Genesis 2:4 – Learn Chinese Bible

這是天地被造時的來歷；當耶和華上帝造地與天的日子。

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

Chinese Character	Pinyin	Meaning	Grammar Role
這是 / 这是	zhè shì	This is	Phrase
天地	tiān dì	Heaven and earth	Noun phrase
被造	bèi zào	Were created	Verb phrase
時的來歷 / 时的来历	shí de lái lì	Account, history	Noun phrase
當 / 当	dāng	When	Conjunction
耶和華 / 耶和华	Yēhéhuá	LORD	Proper noun
上帝	Shàngdì	God	Proper noun
造	zào	Create, make	Verb
地與天 / 地与天	dì yǔ tiān	Earth and heaven	Noun phrase
日子	rì zi	Day	Noun

Sentence Structure:

這是天地被造時的來歷 (zhè shì tiān dì bèi zào shí de lái lì): Introduces the account of creation, identifying what is being described.
當耶和華上帝造地與天的日子 (dāng Yēhéhuá Shàngdì zào dì yǔ tiān de rì zi): Describes the time when the LORD God created the earth and heavens.

Key Grammar Points:

被 (bèi): A passive marker indicating the subject was acted upon (e.g., “were created”).
當 / 当 (dāng): A conjunction meaning “when,” introducing a temporal clause.
的 (de): A particle used to connect modifiers to nouns, forming possessive or descriptive phrases.

Tone Practice:

這是 / 这是 (zhè shì): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
天地 (tiān dì): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
被造 (bèi zào): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
來歷 / 来历 (lái lì): 2nd tone (rising) + 4th tone (falling)
當 / 当 (dāng): 1st tone (flat)
耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
上帝 (Shàngdì): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
造 (zào): 4th tone (falling)
地與天 / 地与天 (dì yǔ tiān): 4th tone (falling) + 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 1st tone (flat)
日子 (rì zi): 4th tone (falling) + neutral tone

Key Characters:

天地 (tiān dì): Refers to the heavens and the earth, emphasizing the totality of creation.
被造 (bèi zào): Indicates that the heavens and earth were created, highlighting the passive action.
耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): Refers to the LORD, a sacred name in the text.
上帝 (Shàngdì): A title for God, denoting divinity and authority.
來歷 / 来历 (lái lì): Means “history” or “account,” summarizing the origins of creation.

Generations and History: The term 來歷 / 来历 (lái lì): reflects both Hebrew and Chinese cultural emphasis on understanding origins and lineages.
Passive Creation: The phrase 被造 (bèi zào): aligns with the Hebrew depiction of creation as a divine act.
Heaven and Earth: The pairing of 天地 (tiān dì): resonates with Chinese cosmology, which often views heaven and earth as interconnected forces.

天地 (tiān dì): Picture the vast sky and the solid ground as complementary elements of creation.
被造 (bèi zào): Imagine a creator shaping the world, emphasizing the passive nature of creation in the phrase.
耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): Visualize the sacred name written above the world, representing divine sovereignty.
來歷 / 来历 (lái lì): Think of a scroll unfurling to reveal the origins of heaven and earth.

Comparison with Hebrew:
- אֵ֣לֶּה תֹולְדֹ֧ות (Eleh Toledot): → 這是…的來歷 / 这是…的来历 (zhè shì… de lái lì): Both introduce the account of creation.
- הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ (HaShamayim VeHaAretz): → 天地 (tiān dì): Both describe the heavens and the earth.
- בְּיֹ֗ום עֲשֹׂ֛ות יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים (BeYom Asot YHWH Elohim): → 當耶和華上帝造 (dāng Yēhéhuá Shàngdì zào): Both emphasize the creative act of the LORD God.
Comparison with English:
- “These are the generations of the heavens and the earth” corresponds to 這是天地被造時的來歷 / 这是天地被造时的来历 (zhè shì tiān dì bèi zào shí de lái lì): Both describe the origin story.
- “When they were created” aligns with 被造時 / 被造时 (bèi zào shí): Both highlight the act of creation.
- “In the day that the LORD God made” matches 當耶和華上帝造 (dāng Yēhéhuá Shàngdì zào): Both emphasize the timing and divine involvement in creation.
Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Origin Stories: The emphasis on 來歷 / 来历 (lái lì): reflects the Chinese tradition of recording origins and genealogies.
- Heaven and Earth: The concept of 天地 (tiān dì): aligns with Chinese cosmological views of duality and balance between heaven and earth.