Numeri 35:6 (Numbers 35:6)

^{Nm 35:6} De ipsis autem oppidis, quæ Levitis dabitis, sex erunt in fugitivorum auxilia separata, ut fugiat ad ea qui fuderit sanguinem: et exceptis his, alia quadraginta duo oppida,

Now of those very towns which you shall give to the Levites, six shall be set apart as refuges for fugitives, so that whoever has shed blood may flee to them; and besides these, another forty-two towns,

Syntax

Main Clause: De ipsis autem oppidis, quæ Levitis dabitis, sex erunt in fugitivorum auxilia separata identifies six towns that are to be designated as places of refuge. The opening prepositional phrase specifies the larger group of towns from which the six are selected, while sex erunt … separata states their particular designation.

Partitive Phrase: De ipsis autem oppidis means “Now of those very towns.” The preposition De governs the ablative plural oppidis. The intensive pronoun ipsis agrees with oppidis and emphasizes that the six towns are selected from the very towns already assigned to the Levites.

Discourse Connector: autem introduces a further specification of the preceding instructions. Here it is naturally translated as “now,” marking a transition from the general allocation of Levitical towns to the special designation of six of them.

Relative Clause: quæ Levitis dabitis means “which you shall give to the Levites.” The relative pronoun quæ refers back to oppidis and is accusative plural neuter because it functions as the direct object of dabitis.

Relative-Clause Subject and Verb: dabitis is the second-person plural future active indicative of do. Its implied subject is the children of Israel, to whom the preceding command was addressed. The verb describes the future act of giving the towns to the Levites.

Indirect Object: Levitis is dative plural masculine and functions as the indirect object of dabitis. It identifies the Levites as the recipients of the towns.

Subject of the Main Predicate: sex is an indeclinable cardinal numeral used substantivally with the understood noun oppida. It identifies six towns from the larger group given to the Levites. The neuter plural participle separata agrees with the understood noun.

Verbal Construction: erunt … separata consists of the future indicative erunt and the perfect passive participle separata. Formally, the combination can represent a future perfect passive construction, but in this context it expresses the future state or designation of the six towns: they shall be set apart for a particular purpose.

Purpose or Designation Phrase: in fugitivorum auxilia means “as refuges for fugitives” or, more literally, “for the assistance of fugitives.” The preposition in governs the accusative plural auxilia and expresses the purpose or function for which the towns are designated.

Genitive Construction: fugitivorum is genitive plural masculine and modifies auxilia. The substantivized adjective identifies the persons for whose benefit these refuges are provided. The expression establishes the protective function of the designated towns.

Purpose Clause: ut fugiat ad ea qui fuderit sanguinem means “so that whoever has shed blood may flee to them.” The conjunction ut introduces a subordinate purpose clause with the present subjunctive fugiat. This clause explains why the six towns are set apart.

Purpose-Clause Predicate: fugiat is the third-person singular present active subjunctive of fugio. It expresses the intended possibility of fleeing to the designated towns. The singular verb agrees with qui, which identifies the person entitled to seek refuge.

Destination Phrase: ad ea means “to them.” The preposition ad governs the accusative plural neuter pronoun ea, which refers back to the six towns. The phrase identifies the destination of the person fleeing.

Generalizing Relative Clause: qui fuderit sanguinem means “whoever has shed blood.” The relative pronoun qui is nominative singular masculine and functions as the subject of fuderit. It identifies a person by the action of shedding blood without specifying a particular individual.

Verb of the Relative Clause: fuderit is formally compatible with both the future perfect indicative and the perfect subjunctive. In this legal and prospective context, it is naturally understood as a future perfect indicative, referring to someone who shall have shed blood before seeking refuge. The English perfect “has shed” conveys the prior completion of that action.

Direct Object: sanguinem is accusative singular masculine and functions as the direct object of fuderit. The expression fundere sanguinem, literally “to shed blood,” refers to causing bloodshed and, in this context, to the taking of human life. The verse itself does not yet distinguish accidental killing from intentional murder; that distinction is developed in the subsequent legal instructions.

Coordinating Conjunction: et introduces the remaining towns after the six refuge towns have been identified. It connects the special designation of the six towns with the enumeration of the other forty-two.

Ablative Absolute: exceptis his means “these having been excepted” or, more naturally, “besides these.” The perfect passive participle exceptis agrees with the ablative plural neuter demonstrative pronoun his. Together they form an ablative absolute referring to the six towns already designated as refuges.

Reference of the Demonstrative: his refers to the six refuge towns rather than to the Levites or the fugitives. The construction separates these six towns from the remaining number without excluding them from the total allocation.

Remaining Towns: alia quadraginta duo oppida means “another forty-two towns.” The adjective alia agrees with the neuter plural noun oppida, while quadraginta duo supplies the numerical quantity.

Numerical Construction: quadraginta duo consists of the indeclinable cardinal numeral quadraginta and the neuter plural form duo. Together they express the number forty-two. The numeral duo agrees in gender and number with oppida.

