St. Luke, 12:7

[NubusLatinae1770]

Salvete Omnes!

I have a question, in the Gospel of Luke it is written:

"multis passeribus pluris estis"

I'm not entirely sure why pluris is not plures. Could perhaps this be plur

īs?​

I have not yet encountered this form of the plural, normally relegated to Roman poetry, in the Vulgate.​

I can't quite wrap my head around this one and I am sure the answer is something simple haha.

Gratias ago vobis,

Corey

 

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Pluris is a genitivus pretii (a genitive of worth), and it is a singular genitive. 'You are worth more than many sparrows' (multis passeribus being an ablative of comparison).

 

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Btw., there's also a genitivus pretii in your signatur:

Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus,
Rumoresque senum severiorum
Omnes unius aestimemus assis!

 

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Could perhaps this be plurīs?

I have not yet encountered this form of the plural, normally relegated to Roman poetry, in the Vulgate.

The long i is not confined to Latin poetry, it can also be found in prose. I'm not sure if it was still around in a text as late as the Vulgate, though.
In any case, the ending -īs is usually used for the accusative plural, not for the nominative.