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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §23.2.1.pr

Modestinus' Definition of Marriage

Passage 3307 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Modestinus' classical definition of marriage, which characterizes it as the union of a man and a woman, a consortium of all life, and a sharing of divine and human law.

[MODESTINUS libro primo regularum. ] §23.2.1.prNuptiae sunt coniunctio maris et feminae et consortium omnis uitae, diuini et humani iuris communicatio.
[Modestinus in the first book of his Rules] Marriage is the union of a man and a woman and a partnership of all life, a sharing of divine and human law.

Notes

  1. §23.2.1.prNuptiae — The feminine noun nuptiae, -arum is a plural-only noun (plurale tantum) meaning "marriage". Although the verb sunt agrees with it in the plural, the concept is understood and translated in the singular.
  2. §23.2.1.prdiuini et humani iuris — An objective genitive modifying the noun communicatio ("sharing", "communion"). It indicates that the husband and wife share a common participation in both divine and human laws and status.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §23.2.1.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:23.2.1.pr

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