# "Uterque obtulit dona Domino: Cainus quidem fructus terrae" (Epitome Historiae Sacrae, Prima Aetas, 8) **URL:** \ **Category:** Learning Latin\ **Created:** [April 6, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/uterque-obtulit-dona-domino-cainus-quidem-fructus-terrae-epitome-historiae-sacrae-prima-aetas-8/31121 "2026-04-06T23:46:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IoannesSanctaeMariae](https://www.textkit.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/a87d85/32.png) [@IoannesSanctaeMariae](https://www.textkit.com/u/IoannesSanctaeMariae)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/uterque-obtulit-dona-domino-cainus-quidem-fructus-terrae-epitome-historiae-sacrae-prima-aetas-8/31121/1 "2026-04-06T23:46:33Z")
(As Ørberg’s Sermones have words altered from the original, I decided to just read other texts made for beginners. If I am to read original authors, let me read their own words!) In “Uterque [Cainus et Abel] obtulit dona Domino: Cainus quidem fructus terrae; Abel autem oves egregias“, that quidem does not seem to mean “too“ nor “yet“ nor any of the meanings of [Lewis and Short](https://logeion.uchicago.edu/quidem). Now, I know Donatus called it “expletiva”; is it, then, just continuing thought, more or less like the Greek δέ? Or can it work like a “scilicet“, and the meaning would be “Both gave the Lord their offerings; namely, Cain gave the fruits of the earth, while Abel gave his best sheep“? ---
**Author:** ![bedwere](https://www.textkit.com/user_avatar/www.textkit.com/bedwere/32/35_2.png) [@bedwere](https://www.textkit.com/u/bedwere)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 3:35am UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/uterque-obtulit-dona-domino-cainus-quidem-fructus-terrae-epitome-historiae-sacrae-prima-aetas-8/31121/2 "2026-04-07T03:35:50Z")
Actually quidem is usually used to translate μέν and autem for δέ. ---
**Author:** ![IoannesSanctaeMariae](https://www.textkit.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/a87d85/32.png) [@IoannesSanctaeMariae](https://www.textkit.com/u/IoannesSanctaeMariae)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/uterque-obtulit-dona-domino-cainus-quidem-fructus-terrae-epitome-historiae-sacrae-prima-aetas-8/31121/3 "2026-04-07T22:45:01Z")
So “quidem…autem“ would mean “on one hand…on the other hand“? “Cain, on one hand, gave the fruits of the earth; Abel, on the other hand, gave his best sheep.“ ---
**Author:** ![bedwere](https://www.textkit.com/user_avatar/www.textkit.com/bedwere/32/35_2.png) [@bedwere](https://www.textkit.com/u/bedwere)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 10:50pm UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/uterque-obtulit-dona-domino-cainus-quidem-fructus-terrae-epitome-historiae-sacrae-prima-aetas-8/31121/4 "2026-04-07T22:50:48Z")
Yes, that is what it means. ---
**Author:** ![IoannesSanctaeMariae](https://www.textkit.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/a87d85/32.png) [@IoannesSanctaeMariae](https://www.textkit.com/u/IoannesSanctaeMariae)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 10:51pm UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/uterque-obtulit-dona-domino-cainus-quidem-fructus-terrae-epitome-historiae-sacrae-prima-aetas-8/31121/5 "2026-04-07T22:51:09Z")
I found the same construction in a commentary of the Catena Aurea, btw: _Quare autem non sufficiebat dicere illum filium Abrahae solius, aut David solius? Quia ad ambos de Christo nascituro ex eis promissio fuerat facta: ad **Abraham quidem** sic: et in semine tuo benedicentur omnes gentes terrae; **ad David autem** ita: de fructu ventris tui ponam super sedem tuam._ ---
**Author:** ![IoannesSanctaeMariae](https://www.textkit.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/a87d85/32.png) [@IoannesSanctaeMariae](https://www.textkit.com/u/IoannesSanctaeMariae)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 10:51pm UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/uterque-obtulit-dona-domino-cainus-quidem-fructus-terrae-epitome-historiae-sacrae-prima-aetas-8/31121/6 "2026-04-07T22:51:36Z")
Much thanks, Bedwere!