וַיֵּ֨דַע אָדָ֥ם עֹוד֙ אֶת־אִשְׁתֹּ֔ו וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמֹ֖ו שֵׁ֑ת כִּ֣י שָֽׁת־לִ֤י אֱלֹהִים֙ זֶ֣רַע אַחֵ֔ר תַּ֣חַת הֶ֔בֶל כִּ֥י הֲרָגֹ֖ו קָֽיִן׃
亚当又与妻子同房，她生了一个儿子，给他起名叫示特，因为神为我另立了一个后裔，代替亚伯，因为该隐杀了他。
亚当又与妻子同房，她生了一个儿子，给他起名叫示特，因为神为我另立了一个后裔，代替亚伯，因为该隐杀了他。
Yàdāng yòu yǔ qīzi tóngfáng, tā shēngle yī gè érzi, gěi tā qǐ míng jiào Shìtè, yīnwèi Shén wèi wǒ lìle yī gè hòulì, dàitì Yàbó, yīnwèi Gāi yǐn shāle tā.
And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, “For God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.”
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 亚当 / 亚当 | Yàdāng | Adam (proper noun) | Proper noun |
| 又 / 又 | yòu | Again | Adverb |
| 与 / 与 | yǔ | With | Preposition |
| 妻子 / 妻子 | qīzi | Wife | Noun |
| 同房 / 同房 | tóngfáng | To sleep with, to have relations | Verb |
| 她 / 她 | tā | She | Pronoun |
| 生 / 生 | shēng | To give birth | Verb |
| 了 / 了 | le | Particle indicating completed action | Particle |
| 一个 / 一个 | yī gè | One, a | Measure word |
| 儿子 / 儿子 | érzi | Son | Noun |
| 给 / 给 | gěi | To give | Verb |
| 他 / 他 | tā | His | Pronoun |
| 起名 / 起名 | qǐ míng | To name | Verb |
| 叫 / 叫 | jiào | To call | Verb |
| 示特 / 示特 | Shìtè | Seth (proper noun) | Proper noun |
| 因为 / 因为 | yīnwèi | Because | Conjunction |
| 神 / 神 | Shén | God (proper noun) | Proper noun |
| 为 / 为 | wèi | For | Preposition |
| 我 / 我 | wǒ | I | Pronoun |
| 另立 / 另立 | lìng lì | To appoint, establish | Verb |
| 后裔 / 后裔 | hòulì | Offspring | Noun |
| 代替 / 代替 | dàitì | Instead of, in place of | Verb |
| 亚伯 / 亚伯 | Yàbó | Abel (proper noun) | Proper noun |
| 因为 / 因为 | yīnwèi | Because | Conjunction |
| 该隐 / 该隐 | Gāi yǐn | Cain (proper noun) | Proper noun |
| 杀 / 杀 | shā | To kill | Verb |
2. Grammar Explanation
- 亚当 / 亚当 (Yàdāng): Adam, the first human, whose relationship with his wife leads to the birth of their children, including Seth.
- 与 / 与 (yǔ): Preposition, indicating Adam’s relationship with his wife.
- 生 / 生 (shēng): Verb meaning “to give birth,” which is central in this passage to the birth of Seth.
- 示特 / 示特 (Shìtè): The name of Adam and Eve’s third son, who replaces Abel after Cain kills him.
- 神 / 神 (Shén): Proper noun referring to God, who provides for Adam and Eve after the death of Abel.
- 后裔 / 后裔 (hòulì): Noun meaning “offspring,” referring to the descendants or children that are part of God’s plan after Abel’s death.
- 代替 / 代替 (dàitì): Verb meaning “to replace,” indicating that Seth was appointed to take Abel’s place.
- 杀 / 杀 (shā): Verb meaning “to kill,” referring to Cain’s action of killing Abel, which is the key event leading to the birth of Seth as a replacement.
3. Pronunciation Practice
- 亚当 / 亚当 (Yàdāng): [yà dāng] – The tone on “yà” is a falling tone, while “dāng” is a high-level tone.
- 与 / 与 (yǔ): [yǔ] – The tone on this character is a rising tone, which should be clear and distinct.
