וַיְגָ֖רֶשׁ אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיַּשְׁכֵּן֩ מִקֶּ֨דֶם לְגַן־עֵ֜דֶן אֶת־הַכְּרֻבִ֗ים וְאֵ֨ת לַ֤הַט הַחֶ֨רֶב֙ הַמִּתְהַפֶּ֔כֶת לִשְׁמֹ֕ר אֶת־דֶּ֖רֶךְ עֵ֥ץ הַֽחַיִּֽים׃
耶和華神把他趕出伊甸園，在園東設立了基路伯和旋轉的火劍，以防守生命樹的道路。
耶和华神把他赶出伊甸园，在园东设立了基路伯和旋转的火剑，以防守生命树的道路。
Yēhéhuá Shén bǎ tā gǎn chū Yīdiàn yuán, zài yuán dōng shèlìle jīlùbō hé xuánzhuǎn de huǒjiàn, yǐ fángshǒu shēngmìng shù de dàolù.
The LORD God expelled him from the Garden of Eden and placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 耶和華 / 耶和华 | Yēhéhuá | The LORD (YHWH) | Proper noun |
| 神 | Shén | God | Noun |
| 把 | bǎ | Indicates the object and result of the action | Preposition |
| 他 | tā | He / Him | Pronoun |
| 趕 / 赶 | gǎn | To expel / To drive out | Verb |
| 出 | chū | Out / To go out | Verb |
| 伊甸園 / 伊甸园 | Yīdiàn yuán | Garden of Eden | Proper noun |
| 設立 / 设立 | shèlì | To set up / To establish | Verb |
| 基路伯 | jīlùbō | Cherubim | Noun |
| 旋轉 / 旋转 | xuánzhuǎn | To rotate / To turn | Verb |
| 火劍 / 火剑 | huǒjiàn | Flaming sword | Noun |
| 防守 | fángshǒu | To guard / To protect | Verb |
| 生命樹 / 生命树 | shēngmìng shù | Tree of life | Noun phrase |
| 道路 | dàolù | Path / Way | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 耶和華神把他趕出伊甸園 (Yēhéhuá Shén bǎ tā gǎn chū Yīdiàn yuán): The sentence structure here uses “把” (bǎ) to indicate that God expelled Adam from the Garden of Eden, focusing on the action and its result.
- 在園東設立了基路伯和旋轉的火劍 (Zài yuán dōng shèlìle jīlùbō hé xuánzhuǎn de huǒjiàn): The phrase describes where and how the cherubim and flaming sword were placed to guard the way to the tree of life.
- 以防守生命樹的道路 (Yǐ fángshǒu shēngmìng shù de dàolù): This part of the sentence shows the purpose of placing the cherubim and flaming sword—to guard the path to the tree of life.
Key Grammar Points:
- 把 (bǎ): A structural particle used to indicate the object of the action and to highlight the result of the action.
- 設立 / 设立 (shèlì): A verb meaning “to set up” or “to establish,” used when something is being placed or created for a specific purpose.
- 旋轉 / 旋转 (xuánzhuǎn): A verb meaning “to rotate” or “to turn,” used to describe the motion of the flaming sword.
- 火劍 / 火剑 (huǒjiàn): “Flaming sword,” a noun phrase referring to the weapon guarding the way to the tree of life.
- 防守 (fángshǒu): A verb meaning “to guard” or “to protect,” indicating the action of keeping the way secure.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Yēhéhuá Shén bǎ tā gǎn chū Yīdiàn yuán, zài yuán dōng shèlìle jīlùbō hé xuánzhuǎn de huǒjiàn, yǐ fángshǒu shēngmìng shù de dàolù.
Tone Practice:
- 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): 1st tone (flat) + 1st tone (flat) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 神 (Shén): 2nd tone (rising)
- 把 (bǎ): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 他 (tā): 1st tone (flat)
- 趕 / 赶 (gǎn): 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 出 (chū): 1st tone (flat)
- 伊甸園 / 伊甸园 (Yīdiàn yuán): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising)
- 設立 / 设立 (shèlì): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 基路伯 (jīlùbō): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (flat)
- 旋轉 / 旋转 (xuánzhuǎn): 2nd tone (rising) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 火劍 / 火剑 (huǒjiàn): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 防守 (fángshǒu): 2nd tone (rising) + 3rd tone (falling-rising)
- 生命樹 / 生命树 (shēngmìng shù): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 道路 (dàolù): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 耶和華 / 耶和华 (Yēhéhuá): The personal name of God, indicating His divine authority and covenant with humanity.
