וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים יְהִ֥י רָקִ֖יעַ בְּתֹ֣וךְ הַמָּ֑יִם וִיהִ֣י מַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין מַ֖יִם לָמָֽיִם׃
神說：「要有穹蒼在水中，將水分為上下。」
神说：「要有穹苍在水中，将水分为上下。」
Shén shuō: “Yào yǒu qióngcāng zài shuǐ zhōng, jiāng shuǐ fēn wéi shàng xià.”
And God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 神 | shén | God | Subject noun |
| 說 / 说 | shuō | Say | Verb |
| 要 | yào | Let there be, want | Verb |
| 穹蒼 / 穹苍 | qióngcāng | Firmament, sky | Noun |
| 在 | zài | In, at | Preposition |
| 水 | shuǐ | Water | Noun |
| 中 | zhōng | Middle, midst | Noun |
| 將 / 将 | jiāng | Will, to | Preposition |
| 分 | fēn | Separate, divide | Verb |
| 為 / 为 | wéi | As, into | Preposition |
| 上下 | shàng xià | Up and down | Noun phrase |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 神說：「要有穹蒼在水中 (shén shuō: ‘yào yǒu qióngcāng zài shuǐ zhōng’): Subject-verb-object with direct speech introducing the command.
- 將水分為上下 (jiāng shuǐ fēn wéi shàng xià): Uses 將 / 将 (jiāng) to emphasize the action of dividing water into upper and lower sections.
Key Grammar Points:
- 要 (yào): Indicates a command or desire for something to exist.
- 穹蒼 / 穹苍 (qióngcāng): Refers to the “firmament” or “sky,” placed in the midst of the waters.
- 分為 / 分为 (fēn wéi): Means “to divide into,” showing the outcome of separation.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Shén shuō: “Yào yǒu qióngcāng zài shuǐ zhōng, jiāng shuǐ fēn wéi shàng xià.”
Tone Practice:
- 神 (shén): 2nd tone (rising)
- 說 / 说 (shuō): 1st tone (high)
- 要 (yào): 4th tone (falling)
- 穹蒼 / 穹苍 (qióngcāng): 2nd tone (rising) + 1st tone (high)
- 分 (fēn): 1st tone (high)
- 上下 (shàng xià): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 穹蒼 / 穹苍 (qióngcāng): Represents the firmament or sky, often used poetically in Chinese literature.
- 分 (fēn): Means “to divide,” frequently used in contexts of separation or distribution.
- 上下 (shàng xià): Refers to the concept of “upper” and “lower,” symbolizing spatial divisions.
5. Cultural Insights
- Firmament (穹蒼 / 穹苍): In Chinese culture, the sky or heavens are often depicted as a dome, similar to the biblical concept of the firmament dividing waters above and below.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 穹蒼 / 穹苍 (qióngcāng): Imagine a vast blue sky spreading across the horizon.
- 分為 / 分为 (fēn wéi): Visualize separating two halves, as in dividing water into upper and lower parts.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים (Vayomer Elohim): → 神說 (shén shuō): Both describe God’s command.
- יְהִ֥י רָקִ֖יעַ (Yehi Raqia): → 要有穹蒼 (yào yǒu qióngcāng): Both express the creation of the firmament.
- בֵּ֥ין מַ֖יִם לָמָֽיִם (Bein Mayim Lamayim): → 將水分為上下 (jiāng shuǐ fēn wéi shàng xià): Both describe separating the waters into upper and lower regions.
- Comparison with English:
- Both English and Chinese translations follow a similar logical structure for describing the command and its result.
- Chinese uses 將 / 将 (jiāng): to emphasize the action of dividing the water, similar to “let it divide” in English.
