Numeri 4:28 (Numbers 4:28)

Posted on May 1, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 4:28 Hic est cultus familiæ Gersonitarum in tabernaculo fœderis, eruntque sub manu Ithamar filii Aaron sacerdotis.

This is the service of the family of the Gersonites in the tabernacle of the covenant, and they shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Hic this NOM.SG.M
2 est is 3.SG.PRES.ACT.IND
3 cultus service NOM.SG.M
4 familiæ of the family GEN.SG.F
5 Gersonitarum of the Gershonites GEN.PL.M
6 in in PREP+ABL
7 tabernaculo tabernacle ABL.SG.N
8 fœderis of the covenant GEN.SG.N
9 eruntque and they shall be 3.PL.FUT.ACT.IND
10 sub under PREP+ABL
11 manu hand ABL.SG.F
12 Ithamar Ithamar INDECL
13 filii son GEN.SG.M
14 Aaron Aaron INDECL
15 sacerdotis of the priest GEN.SG.M

Syntax

Main Clause 1: Hic est cultus familiæ Gersonitarum — Hic is the subject, cultus is the predicate nominative, and est is the copula. familiæ Gersonitarum is a genitive phrase specifying whose service is described.

Prepositional Phrase: in tabernaculo fœderis — locative phrase modifying cultus, indicating the sphere of service.

Main Clause 2: eruntque sub manu Ithamar filii Aaron sacerdotis — erunt is the verb, with an implied subject referring to the Gersonites. sub manu expresses authority or supervision, and Ithamar filii Aaron sacerdotis is a genitive construction specifying the supervising individual.

Clause Function: The sentence both defines the role of the Gersonites and establishes the authority structure under which they serve.

Morphology

  1. Hic — Lemma: hic; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject; Translation: “this”; Notes: Refers to the described duty.
  2. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: present active indicative, third person singular; Function: copula; Translation: “is”; Notes: Links subject and predicate.
  3. cultus — Lemma: cultus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: predicate nominative; Translation: “service”; Notes: Refers to ritual or assigned duty.
  4. familiæ — Lemma: familia; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular feminine; Function: possessive genitive; Translation: “of the family”; Notes: Identifies group.
  5. Gersonitarum — Lemma: Gersonita; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive plural masculine; Function: dependent genitive; Translation: “of the Gersonites”; Notes: Clan designation.
  6. in — Lemma: in; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: introduces location; Translation: “in”; Notes: Spatial context.
  7. tabernaculo — Lemma: tabernaculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: object of in; Translation: “tabernacle”; Notes: Sacred dwelling.
  8. fœderis — Lemma: fœdus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular neuter; Function: dependent genitive; Translation: “of the covenant”; Notes: Defines sacred relationship.
  9. eruntque — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: future active indicative, third person plural with enclitic -que; Function: main verb; Translation: “and they shall be”; Notes: Indicates future state under authority.
  10. sub — Lemma: sub; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: expresses subordination; Translation: “under”; Notes: Indicates authority structure.
  11. manu — Lemma: manus; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: object of sub; Translation: “hand”; Notes: Idiomatic expression for control or supervision.
  12. Ithamar — Lemma: Ithamar; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: indeclinable; Function: dependent on manu; Translation: “Ithamar”; Notes: Son of Aaron overseeing duties.
  13. filii — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: modifier; Translation: “son”; Notes: Specifies lineage.
  14. Aaron — Lemma: Aaron; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: indeclinable; Function: genitive relation; Translation: “Aaron”; Notes: Priestly patriarch.
  15. sacerdotis — Lemma: sacerdos; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: appositional genitive; Translation: “of the priest”; Notes: Clarifies Aaron’s role.

 

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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