וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יִקָּו֨וּ הַמַּ֜יִם מִתַּ֤חַת הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ אֶל־מָקֹ֣ום אֶחָ֔ד וְתֵרָאֶ֖ה הַיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃
神說：「天下的水要聚在一處，使旱地露出來。」事情就這樣成了。
神说：「天下的水要聚在一处，使旱地露出来。」事情就这样成了。
Shén shuō: “Tiān xià de shuǐ yào jù zài yī chù, shǐ hàn dì lù chū lái.” Shìqíng jiù zhè yàng chéng le.
And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 神 | shén | God | Subject noun |
| 說 / 说 | shuō | Say | Verb |
| 天下 | tiān xià | Under the heavens, all the world | Noun phrase |
| 水 | shuǐ | Water | Noun |
| 要 | yào | Let, must | Verb |
| 聚 | jù | Gather, assemble | Verb |
| 在 | zài | At, in | Preposition |
| 一處 / 一处 | yī chù | One place | Noun phrase |
| 使 | shǐ | Cause, make | Verb |
| 旱地 | hàn dì | Dry land | Noun |
| 露出 | lù chū | Reveal, appear | 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:
- 神說：「天下的水要聚在一處 (shén shuō: ‘tiān xià de shuǐ yào jù zài yī chù’): Subject-verb-object structure introducing the command to gather water.
- 使旱地露出來 (shǐ hàn dì lù chū lái): Describes the desired result, with 使 (shǐ): “cause” connecting the action to its outcome.
- 事情就這樣成了 (shìqíng jiù zhè yàng chéng le): A declarative phrase indicating completion of the command.
Key Grammar Points:
- 要 (yào): Expresses a command or necessity, equivalent to “let” in English.
- 聚 (jù): Indicates gathering or collecting.
- 使 (shǐ): Functions as a causative verb, meaning “cause” or “make.”
- 露出 (lù chū): Means “to appear” or “to be revealed.”
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Shén shuō: “Tiān xià de shuǐ yào jù zài yī chù, shǐ hàn dì lù chū lái.” Shìqíng jiù zhè yàng chéng le.
Tone Practice:
- 神 (shén): 2nd tone (rising)
- 說 / 说 (shuō): 1st tone (high)
- 天下 (tiān xià): 1st tone (high) + 4th tone (falling)
- 聚 (jù): 4th tone (falling)
- 一處 / 一处 (yī chù): 1st tone (high) + 4th tone (falling)
- 旱地 (hàn dì): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 露出 (lù chū): 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (high)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 天下 (tiān xià): Refers to everything under the heavens, emphasizing universality.
- 聚 (jù): Means “gather,” often used in contexts of assembly or concentration.
- 旱地 (hàn dì): Refers to dry land, contrasting with waters.
- 露出 (lù chū): Depicts the action of something being revealed or uncovered.
5. Cultural Insights
- Gathering of Waters: The concept of collecting waters and revealing dry land aligns with both Hebrew and Chinese cultural values of order and structure in creation.
- Dry Land (旱地): In Chinese culture, the appearance of dry land signifies stability and foundation, crucial for life and development.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
-
- 天下 (tiān xià): Visualize the vast expanse of everything under the heavens.
- 聚 (jù): Picture water flowing and converging into one place.
- 露出 (lù chū): Imagine dry land gradually emerging as water recedes, revealing the ground beneath.
- 旱地 (hàn dì): Picture a dry, solid ground contrasting with the surrounding waters to remember the concept of dry land.
- 成了 (chéng le): Visualize a completed task, reinforcing the idea of divine order and fulfillment.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- יִקָּו֨וּ הַמַּ֜יִם (Yiqavu Hamayim): → 天下的水要聚 (tiān xià de shuǐ yào jù): Both describe the command for waters to gather in one place, emphasizing divine authority over creation.
- אֶל־מָקֹ֣ום אֶחָ֔ד (El-Makom Echad): → 在一處 / 在一处 (zài yī chù): Both phrases point to the unification of waters into a single location.
- וְתֵרָאֶ֖ה הַיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה (Vetera’eh Hayabasha): → 使旱地露出來 / 使旱地露出来 (shǐ hàn dì lù chū lái): Both express the appearance of dry land as a result of divine command.
- 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 completion of the command and the fulfillment of God’s will.
- Comparison with English:
- The phrase “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together to one place” corresponds directly to the Chinese 天下的水要聚在一處 / 天下的水要聚在一处 (tiān xià de shuǐ yào jù zài yī chù): Both describe the gathering of waters as a deliberate act.
- “And let the dry land appear” aligns with 使旱地露出來 / 使旱地露出来 (shǐ hàn dì lù chū lái): Both emphasize the visible emergence of dry land.
- “And it was so” is translated as 事情就這樣成了 / 事情就这样成了 (shìqíng jiù zhè yàng chéng le): Both express the successful fulfillment of the divine directive.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Gathering of Waters: In ancient Chinese cosmology, the separation and organization of elements such as water and earth symbolize harmony and balance in creation.
- Dry Land: The appearance of dry land (旱地) in Chinese thought often represents stability and the foundation for life, paralleling its significance in the biblical creation narrative.
- Completion: The phrase 事情就這樣成了 / 事情就这样成了 (shìqíng jiù zhè yàng chéng le): reflects a shared emphasis on order and the successful execution of plans in both traditions.
