וַיַּ֣רְא יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י רַבָּ֛ה רָעַ֥ת הָאָדָ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְכָל־יֵ֨צֶר֙ מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ת לִבֹּ֔ו רַ֥ק רַ֖ע כָּל־הַיֹּֽום׃
耶和華看見人在地上的罪惡很大，心裡所想的盡是邪惡，終日如此。
耶和华看见人在地上的罪恶很大，心里所想的尽是邪恶，终日如此。
Yēhéhuá kànjiàn rén zài dìshàng de zuì’è hěn dà, xīnlǐ suǒxiǎng de jìn shì xié’è, zhōngrì rúcǐ.
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 耶和華 / 耶和华 | Yēhéhuá | The LORD (God) | Proper noun |
| 看見 / 看见 | kànjiàn | To see | Verb |
| 人在地上 / 人在地上 | rén zài dìshàng | Man on the earth | Noun phrase |
| 罪惡 / 罪恶 | zuì’è | Sin, wickedness | Noun |
| 心裡 / 心里 | xīnlǐ | In the heart | Noun phrase |
| 所想的 / 所想的 | suǒxiǎng de | What is thought | Verb phrase |
| 盡是 / 尽是 | jìn shì | Only, entirely | Adverb |
| 邪惡 / 邪恶 | xié’è | Evil | Noun |
| 終日 / 终日 | zhōngrì | All day | Adverb |
2. Grammar Explanation
- 看見 / 看见 (kànjiàn): This verb emphasizes the action of observing or noticing, highlighting God’s awareness of humanity’s sin.
- 罪惡 / 罪恶 (zuì’è): Refers to wickedness or sin, showing the moral failure of mankind.
- 所想的 / 所想的 (suǒxiǎng de): Indicates “what is thought,” emphasizing the focus on human intention.
- 盡是 / 尽是 (jìn shì): Means “only” or “entirely,” emphasizing the totality of human evil.
3. Pronunciation Practice
- 罪惡 / 罪恶 (zuì’è): [zuì è] – “Zuì” has a falling tone, and “è” also has a falling tone.
- 邪惡 / 邪恶 (xié’è): [xié è] – “Xié” has a rising tone, and “è” has a falling tone. Pronounce the tones distinctly.
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): The LORD, representing God as the ultimate judge and observer of human actions.
- 罪惡 / 罪恶 (zuì’è): Wickedness, referring to human moral corruption.
- 邪惡 / 邪恶 (xié’è): Evil, emphasizing the pervasive nature of human wrongdoing.
5. Cultural Insights
- Divine Observation: The LORD’s ability to see human actions reflects a theme in both biblical and Chinese traditions of an all-seeing, omniscient deity who judges moral behavior.
- Human Intention: The emphasis on “the thoughts of his heart” highlights the biblical focus on inner morality, a concept also valued in Chinese philosophical traditions.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 罪惡 / 罪恶 (zuì’è): Visualize humanity’s wickedness spreading across the earth, seen by God.
- 邪惡 / 邪恶 (xié’è): Imagine the persistent and pervasive evil thoughts dominating mankind’s heart.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
– Hebrew: “רַבָּ֛ה רָעַ֥ת” (great was the wickedness) is translated in Chinese as “罪惡很大” (sin was great), maintaining the intensity of human moral failure. - Comparison with English: The English “every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” parallels the Chinese “心裡所想的盡是邪惡，終日如此,” emphasizing the comprehensive nature of human wickedness.
8. Application
This passage reveals the depth of humanity’s moral failure and God’s awareness of all human thoughts and intentions. It serves as a call to self-reflection, urging individuals to examine their inner motives and actions. In the modern context, it reminds us of the need for moral accountability and the importance of aligning our thoughts and behaviors with righteous principles. Just as God observed the pervasive wickedness in humanity, this verse challenges readers to seek personal integrity and communal justice.
