וּֽלְכָל־חַיַּ֣ת הָ֠אָרֶץ וּלְכָל־עֹ֨וף הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם וּלְכֹ֣ל רֹומֵ֣שׂ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־בֹּו֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֔ה אֶת־כָּל־יֶ֥רֶק עֵ֖שֶׂב לְאָכְלָ֑ה וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃
至於地上的一切走獸，空中的一切飛鳥，和地上所有爬行的動物，就是有生命的活物，我把一切青綠的菜蔬賜給牠們作食物。」事就這樣成了。
至于地上的一切走兽，空中的一切飞鸟，和地上所有爬行的动物，就是有生命的活物，我把一切青绿的菜蔬赐给它们作食物。」事就这样成了。
Zhì yú dì shàng de yī qiè zǒu shòu, kōng zhōng de yī qiè fēi niǎo, hé dì shàng suǒ yǒu pá xíng de dòng wù, jiù shì yǒu shēng mìng de huó wù, wǒ bǎ yī qiè qīng lǜ de cài shū cì gěi tāmen zuò shí wù.” Shì jiù zhè yàng chéng le.
And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the heavens, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 至於 / 至于 | zhì yú | As for | Preposition |
| 地上 | dì shàng | On the earth | Prepositional phrase |
| 一切 | yī qiè | All, everything | Quantifier |
| 走獸 / 走兽 | zǒu shòu | Beast | Noun |
| 空中 | kōng zhōng | In the air | Prepositional phrase |
| 飛鳥 / 飞鸟 | fēi niǎo | Bird | Noun |
| 爬行 | pá xíng | Creep, crawl | Verb |
| 動物 / 动物 | dòng wù | Animal | Noun |
| 生命 | shēng mìng | Life | Noun |
| 活物 | huó wù | Living creature | Noun |
| 青綠 / 青绿 | qīng lǜ | Green | Adjective |
| 菜蔬 | cài shū | Plants, herbs | Noun |
| 賜給 / 赐给 | cì gěi | Give, grant | Verb |
| 牠們 / 它们 | tāmen | Them (referring to animals) | Pronoun |
| 作 | zuò | As, for | Verb |
| 食物 | shí wù | Food | Noun |
| 事 | shì | Event, matter | Noun |
| 就 | jiù | Then, just | Adverb |
| 這樣 / 这样 | zhè yàng | Thus, so | Adverbial phrase |
| 成 | chéng | Become, happen | Verb |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 至於地上的一切走獸 (zhì yú dì shàng de yī qiè zǒu shòu): Introduces the beasts of the earth with “as for.”
- 空中的一切飛鳥 (kōng zhōng de yī qiè fēi niǎo): Describes all the birds of the heavens.
- 和地上所有爬行的動物 (hé dì shàng suǒ yǒu pá xíng de dòng wù): Refers to every creeping thing on the earth.
- 就是有生命的活物 (jiù shì yǒu shēng mìng de huó wù): Specifies that these are living creatures.
- 我把一切青綠的菜蔬賜給牠們作食物 (wǒ bǎ yī qiè qīng lǜ de cài shū cì gěi tāmen zuò shí wù): Declares that God has given every green plant for food to these creatures.
- 事就這樣成了 (shì jiù zhè yàng chéng le): Concludes with “And it was so,” affirming the fulfillment of God’s command.
Key Grammar Points:
- 至於 / 至于 (zhì yú): Indicates a transition, introducing a new subject (“as for”).
- 就是 (jiù shì): Emphasizes identification, equivalent to “it is” or “namely.”
- 把 (bǎ): Highlights the object being acted upon, used in “把” constructions.
- 成了 (chéng le): Indicates completion, often translated as “it was so” or “it became.”
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Zhì yú dì shàng de yī qiè zǒu shòu, kōng zhōng de yī qiè fēi niǎo, hé dì shàng suǒ yǒu pá xíng de dòng wù, jiù shì yǒu shēng mìng de huó wù, wǒ bǎ yī qiè qīng lǜ de cài shū cì gěi tāmen zuò shí wù. Shì jiù zhè yàng chéng le.
