וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים לַיַּבָּשָׁה֙ אֶ֔רֶץ וּלְמִקְוֵ֥ה הַמַּ֖יִם קָרָ֣א יַמִּ֑ים וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֹֽוב׃
神稱旱地為地，稱水的聚處為海。神看這是好的。
神称旱地为地，称水的聚处为海。神看这是好的。
Shén chēng hàn dì wéi dì, chēng shuǐ de jù chù wéi hǎi. Shén kàn zhè shì hǎo de.
And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas; and God saw that it was good.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 神 | shén | God | Subject noun |
| 稱 / 称 | chēng | Call, name | Verb |
| 旱地 | hàn dì | Dry land | Noun |
| 為 / 为 | wéi | As, to be | Preposition |
| 地 | dì | Earth, land | Noun |
| 水 | shuǐ | Water | Noun |
| 聚處 / 聚处 | jù chù | Gathering place | Noun |
| 海 | hǎi | Sea | Noun |
| 看 | kàn | See, observe | Verb |
| 這 / 这 | zhè | This | Pronoun |
| 是 | shì | Is | Verb |
| 好的 | hǎo de | Good | Adjective phrase |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 神稱旱地為地 (shén chēng hàn dì wéi dì): Subject-verb-object structure with 為 / 为 (wéi): “as,” indicating the naming of dry land as Earth.
- 稱水的聚處為海 (chēng shuǐ de jù chù wéi hǎi): A parallel structure for naming the gathering of waters as Seas.
- 神看這是好的 (shén kàn zhè shì hǎo de): Describes God’s observation that it was good.
Key Grammar Points:
- 稱 / 称 (chēng): Used for naming or calling something.
- 為 / 为 (wéi): Indicates “as,” linking the object to its name or designation.
- 聚處 / 聚处 (jù chù): Refers to a gathering place, used to describe the seas.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Shén chēng hàn dì wéi dì, chēng shuǐ de jù chù wéi hǎi. Shén kàn zhè shì hǎo de.
Tone Practice:
- 神 (shén): 2nd tone (rising)
- 稱 / 称 (chēng): 1st tone (high)
- 旱地 (hàn dì): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 聚處 / 聚处 (jù chù): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 海 (hǎi): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 看 (kàn): 4th tone (falling)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 旱地 (hàn dì): Refers to dry land, distinct from the waters.
- 聚處 / 聚处 (jù chù): Describes the gathering of waters, representing Seas in the context of creation.
- 海 (hǎi): A common character for “sea,” used in many compound words related to water.
5. Cultural Insights
- Naming of Elements: Both Hebrew and Chinese traditions emphasize the power of naming as a means of exercising authority and establishing order in creation.
- Seas and Earth: The division of land and sea is a foundational concept in both cultures, symbolizing stability and the beginning of life.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 旱地 (hàn dì): Picture a barren piece of land surrounded by water to recall “dry land.”
- 聚處 / 聚处 (jù chù): Imagine waters pooling together into a single area to recall the “gathering place.”
- 海 (hǎi): Visualize the vast expanse of the sea to remember its meaning.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
-
- וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים לַיַּבָּשָׁה אֶ֔רֶץ (Vayikra Elohim Layabasha Eretz): → 神稱旱地為地 (shén chēng hàn dì wéi dì): Both describe naming dry land as Earth.
- וּלְמִקְוֵ֥ה הַמַּ֖יִם קָרָ֣א יַמִּ֑ים (Ul’Miqveh Hamayim Kara Yamim): → 稱水的聚處為海 (chēng shuǐ de jù chù wéi hǎi): Both assign the name “Seas” to the gathering place of waters, emphasizing divine authority in naming.
- וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֹֽוב (Vayar Elohim Ki Tov): → 神看這是好的 / 神看这是好的 (shén kàn zhè shì hǎo de): Both highlight God’s evaluation of creation as “good,” showing satisfaction with the order established.
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- Comparison with English:
- The phrase “And God called the dry land Earth” corresponds directly to the Chinese 神稱旱地為地 (shén chēng hàn dì wéi dì): Both describe the naming of dry land in similar terms.
- “And the gathering together of the waters He called Seas” is mirrored in the Chinese 稱水的聚處為海 (chēng shuǐ de jù chù wéi hǎi): Both phrases convey the act of naming the gathered waters.
- “And God saw that it was good” corresponds to 神看這是好的 / 神看这是好的 (shén kàn zhè shì hǎo de): Both affirm the goodness of the created order, reflecting divine satisfaction.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Naming and Authority: In Chinese tradition, as in the biblical narrative, naming is an act of authority and organization. Assigning names like 地 (dì): “Earth,” and 海 (hǎi): “Seas,” reflects the establishment of order.
- Land and Water Balance: The division between land and sea aligns with Chinese cosmology’s focus on balance and harmony, often symbolized by the interaction of land and water.
- Goodness in Creation: The evaluation of creation as “good” resonates with Chinese philosophical ideas that value harmony and proper order in the natural world.
