Numeri 5:20 (Numbers 5:20)

Posted on May 2, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 5:20 Sin autem declinasti a viro tuo, atque polluta es, et concubuisti cum altero viro:

But if you have turned aside from your husband, and you have been defiled, and you have lain with another man;

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Sin but if CONJ
2 autem however CONJ
3 declinasti you have turned aside 2SG.PERF.ACT.IND
4 a from PREP+ABL
5 viro husband ABL.SG.M
6 tuo your ABL.SG.M.POSS
7 atque and CONJ
8 polluta defiled PTCP.PERF.NOM.SG.F
9 es you are 2SG.PRES.ACT.IND
10 et and CONJ
11 concubuisti you have lain 2SG.PERF.ACT.IND
12 cum with PREP+ABL
13 altero another ABL.SG.M
14 viro man ABL.SG.M

Syntax

Conditional Clause: Sin autem declinasti a viro tuo introduces the contrary condition, with declinasti as the verb and a viro tuo as the phrase of separation from the husband.

Coordinated Clause: atque polluta es adds a second description, with polluta es forming a perfect passive construction.

Coordinated Clause: et concubuisti cum altero viro further specifies the offense, with concubuisti as the verb and cum altero viro as a prepositional phrase of association.

Morphology

  1. Sin — Lemma: sin; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: introduces a contrasting condition; Translation: but if; Notes: it marks the alternative outcome in the oath formula.
  2. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: connective particle within the conditional clause; Translation: however; Notes: it adds mild contrast and continuation.
  3. declinasti — Lemma: declino; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person singular perfect active indicative, 1st conjugation; Function: main verb of the first conditional statement; Translation: you have turned aside; Notes: it conveys deviation from marital faithfulness.
  4. a — Lemma: a; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: takes the ablative; Function: introduces separation; Translation: from; Notes: it marks movement away from the lawful husband.
  5. viro — Lemma: vir; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine, 2nd declension; Function: object of a; Translation: husband; Notes: here it refers specifically to the woman’s marital partner.
  6. tuo — Lemma: tuus; Part of Speech: possessive pronoun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: modifies viro; Translation: your; Notes: it personalizes the marital bond being violated.
  7. atque — Lemma: atque; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: links the first and second accusations; Translation: and; Notes: it gives a slightly emphatic continuation.
  8. polluta — Lemma: polluo; Part of Speech: verb (participle); Form: perfect passive participle nominative singular feminine; Function: predicate participle with es; Translation: defiled; Notes: it expresses the state resulting from sexual impurity.
  9. es — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person singular present active indicative; Function: auxiliary verb with polluta; Translation: you are; Notes: with the participle it yields the sense “you have been defiled.”
  10. et — Lemma: et; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: indeclinable; Function: coordinates the final clause; Translation: and; Notes: it continues the sequence of accusations.
  11. concubuisti — Lemma: concumbo; Part of Speech: verb; Form: second person singular perfect active indicative, 3rd conjugation; Function: main verb of the final coordinated clause; Translation: you have lain; Notes: it directly states sexual union.
  12. cum — Lemma: cum; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: takes the ablative; Function: introduces accompaniment or union; Translation: with; Notes: it marks the other participant in the act.
  13. altero — Lemma: alter; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: modifies viro; Translation: another; Notes: it indicates a man other than the husband.
  14. viro — Lemma: vir; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine, 2nd declension; Function: object of cum; Translation: man; Notes: this identifies the illicit partner.

 

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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