Literal and smooth translation
Literal: In principio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum.
Smooth English: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God."
Word-by-word parsing
- In principio — ablative singular of principium. Here it is an ablative of time/place meaning "in the beginning" (compare Genesis: "In principio creavit Deus...").
- erat — imperfect indicative, 3rd person singular of esse (to be). The imperfect indicates continuous or ongoing existence in the past: "was" (existed).
- Verbum — nominative singular neuter of verbum (word). Grammatically neuter, used as the subject: "the Word." The Vulgate uses this to render the Greek Logos.
- et — "and."
- Verbum — repeated for emphasis and to set up the relation expressed next.
- erat — again, "was" (imperfect). The repetition gives a parallel structure: "was ... and was ..."
- apud — preposition taking the accusative; classical meaning includes "among," "at the house of," or "in the presence of." In the Vulgate it conveys the sense "with" or "at the side of".
- Deum — accusative singular of Deus (God), the object of apud.
Grammar and syntax notes
- Order: Latin word order is flexible; the sequence places emphasis on Verbum by repeating it and putting it in a prominent position.
- Imperfect erat: using the imperfect rather than the simple past gives the sense of continuous, ongoing existence in the (pre-)beginning: "was" (already existing), not merely "once was."
- apud Deum: not the same as identity ("was God") but indicates relation or presence. The Greek original uses πρὸς τὸν Θεόν (pros ton Theon), often rendered "with God" or "toward God"; the Vulgate translators used apud to capture that relational nuance.
- Although verbum is grammatically neuter, the passage speaks of a person (the Logos/Word — Christian interpretation: the pre-existent Christ). Latin allows a neuter noun to refer to a person.
Connection to the Greek original
The Latin follows the Greek of the New Testament (John 1:1): "Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος, καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν." Greek Λόγος (Logos) has philosophical meanings (word, reason, principle), which informs theological readings of the passage.
Pronunciation (brief)
- Classical Latin (reconstructed): In pronouncing the phrase classically: /in priŋˈki.pi.oː ˈe.rat ˈwer.bum et ˈwer.bum ˈe.rat aˈpud ˈde.um/ (approx.).
- Ecclesiastical (Church Latin, common for the Vulgate): "In prin-chee-pee-o eh-rat VER-boom et VER-boom eh-rat ah-POOD DAY-oom." Vowels are closer to Italian values and v is /v/.
Punctuation: the dots in your citation
The characters after the clauses (the mid-dot • and the small dot ˙) are medieval scribal punctuation (interpuncts, punctus elevatus) used to mark pauses or sentence divisions. They are not part of the Latin words themselves; modern editions usually use normal punctuation (commas, periods).
Brief theological/historical note
The Vulgate's Verbum translates Greek Logos. In Greco-Roman and Jewish-Hellenistic thought, Logos can mean speech, reason, principle, or divine creative reason. John uses that term to communicate that the divine "Word" pre-existed creation, had a personal relation to God, and later Christian tradition identifies that Word with Jesus. The verse is foundational for doctrines about Christ's pre-existence and the Trinity: it affirms both a distinction (the Word is "with" God) and an intimate, essential relation to God.
Summary
"In principio erat Verbum • et Verbum erat apud Deum" literally says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God." Grammatically: ablative of time/place + imperfect of being + nominative subject; the preposition apud with the accusative marks the Word's relation or presence with God. The phrase renders the Greek Logos and carries rich philosophical and theological meaning about the Word's existence and relation to God.