Nm 7:46 hircumque pro peccato:
and a goat for sin;
| # |
Latin |
Gloss |
Grammar Tag |
| 1 |
hircumque |
and a goat |
ACC.SG.M |
| 2 |
pro |
for |
PREP+ABL |
| 3 |
peccato |
sin |
ABL.SG.N |
Syntax
Main Clause: Elliptical continuation with implied obtulit; hircumque functions as an additional coordinated object.
Object(s): hircumque — the sacrificial animal.
Phrase: pro peccato — prepositional phrase indicating purpose or offering type.
Clause Function: Continuation of the sacrificial list, specifying a sin offering.
Morphology
- hircumque — Lemma: hircus + -que; Part of Speech: noun with enclitic conjunction; Form: accusative singular masculine; Function: coordinated direct object (elliptical); Translation: and a goat; Notes: The enclitic -que attaches to the noun and links it to the preceding items in the list.
- pro — Lemma: pro; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: introduces purpose; Translation: for; Notes: Commonly used to indicate substitution or purpose in sacrificial contexts.
- peccato — Lemma: peccatum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: object of pro; Translation: sin; Notes: Indicates that the offering is intended for atonement of sin.
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.