Elliptical Construction: et exceptis his, alia quadraginta duo oppida has no separately expressed finite verb. The sense of erunt is understood from the preceding clause, yielding the meaning “and besides these, there shall be another forty-two towns.” The nominative plural analysis of alia quadraginta duo oppida follows this elliptical construction; the neuter plural forms themselves could also be accusative.

Clause Function: The verse distinguishes six specially designated refuge towns from forty-two other towns within the Levitical allocation. The purpose clause explains the protective function of the six towns, while the concluding numerical expression establishes the number of additional towns. The verse ends with an incomplete enumeration that continues into the following verse.

Morphology

1. De — Lemma: de; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Indeclinable preposition governing the ablative; Function: Introduces ipsis oppidis as the larger group from which six towns are selected; Translation: “of”; Notes: The preposition expresses a partitive relationship, identifying the six refuge towns as a subset of the towns allocated to the Levites.
2. ipsis — Lemma: ipse, ipsa, ipsum; Part of Speech: Intensive pronoun used adjectivally; Form: Ablative plural neuter; Function: Modifies oppidis and emphasizes the identity of the towns already mentioned; Translation: “those very”; Notes: The intensive form points specifically to the towns previously assigned to the Levites, emphasizing that the refuge towns are drawn from that same allocation.
3. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: Coordinating conjunction; Form: Indeclinable postpositive conjunction; Function: Introduces a further specification concerning the previously described Levitical towns; Translation: “now”; Notes: The conjunction marks a transition from the general provision of towns and their surrounding lands to the special function assigned to six of those towns.
4. oppidis — Lemma: oppidum, oppidi; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Ablative plural neuter, second declension; Function: Object of the preposition De, identifying the towns from which the refuge towns are selected; Translation: “towns”; Notes: The noun refers to the settlements that the Israelites are commanded to give to the Levites. The following relative clause further identifies these towns.
5. quæ — Lemma: qui, quæ, quod; Part of Speech: Relative pronoun; Form: Accusative plural neuter; Function: Direct object of dabitis, referring back to oppidis; Translation: “which”; Notes: Although its antecedent oppidis is ablative, the relative pronoun is accusative because it functions as the object of the verb in its own clause.
6. Levitis — Lemma: Levita, Levitæ; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Dative plural masculine, first declension; Function: Indirect object of dabitis, identifying the recipients of the towns; Translation: “to the Levites”; Notes: Although Levita belongs to the first declension, it denotes a masculine person. The plural identifies the Levitical community as the recipient of the allotted towns.
7. dabitis — Lemma: do, dare, dedi, datum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Second-person plural, future tense, active voice, indicative mood, first conjugation; Function: Predicate of the relative clause quæ Levitis dabitis; Translation: “you shall give”; Notes: The verb addresses the Israelites collectively and describes their obligation to provide towns for the Levites. The future indicative expresses the required action as part of the prescribed allocation.
8. sex — Lemma: sex; Part of Speech: Cardinal numeral; Form: Indeclinable numeral; Function: Functions substantivally as the subject of erunt … separata, with oppida understood; Translation: “six”; Notes: The numeral identifies the number of towns to receive the special designation of refuge. The understood neuter plural noun is reflected in the agreement of separata.
9. erunt — Lemma: sum, esse, fui; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third-person plural, future tense, active voice, indicative mood, irregular conjugation; Function: Auxiliary or copular element combining with separata to describe the future designation of the six towns; Translation: “shall be”; Notes: In combination with the perfect passive participle, the verb describes the towns as standing set apart for refuge. The construction has the form of a future perfect passive but conveys the prescribed future arrangement.
10. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Indeclinable preposition governing the accusative in this construction; Function: Introduces fugitivorum auxilia as the purpose or designated function of the six towns; Translation: “as”; Notes: The accusative construction expresses the role for which the towns are set apart. Here the towns are designated to provide assistance and refuge to fugitives.
11. fugitivorum — Lemma: fugitivus, fugitiva, fugitivum; Part of Speech: Adjective used substantivally; Form: Genitive plural masculine, first- and second-declension adjective, positive degree; Function: Dependent genitive modifier of auxilia, identifying the persons for whose benefit the refuges are established; Translation: “for fugitives”; Notes: Used substantivally, the adjective denotes persons who flee. In this context, it refers particularly to those seeking refuge after shedding blood.
12. auxilia — Lemma: auxilium, auxilii; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative plural neuter, second declension; Function: Object of the preposition in, expressing the intended function of the designated towns; Translation: “refuges”; Notes: The noun ordinarily denotes assistance, aid, or protection. Here it is applied to the practical protective function of the towns, which provide places where fugitives may seek safety.
13. separata — Lemma: separo, separare, separavi, separatum; Part of Speech: Verb, perfect passive participle; Form: Nominative plural neuter, perfect passive participle of a first-conjugation verb; Function: Agrees with the understood oppida and combines with erunt to express the designation of six towns; Translation: “set apart”; Notes: The participle expresses separation or designation for a particular purpose. The six towns are distinguished from the remaining Levitical towns by their function as places of refuge.