Tone Practice:
- 至於 / 至于 (zhì yú): 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 走獸 / 走兽 (zǒu shòu): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 生命 (shēng mìng): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 青綠 / 青绿 (qīng lǜ): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 成了 (chéng le): 2nd tone (rising) + neutral tone
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 至於 / 至于 (zhì yú): Functions as “as for,” marking a topic shift.
- 走獸 / 走兽 (zǒu shòu): Refers to beasts, emphasizing the diversity of creation.
- 青綠 / 青绿 (qīng lǜ): Highlights the green vegetation provided as food.
- 賜給 / 赐给 (cì gěi): Represents divine generosity, the act of giving.
- 成了 (chéng le): Marks the completion of an action, often used in divine creation narratives.
5. Cultural Insights
- Provision for All Creatures: The inclusion of all animals reflects both Hebrew and Chinese cultural values of universal care and provision.
- Green Plants as Food: The focus on 青綠的菜蔬 / 青绿的菜蔬 (qīng lǜ de cài shū): parallels traditional Chinese dietary reliance on plants and herbs.
- Harmony in Creation: Assigning specific food for creatures aligns with Chinese philosophies of balance and natural order.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 至於 / 至于 (zhì yú): Visualize transitioning to a new subject, like turning a page to a new chapter.
- 走獸 / 走兽 (zǒu shòu): Picture animals roaming freely on the earth.
- 青綠 / 青绿 (qīng lǜ): Imagine a field covered in lush green vegetation.
- 賜給 / 赐给 (cì gěi): Envision God handing a basket of plants to all creatures.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וּֽלְכָל־חַיַּ֣ת הָ֠אָרֶץ (UL’Kol Chayat HaAretz): → 至於地上的一切走獸 / 至于地上的一切走兽 (zhì yú dì shàng de yī qiè zǒu shòu): Both describe the beasts of the earth.
- וּלְכָל־עֹ֨וף הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם (UL’Kol Of HaShamayim): → 空中的一切飛鳥 / 空中的一切飞鸟 (kōng zhōng de yī qiè fēi niǎo): Both mention the birds of the heavens.
- אֶת־כָּל־יֶ֥רֶק עֵ֖שֶׂב (Et Kol Yerek Esev): → 一切青綠的菜蔬 / 一切青绿的菜蔬 (yī qiè qīng lǜ de cài shū): Both highlight green plants given as food.
- וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן (Vayehi Ken): → 事就這樣成了 / 事就这样成了 (shì jiù zhè yàng chéng le): Both conclude with the fulfillment of God’s command.
- Comparison with English:
- “To every beast of the earth” matches 至於地上的一切走獸 / 至于地上的一切走兽 (zhì yú dì shàng de yī qiè zǒu shòu): Both describe provision for land animals.
- “Every bird of the heavens” corresponds to 空中的一切飛鳥 / 空中的一切飞鸟 (kōng zhōng de yī qiè fēi niǎo): Both include the birds of the heavens.
- “Every creeping thing” aligns with 地上所有爬行的動物 / 地上所有爬行的动物 (dì shàng suǒ yǒu pá xíng de dòng wù): Both describe crawling creatures.
- “And it was so” matches 事就這樣成了 / 事就这样成了 (shì jiù zhè yàng chéng le): Both affirm the completion of God’s command.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Provision and Harmony: The phrase 賜給牠們作食物 / 赐给它们作食物 (cì gěi tāmen zuò shí wù): reflects both Hebrew and Chinese values of providing for all living beings.
- Natural Order: Assigning specific food to creatures aligns with Chinese philosophical principles of harmony in nature, emphasizing balance and sustainability.
- Universal Care: Including all creatures—beasts, birds, and creeping things—parallels Chinese agricultural respect for biodiversity and ecological roles.
