וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֗ה אֶמְחֶ֨ה אֶת־הָאָדָ֤ם אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָ֨אתִי֙ מֵעַל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה מֵֽאָדָם֙ עַד־בְּהֵמָ֔ה עַד־רֶ֖מֶשׂ וְעַד־עֹ֣וף הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם כִּ֥י נִחַ֖מְתִּי כִּ֥י עֲשִׂיתִֽם׃
耶和華說，「我必將我所造的人，從人類到牲畜、爬行的動物、空中的飛鳥都從地上除滅，因為我後悔造了他們。」
耶和华说，「我必将我所造的人，从人类到牲畜、爬行的动物、空中的飞鸟都从地上除灭，因为我后悔造了他们。」
Yēhéhuá shuō, wǒ bì jiāng wǒ suǒ zào de rén, cóng rénlèi dào shēngchù, páxíng de dòngwù, kōngzhōng de fēiniǎo dōu cóng dìshàng chúmiè, yīnwèi wǒ hòuhuǐ zào le tāmen.
The LORD said, “I will wipe out mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth, from mankind to animals, to creeping things and to the birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 耶和華 / 耶和华 | Yēhéhuá | The LORD (God) | Proper noun |
| 說 / 说 | shuō | To say | Verb |
| 我 | wǒ | I, me | Pronoun |
| 必 | bì | Will | Auxiliary verb |
| 將 / 将 | jiāng | Will, shall | Auxiliary verb |
| 人 / 人 | rén | Man, human | Noun |
| 除滅 / 除灭 | chúmiè | To wipe out, to destroy | Verb |
| 從 / 从 | cóng | From | Preposition |
| 地上 | dìshàng | On the earth | Noun |
| 後悔 / 后悔 | hòuhuǐ | To regret | Verb |
| 造 / 造 | zào | To create | Verb |
| 他們 / 他们 | tāmen | Them | Pronoun |
2. Grammar Explanation
- 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): “The LORD,” the name used for God, reflecting His power and authority over creation.
- 說 / 说 (shuō): “To say,” indicating God’s declaration about His decision to destroy mankind and other creatures.
- 必 (bì): An auxiliary verb that indicates certainty or inevitability, meaning “will” in this context.
- 除滅 / 除灭 (chúmiè): “To wipe out, to destroy,” referring to God’s intention to completely erase humanity and other living beings from the earth.
- 後悔 / 后悔 (hòuhuǐ): “To regret,” used to express God’s sorrow and regret over the creation of humanity due to their evil actions.
3. Pronunciation Practice
- 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): [yē hé huá] – Keep the pitch steady and clear for the high-level tones.
- 說 / 说 (shuō): [shuō] – The tone is high and level.
- 除滅 / 除灭 (chúmiè): [chú miè] – “Chú” has a rising tone, and “miè” has a falling tone.
- 後悔 / 后悔 (hòuhuǐ): [hòu huǐ] – Both syllables have falling tones.
4. Character Learning
- 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): Refers to God, showing His authority and dominion over all creation.
- 除滅 / 除灭 (chúmiè): Describes God’s act of wiping out all of humanity and creation due to sin.
- 後悔 / 后悔 (hòuhuǐ): Indicates regret, showing God’s emotional reaction to the sinful state of humanity.
5. Cultural Insights
- Divine Regret: In the Hebrew Bible, God’s regret is not a flaw or mistake, but rather a deep sorrow over humanity’s failure to live according to His will. The concept of God expressing sorrow highlights the relational nature of the divine-human interaction.
- Creation and Destruction: The destruction of creation is portrayed as an act of both judgment and regret, as God is deeply affected by humanity’s choices. This emotional response from God underscores the seriousness of sin and its consequences.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): Remember God as the one who rules over all creation, whose word and actions shape the world.
- 除滅 / 除灭 (chúmiè): Think of “chúmiè” as wiping away all evil, reflecting God’s judgment on sin.
- 後悔 / 后悔 (hòuhuǐ): Regret is a strong emotional reaction, remember it as God’s sorrow over the wickedness of humanity.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew: The Hebrew word וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם (regret) is translated into Chinese as 後悔 / 后悔 (hòuhuǐ), showing God’s emotional reaction to humanity’s sin. This word emphasizes the deep sorrow that God feels.
- Comparison with Chinese: Both the Hebrew and Chinese texts express God’s sorrow in similar terms. The act of “regret” in both languages emphasizes the relational and emotional nature of God’s interaction with humanity.
8. Application
This passage serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of living according to God’s will. It encourages us to reflect on how our actions impact not only our lives but also our relationship with God. The emotional language used in this passage highlights God’s deep care for humanity and His desire for righteousness. In our modern context, this passage can inspire us to evaluate our moral and spiritual choices, understanding that our actions have consequences and affect our relationship with the divine. Furthermore, it encourages communities to strive for justice and goodness to avoid collective downfall. God’s sorrow over humanity’s wickedness also reminds us of the possibility of redemption and the need for repentance and transformation.
This narrative of divine regret and impending judgment can serve as a lesson in accountability, urging us to act responsibly and ethically in all aspects of our lives. It also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a close relationship with God, marked by faithfulness and adherence to His principles.
