BSV Reading 3: "The Serpent Has 'One Innocent Question' For Eve"

BSV Reading 3:  “The Serpent Has ‘One Innocent Question’ For Eve”

Genesis 3:1

The Serpent’s Craft: Prelude to the Fall

1        Sed et serpens erat callidior cunctis animantibus terrae quae fecerat Dominus Deus.  Qui dixit ad mulierem,  “Cur praecepit vobis Deus ut non comederetis de omni ligno paradisi?”

Sed et serpens erat callidior cunctis animantibus terrae quae fecerat Dominus Deus Now, the serpent was more cunning than any other earthly animal the Lord God had made;

“fecerat” is third person singular pluperfect indicative active of facio, facere, feci, factum, “to make or do.”  “quae” is nominative feminine plural of the pronoun qui, quae, quod. “terrae” is genitive singular of the first declension noun terra, terrae, f. “animantibus” is the ablative plural present participle of animo, animare, animavi, animatum, “to animate, transform into a living being.”  Ablative of degree of difference. 

“cunctis” is ablative plural of the first/second adjective cunctis, cuncta, cunctum, “all collectively, whole.” “callidior” is the comparative degree of the first/second declension adjective callidus, callida, callidum, “cunning, sly, crafty.”  “erat” is third person singular imperfect indicative active of sum, esse, fui, futurus. 

Qui dixit ad mulierem,  “Cur praecepit vobis Deus ut non comederetis de omni ligno paradisi?” He said to the woman, “Why has your God commanded that you may not eat from every tree of the garden?" “paradisi” is genitive singular of the second declension noun paradisus, paradisi, m., “park, orchard; Eden; paradise.” “comederitis” is second person plural perfect subjunctive active of comedo.  Prohibitive subjunctive with “ut.”  “praecepit” is third person singular perfect indicative active of praecipio, praecipere, praecepi, praeceptum, “to enjoin, direct, command.”  “cur” is an adverb meaning “why, for what reason, from what motive.”  “mulierem” is accusative singular of the third declension noun mulier, mulieris, f. , “woman, wife.”  “dixit” is third person singular perfect indicative active of dico, dicere, dixi, dictum.  “Qui”: relative pronoun referring back to “serpens.” 

Running Vocabulary

facio, facere, feci, factum, “to make or do.” qui, quae, quod, relative pronoun, “who, which, that, what.” terra, terrae, f., “the earth.” animo, animare, animavi, animatum, “to animate, transform into a living being” cunctis, cuncta, cunctum, “all collectively, whole.” callidus, callida, callidum, “cunning, sly, crafty.”  sum, esse, fui, futurus, “to be.”

paradisus, paradisi, m., “park, orchard; Eden; paradise.” comedo, comedere, comedi, comesum, “to eat.” praecipio, praecipere, praecepi, praeceptum, “to enjoin, direct, command.” cur, adverb, “why, for what reason, for what motive.” mulier, mulieris, f. , “woman, wife.”