וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־שְׁנֵ֥י הַמְּאֹרֹ֖ת הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים אֶת־הַמָּאֹ֤ור הַגָּדֹל֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַיֹּ֔ום וְאֶת־הַמָּאֹ֤ור הַקָּטֹן֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַלַּ֔יְלָה וְאֵ֖ת הַכֹּוכָבִֽים׃
神造了兩個大光體，大的光體管白晝，小的光體管黑夜，又造了星星。
神造了两个大光体，大的光体管白昼，小的光体管黑夜，又造了星星。
Shén zào le liǎng gè dà guāng tǐ, dà de guāng tǐ guǎn bái zhòu, xiǎo de guāng tǐ guǎn hēi yè, yòu zào le xīng xīng.
And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He also made the stars.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 神 | shén | God | Subject noun |
| 造了 | zào le | Made, created | Verb |
| 兩個 / 两个 | liǎng gè | Two | Numeral phrase |
| 大光體 / 大光体 | dà guāng tǐ | Great lights | Noun |
| 管 | guǎn | Govern, rule | Verb |
| 白晝 / 白昼 | bái zhòu | Daytime | Noun |
| 小光體 / 小光体 | xiǎo guāng tǐ | Lesser light | Noun |
| 黑夜 | hēi yè | Night | Noun |
| 又 | yòu | Also, again | Adverb |
| 星星 | xīng xīng | Stars | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 神造了兩個大光體 (shén zào le liǎng gè dà guāng tǐ): Subject-verb-object structure describing the creation of the two great lights.
- 大的光體管白晝 (dà de guāng tǐ guǎn bái zhòu): Describes the role of the greater light in ruling the day.
- 小的光體管黑夜 (xiǎo de guāng tǐ guǎn hēi yè): Describes the role of the lesser light in ruling the night.
- 又造了星星 (yòu zào le xīng xīng): Indicates the additional creation of the stars.
Key Grammar Points:
- 兩個 / 两个 (liǎng gè): Used for counting two objects.
- 管 (guǎn): Indicates governing or ruling, used to describe the lights’ functions.
- 又 (yòu): Means “also” or “again,” indicating additional action.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Shén zào le liǎng gè dà guāng tǐ, dà de guāng tǐ guǎn bái zhòu, xiǎo de guāng tǐ guǎn hēi yè, yòu zào le xīng xīng.
Tone Practice:
- 神 (shén): 2nd tone (rising)
- 造了 (zào le): 4th tone (falling) + neutral tone
- 兩個 / 两个 (liǎng gè): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + neutral tone
- 光體 / 光体 (guāng tǐ): 1st tone (high) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 星星 (xīng xīng): 1st tone (high) + neutral tone
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 光體 / 光体 (guāng tǐ): Refers to the celestial lights, emphasizing their roles as sources of light and governance.
- 白晝 / 白昼 (bái zhòu): Means “daytime,” highlighting the function of the greater light.
- 黑夜 (hēi yè): Refers to “night,” ruled by the lesser light.
- 星星 (xīng xīng): Represents the stars, additional celestial bodies created by God.
- 大的 (dà de): Describes the greater light, emphasizing its size and role in ruling the day.
- 小的 (xiǎo de): Describes the lesser light, indicating its smaller size and role in ruling the night.
- 又 (yòu): Means “also” or “again,” emphasizing the additional act of creating the stars.
5. Cultural Insights
- Light as Authority: In both Hebrew and Chinese traditions, light often symbolizes authority and power. The greater light ruling the day and the lesser light ruling the night reflect this shared cultural symbolism.
- Stars as Guidance: The creation of stars highlights their role in navigation and marking seasons, which were significant in both ancient Hebrew and Chinese agricultural and maritime practices.
- Order in Creation: The structured creation of celestial bodies reflects a universal value of harmony and order in the universe, foundational to both cultural worldviews.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 光體 / 光体 (guāng tǐ): Imagine the sun and moon as glowing orbs in the sky, each governing its respective time of day.
- 白晝 / 白昼 (bái zhòu): Visualize a bright, sunny day to connect with the greater light’s role.
- 黑夜 (hēi yè): Picture a calm, starlit night representing the lesser light and stars.
- 星星 (xīng xīng): Think of a sky full of twinkling stars, symbolizing beauty and guidance.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- אֶת־שְׁנֵ֥י הַמְּאֹרֹ֖ת הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים (Et Shnei HaMe’orot HaGedolim): → 兩個大光體 / 两个大光体 (liǎng gè dà guāng tǐ): Both describe the creation of the two great lights.
- הַמָּאֹ֤ור הַגָּדֹל֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַיֹּ֔ום (HaMa’or HaGadol LeMemshelet HaYom): → 大的光體管白晝 / 大的光体管白昼 (dà de guāng tǐ guǎn bái zhòu): Both emphasize the greater light’s governance of the day.
- הַמָּאֹ֤ור הַקָּטֹן֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַלַּ֔יְלָה (HaMa’or HaKaton LeMemshelet HaLayla): → 小的光體管黑夜 / 小的光体管黑夜 (xiǎo de guāng tǐ guǎn hēi yè): Both describe the lesser light’s governance of the night.
- וְאֵ֖ת הַכֹּוכָבִֽים (Ve’et HaKokhavim): → 又造了星星 (yòu zào le xīng xīng): Both narrate the creation of stars as an additional act.
- Comparison with English:
- The phrase “God made two great lights” corresponds to 神造了兩個大光體 / 神造了两个大光体 (shén zào le liǎng gè dà guāng tǐ): Both highlight the creation of the sun and moon.
- “The greater light to rule the day” aligns with 大的光體管白晝 / 大的光体管白昼 (dà de guāng tǐ guǎn bái zhòu): Both describe the sun’s role in governing the daytime.
- “The lesser light to rule the night” corresponds to 小的光體管黑夜 / 小的光体管黑夜 (xiǎo de guāng tǐ guǎn hēi yè): Both indicate the moon’s function.
- “He also made the stars” aligns with 又造了星星 (yòu zào le xīng xīng): Both emphasize the creation of additional celestial bodies.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Celestial Hierarchy: The distinction between greater and lesser lights resonates with the Chinese cosmological view of balance between yin and yang, where opposites like day and night are harmonized.
- Stars as Guides: In both Hebrew and Chinese traditions, stars were essential for navigation, agriculture, and marking seasons.
- Harmony in Creation: The structured roles of the celestial bodies reflect a shared cultural emphasis on cosmic order and balance.
