28.03.26: Level 3; Subjunctive [7] independent uses [2] jussive [i]

The term jussive subjunctive is from La: iubeō, -ēre [2]: command

(1) The jussive subjunctive is generally interpreted as a form of command or strong suggestion. It translates as or “Let him / her / them (do something) or, dependent upon context, should (do something)” and is used with the 3^rd person singular or plural:

dīcat │ Let him (her) say.

discēdant │  Let them depart.

discipulus discat aut discēdat │ Let the student learn or leave / the student should learn or leave.

Habeat cōnsul cōnsilia cōnsilia senātōrum │ Let the consul have the advice of the senators / The consul should have …

[i] Vulgate: What God commanded

Dīxitque Deus: Fīat lūx │ And God said: Let there be light.

Fīat firmāmentum in mediō aquārum: et dīvidat aquās ab aquīs. │ Let there be / become / be made an expanse in the middle of the waters: and let it separate the waters from the waters.

Germinet terra herbam virentem │ Let the earth bring forth green vegetation.

Fīant lūmināria in firmāmentō caelī, et dīvidant diem ac noctem, et sint in signa et tempora, et diēs et annōs │ And God said: Let there be lights in the firmament of the sky, and let them divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs and seasons and for days and years.

Prōdūcat terra animam vīventem in genere suō │ And God also said: Let the land produce the living creature (living creatures), each according to its own kind

Prōdūcant aquae rēptile animae vīventis, et volātile super terram sub firmāmentō caelī. │ Let the waters bring forth a crawling creature of living breath,  and a flying creature above the earth beneath the firmament of the sky

[ii] Cēdant arma togae, concēdat laurea linguae (Cicero) │ Let arms give way to the toga, let the laurel be granted to eloquence.

[iii] Ēmittat ad mē Pūblius (Cicero) │ Let Publius send (someone) to me

[iv] Hoc tantum sciat (Livy) │ Let him know only this.

[v] Sit fūr, at est bonus imperātor (Cicero) │ Let him be a thief [he may be a thief], at least he is a good general.

(2) The jussive subjunctive can also be 2^nd person singular or plural:

Taceās, Antonī! │ Be quiet, Antony! [Literally: May you be quiet / you should be quiet]

[i] Abeās! (Plautus) │ Be off!

[ii] From the student song Gaudeāmus igitur:

Abeās ad īnferōs, │ May you go away to the underworld,

Trānseās ad superōs │ May you cross over to the heavens

The translations could equally work as “You should go away / cross over”

[iii] Doceās iter et sacra ōstia pandās (Vergil) │ (May you) show us the way and lay open the sacred portals.

[iv] Si nihil habēbis, tamen scrībās aliquid (Cicero) │ If you have nothing (to write about / no news), write something anyhow. 

[v] Iniūriās fortūnae … dēfugiendō relinquās (Cicero) │ The wrongs of fortune … (you should) leave behind by flight.

[vi] Sī vultis, habeātis (Cicero) │ If you want, (you may) have it (go ahead and take it).

Image #2: From three into one –shows the Latin translation of a three word title of a Beatles’ song. What’s the original title?

Image #3: Latin legal advice

KEY POINTS: jussive subjunctive [i]

• from iubeō, -ēre [2]: command
• expresses a command or strong suggestion
• usually translated as “let …”, or sometimes “should …” depending on context.
• 3rd person singular or plural: let him / her / them …; (s)he should …
• 2nd person singular or plural: may you; you should …
• typically present subjunctive