וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים הִנֵּה֩ נָתַ֨תִּי לָכֶ֜ם אֶת־כָּל־עֵ֣שֶׂב זֹרֵ֣עַ זֶ֗רַע אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י כָל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאֶת־כָּל־הָעֵ֛ץ אֲשֶׁר־בֹּ֥ו פְרִי־עֵ֖ץ זֹרֵ֣עַ זָ֑רַע לָכֶ֥ם יִֽהְיֶ֖ה לְאָכְלָֽה׃
神說：「看哪，我將遍地上一切結種子的菜蔬，和一切樹上結有種子的果子，都賜給你們作食物。」
神说：「看哪，我将遍地上一切结种子的菜蔬，和一切树上结有种子的果子，都赐给你们作食物。」
Shén shuō: “Kàn nǎ, wǒ jiāng biàn dì shàng yī qiè jié zhǒng zǐ de cài shū, hé yī qiè shù shàng jié yǒu zhǒng zǐ de guǒ zi, dōu cì gěi nǐmen zuò shí wù.”
And God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.”
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 神 | shén | God | Subject noun |
| 說 / 说 | shuō | Say | Verb |
| 看哪 | kàn nǎ | See, behold | Interjection |
| 我 | wǒ | I | Pronoun |
| 將 / 将 | jiāng | Will, shall | Auxiliary verb |
| 遍地 | biàn dì | Throughout the earth | Noun phrase |
| 一切 | yī qiè | All, everything | Quantifier |
| 結種子 / 结种子 | jié zhǒng zǐ | Yielding seed | Verb phrase |
| 菜蔬 | cài shū | Plants, herbs | Noun |
| 樹 / 树 | shù | Tree | Noun |
| 果子 | guǒ zǐ | Fruit | Noun |
| 賜給 / 赐给 | cì gěi | Give, grant | Verb |
| 你們 / 你们 | nǐmen | You (plural) | Pronoun |
| 作 | zuò | As, for | Verb |
| 食物 | shí wù | Food | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 神說：「看哪 (shén shuō: ‘kàn nǎ): Introduces God’s declaration with an interjection, “Behold.”
- 我將遍地上一切結種子的菜蔬 (wǒ jiāng biàn dì shàng yī qiè jié zhǒng zǐ de cài shū): God declares the gift of seed-yielding plants on the earth.
- 和一切樹上結有種子的果子 (hé yī qiè shù shàng jié yǒu zhǒng zǐ de guǒ zǐ): Adds trees with seed-bearing fruits to the gift.
- 都賜給你們作食物 (dōu cì gěi nǐmen zuò shí wù): Concludes that these are given to humanity as food.
Key Grammar Points:
- 看哪 (kàn nǎ): Functions as an interjection, drawing attention to the following statement.
- 將 / 将 (jiāng): Indicates the future tense, “will” or “shall.”
- 賜給 / 赐给 (cì gěi): Means “to give” or “to grant,” signifying a divine bestowal.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Shén shuō: “Kàn nǎ, wǒ jiāng biàn dì shàng yī qiè jié zhǒng zǐ de cài shū, hé yī qiè shù shàng jié yǒu zhǒng zǐ de guǒ zǐ, dōu cì gěi nǐmen zuò shí wù.”
Tone Practice:
- 看哪 (kàn nǎ): 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 遍地 (biàn dì): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 結種子 / 结种子 (jié zhǒng zǐ): 2nd tone (rising) + 3rd tone (falling-rising) + neutral tone
- 賜給 / 赐给 (cì gěi): 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 食物 (shí wù): 2nd tone (rising) + 4th tone (falling)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 看哪 (kàn nǎ): An interjection meaning “Behold” or “See,” used to draw attention.
- 結種子 / 结种子 (jié zhǒng zǐ): Refers to seed-bearing plants, central to the concept of provision and sustenance.
- 賜給 / 赐给 (cì gěi): Highlights the act of giving, symbolizing divine generosity.
- 食物 (shí wù): Refers to food, emphasizing God’s provision for humanity’s sustenance.
- 菜蔬 (cài shū): Represents herbs and plants, indicating the diversity of vegetation available for food.
5. Cultural Insights
- Provision in Creation: The statement 賜給你們作食物 / 赐给你们作食物 (cì gěi nǐmen zuò shí wù): reflects the Hebrew and Chinese appreciation for the abundance and providence in nature.
- Seed-bearing Plants: The emphasis on 結種子 / 结种子 (jié zhǒng zǐ): aligns with Chinese agricultural traditions, highlighting the importance of seeds in sustaining life.
- Harmony with Nature: The gift of plants and fruits for food resonates with the Chinese principle of utilizing natural resources responsibly and respectfully.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 看哪 (kàn nǎ): Picture someone pointing at a bountiful garden and saying, “Behold!”
- 結種子 / 结种子 (jié zhǒng zǐ): Visualize plants sprouting seeds, symbolizing renewal and provision.
- 賜給 / 赐给 (cì gěi): Imagine hands offering a basket of fruits and plants as a gift.
- 食物 (shí wù): Think of a table filled with a variety of food, representing sustenance and abundance.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- הִנֵּה נָתַתִּי לָכֶם (Hinnei Natatti Lachem): → 看哪，我將 / 看哪，我将 (kàn nǎ, wǒ jiāng): Both draw attention to God’s provision.
- אֶת־כָּל־עֵשֶׂב זֹרֵעַ זֶרַע (Et Kol Esev Zorea Zera): → 遍地上一切結種子的菜蔬 / 遍地上一切结种子的菜蔬 (biàn dì shàng yī qiè jié zhǒng zǐ de cài shū): Both refer to seed-yielding plants across the earth.
- וְאֶת־כָּל־הָעֵץ (Ve’Et Kol HaEtz): → 和一切樹 / 和一切树 (hé yī qiè shù): Both emphasize the inclusion of trees.
- יִֽהְיֶ֖ה לְאָכְלָֽה (Yiheyeh LeOchlah): → 賜給你們作食物 / 赐给你们作食物 (cì gěi nǐmen zuò shí wù): Both assign plants and fruits as food for humanity.
- Comparison with English:
- “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed” aligns with 看哪，我將遍地上一切結種子的菜蔬 / 看哪，我将遍地上一切结种子的菜蔬 (kàn nǎ, wǒ jiāng biàn dì shàng yī qiè jié zhǒng zǐ de cài shū): Both describe the provision of seed-yielding plants.
- “And every tree with seed in its fruit” corresponds to 和一切樹上結有種子的果子 / 和一切树上结有种子的果子 (hé yī qiè shù shàng jié yǒu zhǒng zǐ de guǒ zǐ): Both highlight trees with seed-bearing fruits.
- “You shall have them for food” matches 賜給你們作食物 / 赐给你们作食物 (cì gěi nǐmen zuò shí wù): Both indicate these are given as food for humanity.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Agriculture and Sustainability: The focus on seed-bearing plants resonates with Chinese agricultural traditions that value sustainability and growth.
- Abundance and Provision: The imagery of a bountiful earth aligns with Chinese philosophies that emphasize harmony between humanity and nature’s resources.
