וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיֹּ֖ום וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמֹ֣ועֲדִ֔ים וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים׃
神說：「天上的穹蒼中要有光體，可以分別晝夜，作為記號，定節令，日子，和年份。」
神说：「天上的穹苍中要有光体，可以分别昼夜，作为记号，定节令，日子，和年份。」
Shén shuō: “Tiān shàng de qióngcāng zhōng yào yǒu guāng tǐ, kěyǐ fēn bié zhòu yè, zuò wéi jì hào, dìng jié lìng, rì zǐ, hé nián fèn.”
And God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.”
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 神 | shén | God | Subject noun |
| 說 / 说 | shuō | Say | Verb |
| 天上 | tiān shàng | In the sky, heavens | Noun phrase |
| 穹蒼 / 穹苍 | qióngcāng | Firmament, sky | Noun |
| 光體 / 光体 | guāng tǐ | Light body, light | Noun |
| 分別 / 分别 | fēn bié | Divide, separate | Verb |
| 晝夜 / 昼夜 | zhòu yè | Day and night | Noun phrase |
| 作為 / 作为 | zuò wéi | Serve as, be used for | Verb phrase |
| 記號 / 记号 | jì hào | Sign, marker | Noun |
| 定 | dìng | Establish, fix | Verb |
| 節令 / 节令 | jié lìng | Seasons | Noun |
| 日子 | rì zǐ | Days | Noun |
| 年份 | nián fèn | Years | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 天上的穹蒼中要有光體 (tiān shàng de qióngcāng zhōng yào yǒu guāng tǐ): Subject-verb-object structure indicating the presence of lights in the firmament.
- 可以分別晝夜 (kěyǐ fēn bié zhòu yè): Describes the function of dividing day from night.
- 作為記號，定節令，日子，和年份 (zuò wéi jì hào, dìng jié lìng, rì zǐ, hé nián fèn): A list describing additional purposes of the lights.
Key Grammar Points:
- 可以 (kěyǐ): Expresses possibility or ability, meaning “can” or “may.”
- 作為 / 作为 (zuò wéi): Means “serve as” or “be used for,” introducing the function of the lights.
- 定 (dìng): Indicates the establishment or fixing of something, such as seasons or time markers.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Shén shuō: “Tiān shàng de qióngcāng zhōng yào yǒu guāng tǐ, kěyǐ fēn bié zhòu yè, zuò wéi jì hào, dìng jié lìng, rì zǐ, hé nián fèn.”
Tone Practice:
- 神 (shén): 2nd tone (rising)
- 光體 / 光体 (guāng tǐ): 1st tone (high) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 分別 / 分别 (fēn bié): 1st tone (high) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 晝夜 / 昼夜 (zhòu yè): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 記號 / 记号 (jì hào): 4th tone (falling) + neutral tone
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 光體 / 光体 (guāng tǐ): Represents light or celestial bodies, central to the function described.
- 晝夜 / 昼夜 (zhòu yè): Refers to day and night, highlighting the division of time.
- 記號 / 记号 (jì hào): Means “sign” or “marker,” representing symbolic functions of the lights.
- 節令 / 节令 (jié lìng): Refers to seasons, important for agricultural and religious practices.
- 年份 (nián fèn): Indicates years, essential for tracking time and organizing life.
- 天上 (tiān shàng): Refers to “in the sky” or “in the heavens,” indicating the location of the celestial lights.
- 穹蒼 / 穹苍 (qióngcāng): Represents the firmament or sky, emphasizing its vastness and divine placement.
- 分別 / 分别 (fēn bié): Means “to divide” or “to separate,” describing the function of the lights in distinguishing day and night.
- 日子 (rì zǐ): Refers to “days,” fundamental units of time marked by the lights.
5. Cultural Insights
- Marking Time: The use of celestial lights to divide time into days, seasons, and years reflects a universal human need to organize life and activities according to predictable cycles. In both Hebrew and Chinese cultures, observing celestial bodies was key to agriculture, festivals, and governance.
- Signs and Symbols: The term 記號 / 记号 (jì hào): parallels the Hebrew concept of “signs,” emphasizing the symbolic and practical roles of the sun, moon, and stars.
- Seasonal Importance: The focus on 節令 / 节令 (jié lìng): aligns with Chinese agricultural traditions, where the seasons govern planting and harvesting cycles, much like in ancient Israel.
- Harmony in Creation: The orderly division of time by celestial lights reflects a shared cultural value of harmony and structure in the universe.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 光體 / 光体 (guāng tǐ): Picture the sun, moon, and stars illuminating the sky, symbolizing their role as time markers.
- 晝夜 / 昼夜 (zhòu yè): Imagine the transition from day to night and back again, representing the rhythm of time.
- 記號 / 记号 (jì hào): Think of the stars as symbols in the night sky, guiding navigation and marking events.
- 節令 / 节令 (jié lìng): Envision the changing seasons and their impact on life, symbolizing the passage of time.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (Yehi Me’orot Birqia HaShamayim): → 天上的穹蒼中要有光體 (tiān shàng de qióngcāng zhōng yào yǒu guāng tǐ): Both describe the command for lights to be placed in the firmament of the heavens.
- לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיֹּ֖ום וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה (Lehavdil Bein HaYom Uvein HaLayla): → 可以分別晝夜 (kěyǐ fēn bié zhòu yè): Both emphasize the division between day and night.
- וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמֹ֣ועֲדִ֔ים (Vehayu Le’otot Ulemoadim): → 作為記號，定節令 (zuò wéi jì hào, dìng jié lìng): Both highlight the use of celestial lights as signs and for setting seasons.
- וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים (Uleyamim Veshanim): → 日子，和年份 (rì zǐ, hé nián fèn): Both refer to days and years as time markers.
- Comparison with English:
- The phrase “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven” corresponds to 天上的穹蒼中要有光體 (tiān shàng de qióngcāng zhōng yào yǒu guāng tǐ): Both describe the placement of lights in the sky.
- “To divide the day from the night” aligns with 可以分別晝夜 (kěyǐ fēn bié zhòu yè): Both focus on distinguishing day from night.
- “And let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years” corresponds to 作為記號，定節令，日子，和年份 (zuò wéi jì hào, dìng jié lìng, rì zǐ, hé nián fèn): Both emphasize the functional roles of the lights in marking time.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Cosmic Order: The use of lights to organize time aligns with ancient Chinese practices of observing celestial bodies to guide agriculture and festivals.
- Seasons and Festivals: The focus on 節令 / 节令 (jié lìng): parallels the importance of seasonal cycles in Chinese culture, especially in agricultural planning and traditional holidays.
- Signs and Symbols: The concept of 記號 / 记号 (jì hào): reflects a shared understanding of celestial phenomena as both practical and symbolic in guiding human life.
