וְהַנָּחָשׁ֙ הָיָ֣ה עָר֔וּם מִכֹּל֙ חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל־הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה אַ֚ף כִּֽי־אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֔ים לֹ֣א תֹֽאכְל֔וּ מִכֹּ֖ל עֵ֥ץ הַגָּֽן׃
蛇比田野一切的活物更狡猾，是耶和華上帝所造的；它對女人說：「上帝真的說過：『不可以吃園中任何樹上的果子』嗎？」
蛇比田野一切的活物更狡猾，是耶和华上帝所造的；它对女人说：「上帝真的说过：『不可以吃园中任何树上的果子』吗？」
Shé bǐ tián yě yī qiè de huó wù gèng jiǎo huá, shì Yēhéhuá Shàngdì suǒ zào de; tā duì nǚ rén shuō: “Shàngdì zhēn de shuō guò: ‘Bù kě yǐ chī yuán zhōng rèn hé shù shàng de guǒ zi’ ma?”
The serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made, and it said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 蛇 | shé | Serpent | Noun |
| 比 | bǐ | Than | Preposition |
| 田野 | tián yě | Field | Noun |
| 一切 | yī qiè | All | Adjective |
| 活物 | huó wù | Living creatures | Noun |
| 更 | gèng | More | Adverb |
| 狡猾 | jiǎo huá | Cunning | Adjective |
| 耶和華 / 耶和华 | Yēhéhuá | The LORD | Proper noun |
| 上帝 | Shàngdì | God | Proper noun |
| 所造的 | suǒ zào de | Made | Verb phrase |
| 對 / 对 | duì | To | Preposition |
| 女人 | nǚ rén | Woman | Noun |
| 真的 | zhēn de | Really | Adverb |
| 說過 / 说过 | shuō guò | Had said | Verb |
| 不可以 | bù kě yǐ | May not | Modal verb |
| 吃 | chī | To eat | Verb |
| 園中 / 园中 | yuán zhōng | In the garden | Prepositional phrase |
| 任何 | rèn hé | Any | Adjective |
| 樹上的 / 树上的 | shù shàng de | Of the tree | Adjective phrase |
| 果子 | guǒ zi | Fruit | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 蛇比田野一切的活物更狡猾 (Shé bǐ tián yě yī qiè de huó wù gèng jiǎo huá): The subject “serpent” is described as more cunning than all the living creatures of the field.
- 是耶和華上帝所造的 (Shì Yēhéhuá Shàngdì suǒ zào de): Identifies the serpent as something created by the LORD God.
- 它對女人說 (Tā duì nǚ rén shuō): Describes the serpent speaking to the woman.
- 上帝真的說過：「不可以吃園中任何樹上的果子嗎？」 (Shàngdì zhēn de shuō guò: ‘Bù kě yǐ chī yuán zhōng rèn hé shù shàng de guǒ zi ma?’): A question challenging God’s command.
Key Grammar Points:
- 比 (bǐ): A preposition used to compare two things.
- 所…的 (suǒ…de): A grammatical structure indicating “that which is…” or “the one that…”
- 真的 (zhēn de): An adverb meaning “really,” adding emphasis to the statement.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Shé bǐ tián yě yī qiè de huó wù gèng jiǎo huá, shì Yēhéhuá Shàngdì suǒ zào de; tā duì nǚ rén shuō: “Shàngdì zhēn de shuō guò: ‘Bù kě yǐ chī yuán zhōng rèn hé shù shàng de guǒ zi’ ma?”
Tone Practice:
- 蛇 (shé): 2nd tone (rising)
- 比 (bǐ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 田野 (tián yě): 2nd tone (rising) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 一切 (yī qiè): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 活物 (huó wù): 2nd tone (rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 更 (gèng): 4th tone (falling)
- 狡猾 (jiǎo huá): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 上帝 (Shàngdì): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 所造的 (suǒ zào de): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling) + neutral tone
- 對 / 对 (duì): 4th tone (falling)
- 女人 (nǚ rén): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 真的 (zhēn de): 1st tone (flat) + neutral tone
- 說過 / 说过 (shuō guò): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 不可以 (bù kě yǐ): 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 吃 (chī): 1st tone (flat)
- 園中 / 园中 (yuán zhōng): 2nd tone (rising) + 1st tone (flat)
- 任何 (rèn hé): 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 樹上的 / 树上的 (shù shàng de): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling) + neutral tone
- 果子 (guǒ zi): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + neutral tone
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 蛇 (shé): Represents the serpent, a symbol of cunning and deception in this context.
- 狡猾 (jiǎo huá): Means “cunning” or “crafty,” describing the serpent’s behavior.
- 任何 (rèn hé): Means “any,” emphasizing inclusiveness or broad scope.
5. Cultural Insights
- Serpent Symbolism: In Hebrew tradition, the serpent represents temptation and cunning. In Chinese culture, snakes are often viewed with a mix of reverence and caution, symbolizing wisdom or hidden danger.
- Challenging Authority: The serpent’s question mirrors universal themes of doubt and questioning authority, resonating with Confucian ideas about proper behavior and loyalty.
- Language of Persuasion: The serpent’s use of exaggeration (“any tree”) highlights how language can be used to manipulate, a theme explored in both Hebrew and Chinese literature.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 蛇 (shé): Visualize a serpent coiled around a tree, ready to speak.
- 狡猾 (jiǎo huá): Picture a sly fox and associate it with cunning behavior.
- 任何 (rèn hé): Imagine pointing to every tree in the garden to represent “any.”
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- הַנָּחָשׁ֙ הָיָ֣ה עָר֔וּם (HaNachash Hayah Arum): → 蛇比田野一切的活物更狡猾 (Shé bǐ tián yě yī qiè de huó wù gèng jiǎo huá): Both describe the serpent’s cunning nature.
- אַ֚ף כִּֽי־אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֔ים (Af Ki Amar Elohim): → 上帝真的說過 (Shàngdì zhēn de shuō guò): Both question the truth of God’s command.
- Comparison with English:
- “The serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field” matches 蛇比田野一切的活物更狡猾 (Shé bǐ tián yě yī qiè de huó wù gèng jiǎo huá): Both describe the serpent’s unique qualities.
- “Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” aligns with 上帝真的說過：「不可以吃園中任何樹上的果子嗎？」 (Shàngdì zhēn de shuō guò: ‘Bù kě yǐ chī yuán zhōng rèn hé shù shàng de guǒ zi ma?’): Both express the serpent’s manipulative questioning.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Serpent and Wisdom: In Chinese tradition, the serpent’s cunning could be seen as intelligence, akin to the wisdom attributed to the dragon in mythology.
- Testing Boundaries: The serpent’s question parallels philosophical debates in Chinese thought about limits, rules, and their interpretation.
