וְאֵיבָ֣ה אָשִׁ֗ית בֵּֽינְךָ֙ וּבֵ֣ין הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖ וּבֵ֣ין זַרְעָ֑הּ ה֚וּא יְשׁוּפְךָ֣ רֹ֔אשׁ וְאַתָּ֖ה תְּשׁוּפֶ֥נּוּ עָקֵֽב׃ ס
我要使你和女人彼此為仇，她的後裔和你的後裔也彼此為仇；他要傷你的頭，你要傷他的腳跟。
我要使你和女人彼此为仇，她的后裔和你的后裔也彼此为仇；他要伤你的头，你要伤他的脚跟。
Wǒ yào shǐ nǐ hé nǚ rén bǐ cǐ wéi chóu, tā de hòu yì hé nǐ de hòu yì yě bǐ cǐ wéi chóu; tā yào shāng nǐ de tóu, nǐ yào shāng tā de jiǎo gēn.
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我要 | wǒ yào | I will | Verb phrase |
| 使 | shǐ | Cause | Verb |
| 你 | nǐ | You | Pronoun |
| 和 | hé | And | Conjunction |
| 女人 | nǚ rén | Woman | Noun |
| 彼此 | bǐ cǐ | Each other | Adverb |
| 為仇 / 为仇 | wéi chóu | Be enemies | Verb phrase |
| 後裔 / 后裔 | hòu yì | Offspring | Noun |
| 傷 / 伤 | shāng | To harm | Verb |
| 頭 / 头 | tóu | Head | Noun |
| 腳跟 / 脚跟 | jiǎo gēn | Heel | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 我要使你和女人彼此為仇 (Wǒ yào shǐ nǐ hé nǚ rén bǐ cǐ wéi chóu): Describes the enmity between the serpent and the woman.
- 她的後裔和你的後裔也彼此為仇 (Tā de hòu yì hé nǐ de hòu yì yě bǐ cǐ wéi chóu): Specifies the enmity extending to their offspring.
- 他要傷你的頭，你要傷他的腳跟 (Tā yào shāng nǐ de tóu, nǐ yào shāng tā de jiǎo gēn): Describes mutual harm inflicted by the offspring.
Key Grammar Points:
- 使 (shǐ): A causative verb meaning “to make” or “to cause.”
- 彼此 (bǐ cǐ): An adverb indicating mutual action or relationship, meaning “each other.”
- 為仇 / 为仇 (wéi chóu): A verb phrase meaning “to be enemies.”
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Wǒ yào shǐ nǐ hé nǚ rén bǐ cǐ wéi chóu, tā de hòu yì hé nǐ de hòu yì yě bǐ cǐ wéi chóu; tā yào shāng nǐ de tóu, nǐ yào shāng tā de jiǎo gēn.
Tone Practice:
- 我要 (wǒ yào): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 使 (shǐ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 你 (nǐ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 和 (hé): 2nd tone (rising)
- 女人 (nǚ rén): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 彼此 (bǐ cǐ): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 為仇 / 为仇 (wéi chóu): 2nd tone (rising) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 後裔 / 后裔 (hòu yì): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 傷 / 伤 (shāng): 1st tone (flat)
- 頭 / 头 (tóu): 2nd tone (rising)
- 腳跟 / 脚跟 (jiǎo gēn): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 1st tone (flat)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 彼此 (bǐ cǐ): Means “each other,” often used in contexts of mutual action or relationship.
- 為仇 / 为仇 (wéi chóu): Means “to be enemies,” highlighting animosity or conflict.
- 後裔 / 后裔 (hòu yì): Refers to “offspring” or “descendants,” emphasizing lineage.
- 傷 / 伤 (shāng): Means “to harm” or “to injure,” commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts.
5. Cultural Insights
- Enmity and Generational Conflict: The theme of ongoing conflict between offspring resonates with Chinese philosophical concepts of generational struggles and inherited animosities.
- Symbolism of Head and Heel: In both Hebrew and Chinese traditions, the head symbolizes power or authority, while the heel represents vulnerability.
- Divine Justice: The passage reflects a moral structure where actions have lasting consequences, a theme also present in Confucian and Taoist teachings.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 彼此 (bǐ cǐ): Imagine two people pointing at each other, indicating mutual interaction.
- 後裔 / 后裔 (hòu yì): Visualize a family tree to connect the idea of descendants or offspring.
- 傷 / 伤 (shāng): Picture a wound to associate with the meaning of harm or injury.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וְאֵיבָ֣ה אָשִׁ֗ית בֵּֽינְךָ֙ וּבֵ֣ין הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה (VeEivah Ashit Beinekha UVein HaIshah): → 我要使你和女人彼此為仇 (Wǒ yào shǐ nǐ hé nǚ rén bǐ cǐ wéi chóu): Both express the introduction of enmity between the serpent and the woman.
- וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖ וּבֵ֣ין זַרְעָ֑הּ (UVein Zaracha UVein Zarah): → 她的後裔和你的後裔也彼此為仇 (Tā de hòu yì hé nǐ de hòu yì yě bǐ cǐ wéi chóu): Both describe enmity between their respective offspring.
- ה֚וּא יְשׁוּפְךָ֣ רֹ֔אשׁ וְאַתָּ֖ה תְּשׁוּפֶ֥נּוּ עָקֵֽב (Hu Yeshupecha Rosh VeAttah Teshupenu Akev): → 他要傷你的頭，你要傷他的腳跟 (Tā yào shāng nǐ de tóu, nǐ yào shāng tā de jiǎo gēn): Both describe reciprocal harm between the serpent and the woman’s offspring.
- Comparison with English:
- “I will put enmity between you and the woman” matches 我要使你和女人彼此為仇 (Wǒ yào shǐ nǐ hé nǚ rén bǐ cǐ wéi chóu): Both emphasize the initiation of conflict.
- “And between your offspring and her offspring” corresponds to 她的後裔和你的後裔也彼此為仇 (Tā de hòu yì hé nǐ de hòu yì yě bǐ cǐ wéi chóu): Both focus on generational hostility.
- “He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” parallels 他要傷你的頭，你要傷他的腳跟 (Tā yào shāng nǐ de tóu, nǐ yào shāng tā de jiǎo gēn): Both describe mutual harm in symbolic terms.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Generational Conflict: Similar to the passage, Chinese folklore often portrays struggles between opposing lineages or forces.
- Symbolism of the Head and Heel: Chinese medicine and philosophy also attribute symbolic meaning to body parts, with the head representing authority and the heel representing foundational support.
- Cosmic Justice: The described enmity aligns with Chinese views on the balance of forces and the consequences of actions within a moral framework.