14. ut — Lemma: ut; Part of Speech: Subordinating conjunction; Form: Indeclinable conjunction introducing a clause with the subjunctive mood; Function: Introduces the purpose clause explaining why the six towns are designated as refuges; Translation: “so that”; Notes: The conjunction connects the establishment of refuge towns with their intended use by those who have shed blood.
15. fugiat — Lemma: fugio, fugere, fugi, fugitum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third-person singular, present tense, active voice, subjunctive mood, third conjugation in -io; Function: Predicate of the purpose clause introduced by ut; Translation: “he may flee”; Notes: The subjunctive expresses the intended possibility of seeking refuge. The singular subject is supplied by qui, referring generally to a person who has shed blood.
16. ad — Lemma: ad; Part of Speech: Preposition; Form: Indeclinable preposition governing the accusative; Function: Introduces ea as the destination of the action expressed by fugiat; Translation: “to”; Notes: With a verb of fleeing, the preposition identifies the place toward which the person moves, here the designated refuge towns.
17. ea — Lemma: is, ea, id; Part of Speech: Anaphoric pronoun; Form: Accusative plural neuter; Function: Object of ad, referring to the six towns set apart as refuges; Translation: “them”; Notes: The neuter plural form refers back to the understood oppida. It identifies the refuge towns as the destinations available to a person fleeing after bloodshed.
18. qui — Lemma: qui, quæ, quod; Part of Speech: Relative pronoun; Form: Nominative singular masculine; Function: Subject of fuderit and of fugiat, identifying the person who may seek refuge; Translation: “whoever”; Notes: The pronoun has a generalizing sense, referring to any person who meets the stated condition. Its masculine singular form is used generically rather than to identify a particular individual.
19. fuderit — Lemma: fundo, fundere, fudi, fusum; Part of Speech: Verb; Form: Third-person singular, future perfect tense, active voice, indicative mood, third conjugation; the form is also morphologically compatible with the perfect subjunctive; Function: Predicate of the generalizing relative clause qui fuderit sanguinem; Translation: “has shed”; Notes: The verb denotes the completed shedding of blood. In this prospective legal context, the future perfect interpretation expresses an action completed before the person seeks refuge. The identical perfect subjunctive form is also grammatically possible.
20. sanguinem — Lemma: sanguis, sanguinis; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Accusative singular masculine, third declension; Function: Direct object of fuderit; Translation: “blood”; Notes: The expression fuderit sanguinem literally describes the shedding of blood and, in this legal setting, refers to the taking of human life. The subsequent instructions distinguish different circumstances of killing.
21. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: Coordinating conjunction; Form: Indeclinable conjunction; Function: Connects the designation of six refuge towns with the enumeration of the remaining forty-two towns; Translation: “and”; Notes: The conjunction introduces an additional component of the Levitical allocation after the refuge towns have been separately identified.
22. exceptis — Lemma: excipio, excipere, excepi, exceptum; Part of Speech: Verb, perfect passive participle; Form: Ablative plural neuter, perfect passive participle of a third-conjugation verb in -io; Function: Forms an ablative absolute with his, excluding the six refuge towns from the count of additional towns; Translation: “having been excepted”; Notes: The construction exceptis his means “these being excepted” or “besides these.” It distinguishes the six refuge towns from the additional forty-two without removing them from the overall allocation.
23. his — Lemma: hic, hæc, hoc; Part of Speech: Demonstrative pronoun; Form: Ablative plural neuter; Function: Nominal element of the ablative absolute exceptis his, referring to the six refuge towns; Translation: “these”; Notes: The pronoun points back to the six towns previously designated as refuges. Its neuter plural form reflects the understood noun oppida.
24. alia — Lemma: alius, alia, aliud; Part of Speech: Pronominal adjective; Form: Nominative plural neuter, positive degree; Function: Modifies oppida, distinguishing the forty-two additional towns from the six refuge towns; Translation: “other”; Notes: The adjective marks the remaining towns as additional to those already designated. Its neuter plural form agrees with oppida and emphasizes the distinction between the two groups.
25. quadraginta — Lemma: quadraginta; Part of Speech: Cardinal numeral; Form: Indeclinable numeral expressing the quantity forty; Function: Combines with duo to specify the number of additional towns; Translation: “forty”; Notes: The numeral supplies the tens component of the compound numerical expression. Together with duo, it identifies forty-two towns besides the six refuges.
26. duo — Lemma: duo, duæ, duo; Part of Speech: Cardinal numeral; Form: Nominative plural neuter; Function: Combines with quadraginta to express forty-two and agrees with oppida; Translation: “two”; Notes: Unlike the indeclinable quadraginta, the numeral duo is inflected for gender. Its neuter plural form corresponds to the noun oppida.
27. oppida — Lemma: oppidum, oppidi; Part of Speech: Noun; Form: Nominative plural neuter, second declension; formally identical to the accusative plural; Function: Head noun of alia quadraginta duo oppida, functioning as the subject of an understood erunt; Translation: “towns”; Notes: The noun identifies the forty-two towns additional to the six refuge towns. The expression completes the distinction between the two groups, while the following verse continues the numerical summary of the Levitical allocation.