Numeri 7:78 (Numbers 7:78)

Posted on May 4, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 7:78 Die duodecimo princeps filiorum Nephthali, Ahira filius Enan

On the twelfth day the leader of the sons of Nephthali was Ahira the son of Enan

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Die on day ABL.SG.M
2 duodecimo twelfth ABL.SG.M
3 princeps leader NOM.SG.M
4 filiorum of sons GEN.PL.M
5 Nephthali Naphtali GEN.SG INDECL
6 Ahira Ahira NOM.SG.M
7 filius son NOM.SG.M
8 Enan Enan GEN.SG INDECL

Syntax

Temporal Phrase: Die duodecimo — ablative of time indicating when the event occurs.

Main Clause (Nominal): princeps filiorum Nephthali Ahira filius Enan — princeps is the subject, with Ahira filius Enan in apposition identifying him.

Genitive Phrase: filiorum Nephthali specifies the group governed.

Morphology

  1. Die — Lemma: dies; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: ablative of time; Translation: on day; Notes: Temporal marker.
  2. duodecimo — Lemma: duodecimus; Part of Speech: adjective; Form: ablative singular masculine; Function: modifies die; Translation: twelfth; Notes: Ordinal number.
  3. princeps — Lemma: princeps; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: subject; Translation: leader; Notes: Chief figure.
  4. filiorum — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive plural masculine; Function: modifies princeps; Translation: of sons; Notes: Group identifier.
  5. Nephthali — Lemma: Nephthali; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular indeclinable; Function: modifies filiorum; Translation: of Nephthali; Notes: Tribal name.
  6. Ahira — Lemma: Ahira; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: apposition; Translation: Ahira; Notes: Identifies leader.
  7. filius — Lemma: filius; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular masculine; Function: apposition; Translation: son; Notes: Indicates lineage.
  8. Enan — Lemma: Enan; Part of Speech: proper noun; Form: genitive singular indeclinable; Function: modifies filius; Translation: of Enan; Notes: Father’s name.

 

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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