Genesis 4:16

וַיֵּ֥צֵא קַ֖יִן מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב בְּאֶֽרֶץ־נֹ֖וד קִדְמַת־עֵֽדֶן׃

該隱就離開耶和華的面，住在伊甸園東邊的挪得地。

该隐就离开耶和华的面，住在伊甸园东边的挪得地。

Gāi yǐn jiù líkāi Yēhéhuá de miàn, zhù zài Yīdiàn yuán dōngbiān de Nuó dé dì.

Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

1. Vocabulary Breakdown

Chinese Character	Pinyin	Meaning	Grammar Role
該隱 / 该隐	Gāi yǐn	Cain (proper noun)	Proper noun
就 / 就	jiù	Then, just	Adverb
離開 / 离开	líkāi	Leave, depart	Verb
耶和華 / 耶和华	Yēhéhuá	LORD (referring to God)	Proper noun
面 / 面	miàn	Face, presence	Noun
住 / 住	zhù	Live, reside	Verb
在 / 在	zài	In, at	Preposition
伊甸園 / 伊甸园	Yīdiàn yuán	Garden of Eden	Proper noun
東邊 / 东边	dōngbiān	East side	Phrase
挪得地 / 挪得地	Nuó dé dì	Land of Nod	Proper noun

2. Grammar Explanation

Sentence Structure:

• 該隱 / 该隐 (Gāi yǐn): The name of Cain. This is a proper noun in Chinese, representing the person who was cast away after committing the first murder.
• 就 / 就 (jiù): An adverb that often means “then,” signaling the consequence of Cain’s actions, i.e., his departure from the presence of the LORD.
• 離開 / 离开 (líkāi): The verb meaning “to leave” or “to depart,” indicating Cain’s action of leaving the divine presence.
• 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): The name for God in Chinese, used throughout the Old Testament to refer to the deity who judges Cain.
• 面 / 面 (miàn): Noun meaning “face” or “presence,” referring to God’s presence, which Cain is now separated from.
• 住 / 住 (zhù): The verb meaning “to live” or “to reside,” indicating where Cain settles after his banishment.
• 在 / 在 (zài): Preposition meaning “in” or “at,” used here to show Cain’s location after his departure from God’s presence.
• 伊甸園 / 伊甸园 (Yīdiàn yuán): The proper noun for the “Garden of Eden,” which is the location where Cain lived before his punishment.
• 東邊 / 东边 (dōngbiān): “East side,” referring to the direction in which Cain settled after leaving the Garden of Eden.
• 挪得地 / 挪得地 (Nuó dé dì): “Land of Nod,” the place where Cain settled, a symbolic and isolated land in biblical tradition.

3. Pronunciation Practice

Pinyin: Yēhéhuá duì Gāi yǐn shuō: Fán shā Gāi yǐn de, bì zāo qī bèi bào yìng. Yēhéhuá biàn wèi Gāi yǐn lìle jìhào, miǎn dé fán yùjiàn tā de, dōu shā tā.

Tone Practice:

• 今天 / 今天 (jīntiān): 1st tone (flat) + 1st tone (flat)
• 不再 / 不再 (bù zài): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
• 給 / 给 (gěi): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
• 產生 / 产生 (chǎnshēng): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 1st tone (flat)
• 力量 / 力量 (lìliàng): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
• 流浪 / 流浪 (liúlàng): 2nd tone (rising) + 4th tone (falling)
• 漂泊 / 漂泊 (piāobó): 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising)
• 遇見 / 遇见 (yùjiàn): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
• 殺 / 杀 (shā): 1st tone (flat)

4. Character Learning

Key Characters:

• 該隱 / 该隐 (Gāi yǐn): The name of Cain. This is a proper noun in Chinese, representing the person who committed the first murder in the Bible.
• 對 / 对 (duì): Preposition meaning “to” or “towards,” indicating the direction of Cain’s conversation with God.
• 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): The name for God in Chinese, used throughout the Old Testament to refer to the deity who speaks to and judges Cain.
• 說 / 说 (shuō): Verb meaning “to say,” indicating that the following words are being spoken by God to Cain.
• 我的 / 我的 (wǒ de): Possessive pronoun meaning “my,” showing that the sin Cain is talking about is his own.
• 罪過 / 罪过 (zuìguò): Noun meaning “sin,” indicating that Cain acknowledges his wrongdoings.
• 太大 / 太大 (tài dà): Adjective phrase meaning “too great,” showing Cain’s despair over the enormity of his sin.
• 無法 / 无法 (wúfǎ): “Unable to” — this is a helpful phrase to remember for expressing limitations. Cain is acknowledging that he cannot bear the punishment, just as we sometimes feel incapable of bearing our burdens.
• 承擔 / 承担 (chéngdān): “To bear” — this verb emphasizes the weight of responsibility and the emotional and spiritual load Cain must carry. It’s a reminder of how actions come with consequences that we must bear.

