Numeri 9:15 (Numbers 9:15)

Posted on May 6, 2006 by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

Nm 9:15 Igitur die qua erectum est tabernaculum, operuit illud nubes. A vespere autem super tentorium erat quasi species ignis usque mane.

Therefore on the day when the tabernacle was set up, a cloud covered it. But from evening upon the tent there was as it were the appearance of fire until morning.

# Latin Gloss Grammar Tag
1 Igitur therefore CONJ
2 die day ABL.SG.F
3 qua when ABL.SG.F.REL
4 erectum set up NOM.SG.N.PERF.PASS.PTCP
5 est was 3SG.PRES.ACT.IND
6 tabernaculum tabernacle NOM.SG.N
7 operuit covered 3SG.PERF.ACT.IND
8 illud it ACC.SG.N.DEM
9 nubes cloud NOM.SG.F
10 A from PREP+ABL
11 vespere evening ABL.SG.N
12 autem however CONJ
13 super upon PREP+ACC
14 tentorium tent ACC.SG.N
15 erat was 3SG.IMP.ACT.IND
16 quasi as if ADV
17 species appearance NOM.SG.F
18 ignis of fire GEN.SG.M
19 usque until ADV
20 mane morning ACC.SG.N

Syntax

Main Clause: Igitur die qua erectum est tabernaculum operuit illud nubes — nubes is the subject, operuit the verb, and illud the object; die qua erectum est tabernaculum is a temporal clause.

Relative Clause: qua erectum est tabernaculum — describes the time of the action, with passive construction.

Main Clause 2: A vespere autem super tentorium erat quasi species ignis usque mane — species is subject, erat verb; super tentorium indicates location.

Comparison Phrase: quasi species ignis — expresses appearance.

Temporal Phrase: A vespere … usque mane — indicates duration.

Morphology

  1. Igitur — Lemma: igitur; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: connective; Translation: therefore; Notes: Marks narrative progression.
  2. die — Lemma: dies; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: ablative of time; Translation: day; Notes: Specifies temporal setting.
  3. qua — Lemma: qui; Part of Speech: relative pronoun; Form: ablative singular feminine; Function: introduces temporal clause; Translation: when; Notes: Refers back to die.
  4. erectum — Lemma: erigo; Part of Speech: participle; Form: nominative singular neuter perfect passive participle; Function: part of passive verb; Translation: set up; Notes: Agrees with tabernaculum.
  5. est — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular present active indicative; Function: auxiliary; Translation: was; Notes: Forms perfect passive.
  6. tabernaculum — Lemma: tabernaculum; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular neuter; Function: subject of relative clause; Translation: tabernacle; Notes: Sacred dwelling.
  7. operuit — Lemma: operio; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular perfect active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: covered; Notes: Completed action.
  8. illud — Lemma: ille; Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: direct object; Translation: it; Notes: Refers to tabernacle.
  9. nubes — Lemma: nubes; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: subject; Translation: cloud; Notes: Symbol of divine presence.
  10. A — Lemma: a; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs ablative; Function: introduces time; Translation: from; Notes: Marks starting point.
  11. vespere — Lemma: vesper; Part of Speech: noun; Form: ablative singular neuter; Function: object of a; Translation: evening; Notes: Beginning of period.
  12. autem — Lemma: autem; Part of Speech: conjunction; Form: invariable; Function: contrast; Translation: however; Notes: Introduces second scene.
  13. super — Lemma: super; Part of Speech: preposition; Form: governs accusative; Function: introduces location; Translation: upon; Notes: Indicates position above.
  14. tentorium — Lemma: tentorium; Part of Speech: noun; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: object of super; Translation: tent; Notes: Refers to sacred structure.
  15. erat — Lemma: sum; Part of Speech: verb; Form: third person singular imperfect active indicative; Function: main verb; Translation: was; Notes: Describes ongoing state.
  16. quasi — Lemma: quasi; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: introduces comparison; Translation: as if; Notes: Indicates resemblance.
  17. species — Lemma: species; Part of Speech: noun; Form: nominative singular feminine; Function: subject; Translation: appearance; Notes: Visible form.
  18. ignis — Lemma: ignis; Part of Speech: noun; Form: genitive singular masculine; Function: modifies species; Translation: of fire; Notes: Describes visual phenomenon.
  19. usque — Lemma: usque; Part of Speech: adverb; Form: invariable; Function: indicates extent; Translation: until; Notes: Marks duration.
  20. mane — Lemma: mane; Part of Speech: noun/adverbial accusative; Form: accusative singular neuter; Function: time expression; Translation: morning; Notes: Endpoint of period.

 

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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