- 生 / 生 (shēng): [shēng] – The tone on this word is high and level, so maintain a steady pitch.
- 示特 / 示特 (Shìtè): [shì tè] – “Shì” is pronounced with a falling tone, and “tè” is pronounced with a falling tone as well.
- 神 / 神 (Shén): [shén] – The tone on this word is rising, so be sure to emphasize the upward shift in your pronunciation.
- 后裔 / 后裔 (hòulì): [hòu lì] – The first syllable “hòu” is pronounced with a falling tone, and “lì” has a sharp falling tone as well.
- 代替 / 代替 (dàitì): [dài tì] – The tone on “dài” is falling, while “tì” has a falling tone as well, so keep the pronunciation clear and strong.
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 亚当 / 亚当 (Yàdāng): Adam, the first human in the Bible, who fathered Seth after Abel’s death. This character is essential to the creation story.
- 示特 / 示特 (Shìtè): Seth, the son of Adam and Eve, who replaced Abel after Cain killed him. This character signifies new beginnings and God’s provision.
- 神 / 神 (Shén): God, the divine figure responsible for creation, and for ensuring that Seth is born to replace Abel, continuing the lineage.
- 后裔 / 后裔 (hòulì): Offspring, used here to signify the continuation of Adam’s line after the death of Abel.
- 代替 / 代替 (dàitì): To replace, indicating the role of Seth as the replacement for Abel in the family line and in God’s plan.
- 杀 / 杀 (shā): To kill, referring to Cain’s act of violence against his brother Abel, which led to God’s intervention and the birth of Seth.
5. Cultural Insights
- The Continuation of Lineage: In both the Bible and in Chinese culture, the continuation of family lineage and the birth of a son to replace one who has died is an important concept. In the case of Seth, he is born as a replacement for Abel, who was murdered by Cain. This reflects the idea of restoration in both cultures—whether it be a divine intervention or cultural practice aimed at maintaining family heritage.
- Divine Provision and Protection: God’s intervention in providing Seth as a replacement for Abel is a key theme in the Bible. In many cultures, including Chinese, divine protection and provision are central to understanding the workings of fate and the continuation of life. Seth’s birth represents the hope for renewal and the idea that despite tragedy, life continues through divine provision.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 亚当 / 亚当 (Yàdāng): “Adam” can be remembered as the first human, a pivotal figure in the creation story.
- 示特 / 示特 (Shìtè): “Seth” can be remembered as the son born to replace Abel, a sign of hope and continuation after tragedy.
- 神 / 神 (Shén): “God” can be remembered as the divine figure who provides Seth as a replacement for Abel, ensuring the continuation of Adam’s lineage.
- 后裔 / 后裔 (hòulì): “Offspring” can be remembered as the continuation of the family line, central to the biblical and cultural understanding of legacy.
- 代替 / 代替 (dàitì): “To replace” can be remembered as the act that Seth performs in taking Abel’s place in the family.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיֵּ֨דַע אָדָ֥ם עֹוד֙ אֶת־אִשְׁתֹּו וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמֹ֖ו שֵׁ֑ת → 亚当又与妻子同房，她生了一个儿子，给他起名叫示特。 The comparison here shows a direct translation of Adam’s relationship with Eve and the naming of their son Seth, continuing the family line.
- Comparison with Chinese:
- The Importance of Naming: Naming plays a significant cultural role in both the Bible and Chinese culture. The act of naming Seth after the death of Abel reflects the concept of continuity and divine provision, similar to how names in Chinese culture are often given with specific meanings or aspirations for the future of the child.
- Legacy and Family: Both the Bible and Chinese culture emphasize the importance of lineage and family continuity. Just as Seth is a replacement for Abel in the biblical account, family members in Chinese culture are expected to uphold the family legacy and traditions, ensuring that the family line continues despite hardships or loss.
8. Application
This passage teaches us about divine provision and the restoration of family legacies after tragedy. The birth of Seth after Abel’s death is a reminder that life continues, even after great loss. In both the Bible and Chinese culture, the continuation of family lineage is of great importance, and divine intervention is often seen as a way of ensuring that legacy. Today, this passage can encourage us to see beyond tragedy and understand that new opportunities and hope can emerge, even in the face of hardship.