5. Cultural Insights

• The Theme of Accountability: Cain’s admission that his sin is too great to bear is a powerful reflection of the theme of personal responsibility. In many cultures, the idea that one must face the consequences of their actions is deeply rooted. In Chinese culture, this resonates with the concept of 因果報應 (yīn guǒ bào yìng), meaning “cause and effect,” where one’s actions inevitably lead to consequences. Cain’s recognition of the weight of his sin parallels this idea of inevitable retribution.
• Divine Mercy and Justice: Cain’s plea that his sin is too great to bear also touches upon the balance between divine mercy and justice. In Chinese culture, justice and mercy are often seen as two sides of the same coin. The punishment Cain receives is harsh, but it also serves as an opportunity for reflection and growth. This balance between justice and mercy is a central theme in many cultural and religious teachings.
• The Burden of Guilt: Cain’s sense of guilt is portrayed through his plea to God. This internal struggle with guilt is a universal experience, reflected in Chinese thought as well. In traditional Chinese medicine and philosophy, guilt and shame are often seen as blockages to personal health and spiritual well-being. Cain’s admission of his sin, and his resulting punishment, can be seen as part of a spiritual cleansing process in many cultural contexts.

6. Mnemonics for Retention

• 罪過 / 罪过 (zuìguò): Think of this as “too much sin” — “罪” (zuì) means sin, and “過” (guò) implies excess. Cain’s overwhelming sin is too much for him to bear.
• 太大 / 太大 (tài dà): “Too great” — remember that Cain is saying his sin is too big to handle. “太” (tài) means “too much,” and “大” (dà) means “big,” highlighting the enormity of his guilt.
• 無法 / 无法 (wúfǎ): “Unable to” — this is a helpful phrase to remember for expressing limitations. Cain is acknowledging that he cannot bear the punishment, just as we sometimes feel incapable of bearing our burdens.
• 承擔 / 承担 (chéngdān): “To bear” — this verb emphasizes the weight of responsibility and the emotional and spiritual load Cain must carry. It’s a reminder of how actions come with consequences that we must bear.

7. Comparative Studies

• Comparison with Hebrew:
  • גָּדֹ֥ול עֲוֹנִ֖י (gādōl ʿāwōnî): → 我的罪過太大 (wǒ de zuìguò tài dà): In both versions, Cain acknowledges that his sin is too great to bear. The Hebrew uses “great is my sin,” while the Chinese uses “my sin is too great.”
  • מִנְּשֹֽׂא (min-nəsô): → 無法承擔 (wúfǎ chéngdān): In both texts, Cain expresses his inability to handle the weight of his sin. The Hebrew “too great to bear” corresponds closely with the Chinese “unable to bear.”
• Comparison with English:
  • “My punishment is greater than I can bear” (English) vs. “我的罪過太大，無法承擔 (Chinese)”:
    The English translation emphasizes Cain’s punishment, while the Chinese focuses on the sin itself being too much to bear. Both versions communicate the same core idea of Cain feeling overwhelmed by the consequences of his actions.
• Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
  • The Concept of Excessive Guilt: In Chinese culture, the idea of guilt as an overwhelming emotion is common. This connects with Cain’s experience of guilt being “too great to bear.” In both cultures, the experience of guilt can lead to a sense of despair and the need for redemption or atonement.
  • Divine Retribution and Mercy: The idea of divine retribution is balanced by mercy in both the Biblical and Chinese traditions. The theme of receiving punishment for wrongdoing, followed by a chance for redemption, is prevalent in both traditions. The Chinese concept of 因果報應 (yīn guǒ bào yìng) emphasizes that actions have consequences, and Cain’s admission of guilt reflects the inevitability of facing consequences for his wrongdoings.