וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִים֮ אֶת־הָרָקִיעַ֒ וַיַּבְדֵּ֗ל בֵּ֤ין הַמַּ֨יִם֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ מִתַּ֣חַת לָרָקִ֔יעַ וּבֵ֣ין הַמַּ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֖ר מֵעַ֣ל לָרָקִ֑יעַ וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃
神造了穹蒼，把穹蒼以下的水和穹蒼以上的水分開了。事情就這樣成了。
神造了穹苍，把穹苍以下的水和穹苍以上的水分开了。事情就这样成了。
Shén zào le qióngcāng, bǎ qióngcāng yǐ xià de shuǐ hé qióngcāng yǐ shàng de shuǐ fēn kāi le. Shìqíng jiù zhè yàng chéng le.
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 神 | shén | God | Subject noun |
| 造 | zào | Make, create | Verb |
| 穹蒼 / 穹苍 | qióngcāng | Firmament, sky | Noun |
| 把 | bǎ | (Marks object focus) | Particle |
| 以下 | yǐ xià | Below | Adverb |
| 以上 | yǐ shàng | Above | Adverb |
| 水 | shuǐ | Water | Noun |
| 分開 / 分开 | fēn kāi | Separate, divide | Verb |
| 事情 | shìqíng | Thing, matter | Noun |
| 這樣 / 这样 | zhè yàng | In this way | Adverbial phrase |
| 成了 | chéng le | Was accomplished | Verb phrase |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 神造了穹蒼 (shén zào le qióngcāng): Subject-verb-object structure, “God made the firmament.”
- 把穹蒼以下的水和穹蒼以上的水分開了 (bǎ qióngcāng yǐ xià de shuǐ hé qióngcāng yǐ shàng de shuǐ fēn kāi le): Uses the 把 structure to emphasize the separation of waters.
- 事情就這樣成了 (shìqíng jiù zhè yàng chéng le): A statement indicating the fulfillment of the action, “and it was so.”
Key Grammar Points:
- 造 (zào): Means “to make” or “to create.”
- 把 (bǎ): Highlights the object being acted upon, in this case, the waters under and above the firmament.
- 分開 / 分开 (fēn kāi): Refers to the act of separating.
- 事情就這樣成了 / 事情就这样成了 (shìqíng jiù zhè yàng chéng le): Indicates that the action was completed as intended.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Shén zào le qióngcāng, bǎ qióngcāng yǐ xià de shuǐ hé qióngcāng yǐ shàng de shuǐ fēn kāi le. Shìqíng jiù zhè yàng chéng le.
Tone Practice:
- 神 (shén): 2nd tone (rising)
- 造 (zào): 4th tone (falling)
- 穹蒼 / 穹苍 (qióngcāng): 2nd tone (rising) + 1st tone (high)
- 以下 (yǐ xià): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 以上 (yǐ shàng): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 事情 (shìqíng): 4th tone (falling) + neutral tone
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 穹蒼 / 穹苍 (qióngcāng): Represents the firmament, a significant part of the creation narrative.
- 以下 (yǐ xià): Means “below,” frequently used to describe location or hierarchy.
- 以上 (yǐ shàng): Means “above,” indicating position or level.
5. Cultural Insights
- Separation of Waters: Both Hebrew and Chinese cultures value the separation of elements as a means of creating order from chaos.
- 穹蒼 / 穹苍: The firmament represents not just the physical sky but also divine separation and structure.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 穹蒼 / 穹苍 (qióngcāng): Imagine a vast dome over the earth separating waters above and below.
- 分開 / 分开 (fēn kāi): Visualize water splitting into two parts by a barrier in the middle.
- 成了 (chéng le): Picture a task being completed with everything in its rightful place.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִים (Vaya’as Elohim): → 神造了 (shén zào le): Both emphasize the act of creation, portraying God as the Creator of the firmament.
- וַיַּבְדֵּ֗ל בֵּ֤ין הַמַּ֨יִם… (Vayavdel Bein Hamayim): → 把穹蒼以下的水和穹蒼以上的水分開了 (bǎ qióngcāng yǐ xià de shuǐ hé qióngcāng yǐ shàng de shuǐ fēn kāi le): Both describe the separation of waters above and below, highlighting divine authority in establishing order.
- אֲשֶׁ֖ר מֵעַ֣ל לָרָקִ֑יעַ (Asher Me’al Laraki’a): → 穹蒼以上的水 (qióngcāng yǐ shàng de shuǐ): Both phrases explicitly identify the waters located above the firmament.
- וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן (Vayehi Ken): → 事情就這樣成了 / 事情就这样成了 (shìqíng jiù zhè yàng chéng le): Both affirm the successful completion of the command, with Hebrew meaning “and it was so,” and Chinese conveying “it was accomplished.”
- Comparison with English:
- The English phrase “And God made the firmament” aligns closely with the Chinese 神造了穹蒼 (shén zào le qióngcāng): Both focus on the creation of the firmament as an intentional act.
- “And divided the waters under the firmament from the waters above the firmament” is mirrored in the Chinese 把穹蒼以下的水和穹蒼以上的水分開了 (bǎ qióngcāng yǐ xià de shuǐ hé qióngcāng yǐ shàng de shuǐ fēn kāi le): Both detail the separation of the waters, emphasizing the structural role of the firmament.
- “And it was so” corresponds to 事情就這樣成了 / 事情就这样成了 (shìqíng jiù zhè yàng chéng le): Both phrases serve as a conclusion, signifying that the task was completed as commanded.
