In this lesson, we will be studying John 2:11-15 from the Latin Vulgate, a passage drawn from the beginning of Our Lord’s public ministry in the Gospel of St. John. These verses conclude the account of the wedding at Cana, where Jesus first manifests His glory through a miraculous sign, and then move directly toward Jerusalem and the cleansing of the temple. This passage is important because it reveals both the divine power of Christ and His holy zeal: first, He shows Himself as the one in whom the disciples come to believe, and then He appears as the Lord who purifies His Father’s house. By studying these verses in Latin, we learn not only the language of the Church, but also how St. John presents the majesty, authority, and mission of Jesus with great simplicity and force.
Text
11a. Hoc fecit initium signorum Iesus in Cana Galilaeae et manifestavit gloriam suam.
11b. Et crediderunt in eum discipuli eius.
12a. Post hoc descendit Capharnaum ipse, et mater eius, et fratres eius, et discipuli eius.
12b. Et ibi manserunt non multis diebus.
13. Et prope erat Pascha Judaeorum, et ascendit Jesus Jerosolymam.
14. Et invenit in templo vendentes boves, et oves, et columbas, et numularios sedentes.
15. Et cum fecisset quasi flagellum de funiculis, omnes ejecit de templo, oves quoque, et boves, et numulariorum effudit aes, et mensas subvertit.
Exposition
11a. Hoc fecit initium signorum Iesus in Cana Galilaeae et manifestavit gloriam suam.
- Hoc: pronoun = “this”
- fecit: verb = “he-did”
- initium: noun = “beginning”
- signorum: noun = “of-signs”
- Iesus: noun = “Jesus”
- in: preposition = “in”
- Cana: noun = “Cana”
- Galilaeae: noun = “of-Galilee”
- et: conjunction = “and”
- manifestavit: verb = “he-manifested”
- gloriam: noun = “glory”
- suam: adjective = “his”
Translation: This he-did beginning of-signs Jesus in Cana of-Galilee and he-manifested glory his.
11b. Et crediderunt in eum discipuli eius.
- Et: conjunction = “and”
- crediderunt: verb = “they-believed”
- in: preposition = “in”
- eum: pronoun = “him”
- discipuli: noun = “disciples”
- eius: pronoun = “of-him”
Translation: And they-believed in him disciples of-him.
12a. Post hoc descendit Capharnaum ipse, et mater eius, et fratres eius, et discipuli eius.
- Post: preposition = “after”
- hoc: pronoun = “this”
- descendit: verb = “he-descended”
- Capharnaum: noun = “Capharnaum”
- ipse: pronoun = “he-himself”
- et: conjunction = “and”
- mater: noun = “mother”
- eius: pronoun = “of-him”
- et: conjunction = “and”
- fratres: noun = “brothers”
- eius: pronoun = “of-him”
- et: conjunction = “and”
- discipuli: noun = “disciples”
- eius: pronoun = “of-him”
Translation: After this he-descended Capharnaum he-himself, and mother of-him, and brothers of-him, and disciples of-him.
12b. Et ibi manserunt non multis diebus.
- Et: conjunction = “and”
- ibi: adverb = “there”
- manserunt: verb = “they-remained”
- non: adverb = “not”
- multis: adjective = “many”
- diebus: noun = “days”
Translation: And there they-remained not many days.
13. Et prope erat Pascha Judaeorum, et ascendit Jesus Jerosolymam.
- Et: conjunction = “and”
- prope: adverb = “near”
- erat: verb = “was”
- Pascha: noun = “Passover”
- Judaeorum: noun = “of-Jews”
- et: conjunction = “and”
- ascendit: verb = “he-ascended”
- Jesus: noun = “Jesus”
- Jerosolymam: noun = “Jerusalem”
Translation: And near was Passover of-Jews, and he-ascended Jesus Jerusalem.
14. Et invenit in templo vendentes boves, et oves, et columbas, et numularios sedentes.
- Et: conjunction = “and”
- invenit: verb = “he-found”
- in: preposition = “in”
- templo: noun = “temple”
- vendentes: participle = “selling”
- boves: noun = “oxen”
- et: conjunction = “and”
- oves: noun = “sheep”
- et: conjunction = “and”
- columbas: noun = “doves”
- et: conjunction = “and”
- numularios: noun = “money-changers”
- sedentes: participle = “sitting”
Translation: And he-found in temple selling oxen, and sheep, and doves, and money-changers sitting.
15. Et cum fecisset quasi flagellum de funiculis, omnes ejecit de templo, oves quoque, et boves, et numulariorum effudit aes, et mensas subvertit.
- Et: conjunction = “and”
- cum: conjunction = “when”
- fecisset: verb = “he-had-made”
- quasi: adverb = “as-if”
- flagellum: noun = “whip”
- de: preposition = “from”
- funiculis: noun = “cords”
- omnes: pronoun = “all”
- ejecit: verb = “he-cast-out”
- de: preposition = “from”
- templo: noun = “temple”
- oves: noun = “sheep”
- quoque: adverb = “also”
- et: conjunction = “and”
- boves: noun = “oxen”
- et: conjunction = “and”
- numulariorum: noun = “of-money-changers”
- effudit: verb = “he-poured-out”
- aes: noun = “money”
- et: conjunction = “and”
- mensas: noun = “tables”
- subvertit: verb = “he-overturned”
Translation: And when he-had-made as-if whip from cords, all he-cast-out from temple, sheep also, and oxen, and of-money-changers he-poured-out money, and tables he-overturned.
Idiomatic Translation
An idiomatic translation expresses the meaning of the original text in natural, fluent English, rather than translating word-for-word. Note that an idiomatic translation requires interpretation and may include the addition of auxiliary (helping) words that are not present in the original text. Idiomatic translations are always subject to disputation.
- This Jesus did as (the) beginning of (his) signs in Cana of Galilee, and (he) manifested his glory.
- And his disciples believed in him.
- After this he himself went down to Capharnaum, and his mother, and his brothers, and his disciples.
- And they remained there (for) not many days.
- And (the) Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
- And he found in the temple (men) selling oxen, and sheep, and doves, and money-changers sitting.
- And when he had made a kind of whip from cords, he drove all out of the temple, the sheep also, and the oxen, and he poured out the money of the money-changers, and overturned (their) tables.
Conclusion
In this lesson, we have studied Christ’s first sign at Cana, the manifestation of His glory, the faith of His disciples, His journey to Capharnaum and Jerusalem, and His cleansing of the temple. Now, it is time for you to study this lesson for mastery and demonstrate that mastery using the graded assessments provided in the course.
If you have questions or need help, please contact us through the Academy website at classicalliberalarts.com. I hope that this lesson has been helpful.
May God bless your studies,
Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.
