Iuravi: si introibunt. I swore: they shall not enter.
How It Works
Latin
Word for word
Meaning
Si introibunt in requiem meam.
If they will enter into my rest.
They shall not enter into my rest.
Si dabitur generationi isti signum.
If a sign will be given to this generation.
No sign shall be given to this generation.
Si David mentiar.
If I lie to David.
I will not lie to David.
The clue is the oath just before: iuravi (I swore) in Psalm 94:11, Amen dico vobis (truly I say to you) in Mark 8:12, semel iuravi (once I swore) in Psalm 88:36. Without an oath, si is the ordinary if: Si ascendero in caelum, tu illic es (If I go up to heaven, you are there, Psalm 138:8).
Roman authors do not use si alone this way. Psalm 94 usually opens the Church's daily prayer, and Hebrews 3:11 quotes the same line, so a Church reader meets it often.
Examples (4)
Ut iuravi in ira mea: Si introibunt in requiem meam.
As I swore in my anger: They shall not enter into my rest.
Psalm 94:11. Iuravi marks the oath, so si introibunt means they shall not enter.
Amen dico vobis, si dabitur generationi isti signum.
Truly I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.
Mark 8:12. Amen dico vobis works as an oath here, so si dabitur means shall not be given.
Semel iuravi in sancto meo, si David mentiar.
Once I swore by my holiness: I will not lie to David.
Psalm 88:36. Mentiar comes from the deponent mentior, and after the oath si means will not.
Si ascendero in caelum, tu illic es.
If I go up to heaven, you are there.
Psalm 138:8. No oath comes before it, so si is the ordinary if.
How It Connects
Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.
An Oath With si: si introibuntLevel 6
Learn This First
The oath si looks like the ordinary si and comes from the Hebrew behind the Vulgate, so both come first.
