Genesis 3:21 – Learn Chinese Bible

耶和華神為亞當和他的妻子做了皮衣，給他們穿上。

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Chinese Character	Pinyin	Meaning	Grammar Role
耶和華 / 耶和华	Yēhéhuá	The LORD (YHWH)	Proper noun
神	Shén	God	Noun
為 / 为	wèi	For	Preposition
亞當 / 亚当	Yàdāng	Adam	Proper noun
他的	tā de	His	Pronoun + Possessive particle
妻子	qīzi	Wife	Noun
做了	zuò le	Made	Verb + Particle
皮衣	pí yī	Garments of skin	Noun
給 / 给	gěi	To give	Verb
他們 / 他们	tāmen	Them	Pronoun
穿上	chuān shàng	To clothe, to put on	Verb

Sentence Structure:

耶和華神為亞當和他的妻子做了皮衣 (Yēhéhuá Shén wèi Yàdāng hé tā de qīzi zuò le pí yī): Describes the LORD God making garments of skin for Adam and his wife.
給他們穿上 (Gěi tāmen chuān shàng): Indicates the action of clothing Adam and his wife.

Key Grammar Points:

為 / 为 (wèi): A preposition meaning “for,” indicating the recipient of the action.
做了 (zuò le): A verb phrase meaning “made,” with 了 (le) indicating a completed action.
皮衣 (pí yī): Refers to “garments of skin,” emphasizing the material.
給 / 给 (gěi): Used as a verb meaning “to give” or “to provide.”

Tone Practice:

Key Characters:

耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): Refers to the name of God, often used in the Bible to represent the LORD, indicating divine power and authority.
神 (Shén): Refers to “God,” a common character used in both religious and philosophical contexts in Chinese.
為 / 为 (wèi): A preposition meaning “for” or “because of,” often used to indicate purpose or reason.
亞當 / 亚当 (Yàdāng): Refers to Adam, the first man according to the Bible.
妻子 (qīzi): Refers to “wife,” denoting a married woman in a relationship.
做了 (zuò le): A verb meaning “made,” with the particle 了 (le) indicating a completed action.
皮衣 (pí yī): Refers to “garments of skin,” which were made for Adam and Eve after they became aware of their nakedness.
給 / 给 (gěi): A verb meaning “to give,” frequently used in contexts where something is provided to someone.
穿上 (chuān shàng): A verb meaning “to wear” or “to put on,” used in the context of clothing.

Symbolism of Clothing: The act of clothing Adam and Eve after their realization of nakedness can be seen as a cultural and spiritual turning point. In Chinese traditions, clothing represents modesty, dignity, and the beginning of a societal role.
Garments of Skin: The choice of “garments of skin” suggests a shift from innocence to a more complex understanding of life, which can be compared to rites of passage in Chinese culture where an individual is clothed to signify maturity or new responsibilities.
The Role of God: In the Bible, God’s action of clothing Adam and Eve can be viewed as an act of compassion and provision. In Chinese culture, the concept of providing for others and ensuring their well-being, particularly in times of need, is deeply embedded in Confucian teachings of filial piety and benevolence.

耶和華 (Yēhéhuá): Visualize a powerful figure, such as a king or emperor, commanding creation and humanity.
皮衣 (pí yī): Imagine the texture of leather to connect to the meaning of “garments of skin.” Think of how skin provides protection, just as the garments provided protection for Adam and Eve.
做了 (zuò le): Picture an artist completing a work of art, marking the completion with 了 (le) to emphasize that something has been created.

Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיַּעַשׂ֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים לְאָדָ֧ם וּלְאִשְׁתֹּ֛ו (VaYa’aseh YHWH Elohim LeAdam ULeIshto): → 耶和華神為亞當和他的妻子做了皮衣 (Yēhéhuá Shén wèi Yàdāng hé tā de qīzi zuò le pí yī): Both describe God creating clothing for Adam and his wife after their awareness of their nakedness.
- כָּתְנֹ֥ות עֹ֖ור (Katenot Or): → 皮衣 (pí yī): Both refer to “garments of skin,” signifying a new phase of existence after disobedience.
Comparison with English:
- “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife” corresponds to 耶和華神為亞當和他的妻子做了皮衣 (Yēhéhuá Shén wèi Yàdāng hé tā de qīzi zuò le pí yī): Both describe God providing for Adam and Eve’s need for clothing.
Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Clothing as Provision: The act of clothing Adam and Eve aligns with Confucian and Chinese cultural values of providing for the family and ensuring the well-being of others in times of need.
- Creation and Responsibility: Just as the garments represent the first human responsibilities in the Hebrew context, the concept of receiving and fulfilling duties is also central to Chinese cultural narratives of roles in society.