וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִים֩ אֶת־חַיַּ֨ת הָאָ֜רֶץ לְמִינָ֗הּ וְאֶת־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ וְאֵ֛ת כָּל־רֶ֥מֶשׂ הָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה לְמִינֵ֑הוּ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֹֽוב׃
神造出地上的野獸，各從其類，牲畜，各從其類，還有地上所有的爬行動物，各從其類。神看這是好的。
神造出地上的野兽，各从其类，牲畜，各从其类，还有地上所有的爬行动物，各从其类。神看这是好的。
Shén zào chū dì shàng de yě shòu, gè cóng qí lèi, shēng chù, gè cóng qí lèi, hái yǒu dì shàng suǒ yǒu de pá xíng dòng wù, gè cóng qí lèi. Shén kàn zhè shì hǎo de.
And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 神 | shén | God | Subject noun |
| 造出 | zào chū | Create, make | Verb |
| 地上 | dì shàng | On the earth | Prepositional phrase |
| 野獸 / 野兽 | yě shòu | Wild animals | Noun |
| 各從其類 / 各从其类 | gè cóng qí lèi | According to their kinds | Adverbial phrase |
| 牲畜 | shēng chù | Livestock | Noun |
| 還有 / 还有 | hái yǒu | And also | Conjunction |
| 所有 | suǒ yǒu | All, everything | Adjective |
| 爬行動物 / 爬行动物 | pá xíng dòng wù | Creeping things | Noun |
| 看 | kàn | See, observe | Verb |
| 好的 | hǎo de | Good | Adjective |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 神造出地上的野獸，各從其類 (shén zào chū dì shàng de yě shòu, gè cóng qí lèi): Declares God’s creation of wild animals, each according to its kind.
- 牲畜，各從其類 (shēng chù, gè cóng qí lèi): Adds the creation of livestock, each according to its kind.
- 還有地上所有的爬行動物，各從其類 (hái yǒu dì shàng suǒ yǒu de pá xíng dòng wù, gè cóng qí lèi): Includes creeping things on the ground, each according to its kind.
- 神看這是好的 (shén kàn zhè shì hǎo de): Declares God’s observation that the creation is good.
Key Grammar Points:
- 造出 (zào chū): Describes the act of creating or making.
- 各從其類 / 各从其类 (gè cóng qí lèi): Emphasizes the order and distinction of creatures by their kinds.
- 看 (kàn): Means “to see” or “to observe,” used to describe God’s evaluation.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Shén zào chū dì shàng de yě shòu, gè cóng qí lèi, shēng chù, gè cóng qí lèi, hái yǒu dì shàng suǒ yǒu de pá xíng dòng wù, gè cóng qí lèi. Shén kàn zhè shì hǎo de.
Tone Practice:
- 造出 (zào chū): 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (high)
- 野獸 / 野兽 (yě shòu): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 牲畜 (shēng chù): 1st tone (high) + 4th tone (falling)
- 爬行動物 / 爬行动物 (pá xíng dòng wù): 2nd tone (rising) + 2nd tone (rising) + 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 造出 (zào chū): Represents the act of creating or making, central to the description of God’s work.
- 野獸 / 野兽 (yě shòu): Refers to wild animals, highlighting their untamed nature.
- 牲畜 (shēng chù): Refers to domesticated animals, indicating their role in human life.
- 爬行動物 / 爬行动物 (pá xíng dòng wù): Describes creeping things, emphasizing variety in creation.
- 好的 (hǎo de): Indicates something is good, reflecting divine approval.
- 地上 (dì shàng): Specifies the location of the wild animals, livestock, and creeping things, emphasizing their terrestrial habitat.
- 各從其類 / 各从其类 (gè cóng qí lèi): Highlights the order and distinction among creatures, ensuring diversity and structure in creation.
- 看 (kàn): Reflects God’s deliberate observation and judgment of the goodness of creation.
5. Cultural Insights
- Order in Creation: The repetition of 各從其類 / 各从其类 (gè cóng qí lèi): reflects both Hebrew and Chinese cultural appreciation for order and structure in the natural world.
- Wild and Domestic Animals: The distinction between 野獸 / 野兽 (yě shòu) and 牲畜 (shēng chù): resonates with Chinese traditions, where wild and domestic animals play different roles in human life and the ecosystem.
- Diversity in Nature: The inclusion of creeping things and beasts emphasizes the richness of creation, paralleling Chinese cosmological values that celebrate biodiversity and harmony.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 造出 (zào chū): Visualize God shaping the earth and bringing forth all kinds of animals.
- 野獸 / 野兽 (yě shòu): Imagine majestic lions, bears, or other wild animals roaming freely on the earth.
- 牲畜 (shēng chù): Think of domesticated animals like cows or sheep grazing in pastures.
- 爬行動物 / 爬行动物 (pá xíng dòng wù): Picture small creatures like lizards or snakes moving across the ground.
- 各從其類 / 各从其类 (gè cóng qí lèi): Envision distinct groups of animals, each reproducing according to its kind.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִים (Vaya’as Elohim): → 神造出 (shén zào chū): Both describe God’s creative act.
- אֶת־חַיַּ֨ת הָאָ֜רֶץ (Et Chayat HaAretz): → 地上的野獸 / 地上的野兽 (dì shàng de yě shòu): Both refer to wild animals on the earth.
- לְמִינָ֗הּ (LeMinah): → 各從其類 / 各从其类 (gè cóng qí lèi): Both emphasize the reproduction of creatures according to their kinds.
- וְאֵ֛ת כָּל־רֶ֥מֶשׂ הָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה (Ve’et Kol Remes HaAdamah): → 地上所有的爬行動物 / 地上所有的爬行动物 (dì shàng suǒ yǒu de pá xíng dòng wù): Both describe creeping things on the ground.
- 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 express God’s approval of the creation.
- Comparison with English:
- The phrase “And God made the beasts of the earth” aligns with 神造出地上的野獸 / 神造出地上的野兽 (shén zào chū dì shàng de yě shòu): Both narrate the creation of wild animals.
- “And the livestock” corresponds to 牲畜 / 牲畜 (shēng chù): Both emphasize the creation of domesticated animals.
- “And everything that creeps on the ground” matches 地上所有的爬行動物 / 地上所有的爬行动物 (dì shàng suǒ yǒu de pá xíng dòng wù): Both highlight the inclusion of creeping things.
- “According to their kinds” aligns with 各從其類 / 各从其类 (gè cóng qí lèi): Both emphasize natural order and structure.
- “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 divine approval of creation.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Harmony in Creation: The classification of creatures (各從其類 / 各从其类): reflects Chinese cultural values of order and harmony in nature.
- Wild and Domestic Roles: The distinction between wild animals (野獸 / 野兽) and livestock (牲畜) mirrors the balance of untamed and human-utilized resources in Chinese tradition.
- Diversity and Balance: The inclusion of creeping things and other animals celebrates the diversity of creation, resonating with Chinese cosmological principles of balance and interconnection.
