numbers 32:16)

Posted on May 29, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 32:16 At illi prope accedentes, dixerunt: Caulas ovium fabricabimus, et stabula iumentorum, parvulis quoque nostris urbes munitas:

But they, coming near, said: “We will build sheepfolds and shelters for the beasts, and fortified cities for our little ones also;

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 At but CONJ.INVAR
2 illi they NOM.PL.M.DEM
3 prope near ADV.INVAR
4 accedentes coming NOM.PL.M.PRES.ACT.PTCP
5 dixerunt said 3PL.PERF.ACT.IND
6 Caulas sheepfolds ACC.PL.F.OBJ
7 ovium of sheep GEN.PL.F
8 fabricabimus we will build 1PL.FUT.ACT.IND
9 et and CONJ.INVAR
10 stabula shelters ACC.PL.N.OBJ
11 iumentorum of the beasts GEN.PL.N
12 parvulis for the little ones DAT.PL.M
13 quoque also ADV.INVAR
14 nostris our DAT.PL.M.POSS
15 urbes cities ACC.PL.F.OBJ
16 munitas fortified ACC.PL.F.PERF.PASS.PTCP

Syntax

Narrative Introduction: At illi prope accedentes, dixerunt introduces the reply of the sons of Ruben and Gad. At marks a contrast with Moyses’ warning, illi is the subject of dixerunt, and accedentes is a circumstantial participle describing their approach.

Participial Phrase: prope accedentes modifies illi. The present participle accedentes describes an action accompanying the speaking, while prope indicates that they drew near.

Direct Speech: Caulas ovium fabricabimus, et stabula iumentorum, parvulis quoque nostris urbes munitas states what they propose to construct before going to war.

Direct Objects: Caulas, stabula, and urbes munitas are coordinated direct objects of fabricabimus.

Genitive Phrases: ovium depends on Caulas, identifying the folds as being for sheep, while iumentorum depends on stabula, identifying the shelters as being for the beasts.

Dative of Advantage: parvulis quoque nostris identifies those for whose benefit the fortified cities are to be built. nostris agrees with parvulis, and quoque adds the sense “also.”

Participial Modifier: munitas modifies urbes and describes the cities as fortified or protected.

Morphology

  1. At — Lemma: at; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable coordinating conjunction; Function: Introduces a contrasting response; Translation: “but”; Notes: It marks a turn from Moyses’ accusation to the tribes’ explanation.
  2. illi — Lemma: ille; Part of Speech: Demonstrative pronoun; Form: Nominative plural masculine; Function: Subject of dixerunt; Translation: “they”; Notes: Refers to the representatives of Ruben and Gad who had been speaking with Moyses.
  3. prope — Lemma: prope; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Invariable adverb; Function: Modifies accedentes; Translation: “near”; Notes: It indicates that the speakers drew closer before making their proposal.
  4. accedentes — Lemma: accedo; Part of Speech: Present active participle; Form: Nominative plural masculine, present active participle, third conjugation; Function: Circumstantial participle agreeing with illi; Translation: “coming”; Notes: It describes their approach as simultaneous with the action of speaking.
  5. dixerunt — Lemma: dico; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third person plural, perfect active indicative, third conjugation; Function: Main verb introducing direct speech; Translation: “said”; Notes: It introduces the tribes’ proposed arrangement.
  6. Caulas — Lemma: caula; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative plural feminine, first declension; Function: Direct object of fabricabimus; Translation: “sheepfolds”; Notes: Refers to enclosed places constructed to protect and contain sheep.
  7. ovium — Lemma: ovis; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive plural feminine, third declension; Function: Genitive modifying Caulas; Translation: “of sheep”; Notes: It identifies the livestock for which the enclosures are intended.
  8. fabricabimus — Lemma: fabrico; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: First person plural, future active indicative, first conjugation; Function: Main verb of the direct speech; Translation: “we will build”; Notes: It expresses the tribes’ intention to construct protective facilities before joining the campaign.
  9. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Conjunction; Form: Invariable coordinating conjunction; Function: Connects Caulas and stabula; Translation: “and”; Notes: It joins two kinds of structures intended for livestock.
  10. stabula — Lemma: stabulum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative plural neuter, second declension; Function: Direct object of fabricabimus; Translation: “shelters”; Notes: Refers to stalls or enclosures used to house domestic animals.
  11. iumentorum — Lemma: iumentum; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Genitive plural neuter, second declension; Function: Genitive modifying stabula; Translation: “of the beasts”; Notes: It specifies the animals for which the shelters are to be constructed.
  12. parvulis — Lemma: parvulus; Part of Speech: Adjective used substantivally; Form: Dative plural masculine, positive degree; Function: Dative of advantage with the understood construction of urbes; Translation: “for the little ones”; Notes: Used substantivally, it refers to the children or young dependants who would remain behind.
  13. quoque — Lemma: quoque; Part of Speech: Adverb; Form: Invariable additive particle; Function: Emphasizes parvulis nostris; Translation: “also”; Notes: It adds the children to the livestock as another group needing protection.
  14. nostris — Lemma: noster; Part of Speech: Possessive adjective; Form: Dative plural masculine, positive degree; Function: Modifier of parvulis; Translation: “our”; Notes: It identifies the children as belonging to the speakers’ households.
  15. urbes — Lemma: urbs; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative plural feminine, third declension; Function: Direct object of fabricabimus; Translation: “cities”; Notes: Refers to settlements intended to protect the families who would remain east of the Jordan.
  16. munitas — Lemma: munio; Part of Speech: Perfect passive participle; Form: Accusative plural feminine, perfect passive participle, fourth conjugation; Function: Modifier of urbes; Translation: “fortified”; Notes: It describes the cities as strengthened with defensive works for the safety of those remaining behind.

 

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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