- 神 (Shén): A general term for “God” in Chinese, used in both religious and philosophical contexts.
- 把 (bǎ): A preposition that shifts focus to the object of the verb, commonly used in sentences where the action affects the object directly.
- 趕 / 赶 (gǎn): To expel, drive away, or send someone out; used here to describe Adam’s expulsion from Eden.
- 伊甸園 / 伊甸园 (Yīdiàn yuán): The “Garden of Eden,” which is central to the Biblical narrative and represents paradise before the fall of man.
- 設立 / 设立 (shèlì): To set up or establish something, often with a specific purpose, such as guarding or protecting.
- 基路伯 (jīlùbō): Refers to the “cherubim,” angelic beings described as guardians in the Bible, placed to protect the entrance to the Garden of Eden.
- 旋轉 / 旋转 (xuánzhuǎn): To rotate or turn, used here to describe the movement of the flaming sword protecting the way to the Tree of Life.
- 火劍 / 火剑 (huǒjiàn): “Flaming sword,” a symbol of divine protection and judgment placed by God to guard the Tree of Life after Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Eden.
- 防守 (fángshǒu): To guard, protect, or defend, emphasizing the action of keeping the way to the Tree of Life secure.
- 生命樹 / 生命树 (shēngmìng shù): The “Tree of Life,” representing eternal life, which is now guarded from human access after the fall.
- 道路 (dàolù): The “path” or “way,” indicating the route to the Tree of Life that is now blocked by divine intervention.
5. Cultural Insights
- The Role of Divine Protection: The cherubim and flaming sword symbolize divine protection and a barrier between humanity and the immortality that the Tree of Life represents. This resonates with Chinese culture’s views on guarding sacred places and spiritual boundaries, such as the role of mythical guardians in Taoist traditions.
- The Concept of Banishment: The expulsion from the Garden of Eden is a form of divine judgment, reflecting both punishment and the establishment of a new human condition—living in the world with labor and mortality. In Chinese mythology, banishment or exile is often linked to personal transformation and spiritual lessons.
- Life and Death: The Tree of Life symbolizes eternal life, but in the narrative, it becomes inaccessible to humans. This echoes the Chinese view of immortality, where the pursuit of eternal life is both revered and feared. Similarly, divine barriers prevent the eternal life of humans in both cultures.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 耶和華 (Yēhéhuá): Imagine a powerful king giving orders, representing God’s absolute authority in the creation narrative.
- 基路伯 (jīlùbō): Visualize angelic beings with flaming swords, guarding the sacred tree, similar to the protective spirits in Chinese legends.
- 旋轉 / 旋转 (xuánzhuǎn): Picture the sword spinning as it guards the path to eternal life, emphasizing the dynamic nature of divine protection.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיְגָ֖רֶשׁ אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֑ם (VaYigarresh Et HaAdam): → 耶和華神把他趕出伊甸園 (Yēhéhuá Shén bǎ tā gǎn chū Yīdiàn yuán): Both describe God’s action of expelling Adam from the Garden of Eden.
- וַיַּשְׁכֵּן֩ מִקֶּ֨דֶם לְגַן־עֵ֜דֶן (VaYashkén MiKedem LeGan-Edén): → 在園東設立了基路伯 (Zài yuán dōng shèlìle jīlùbō): Both describe the placement of cherubim at the entrance to Eden to prevent access to the Tree of Life.
- Comparison with English:
- “The LORD God expelled him from the Garden of Eden and placed cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way to the Tree of Life.” corresponds to 耶和華神把他趕出伊甸園，在園東設立了基路伯和旋轉的火劍，以防守生命樹的道路 (Yēhéhuá Shén bǎ tā gǎn chū Yīdiàn yuán, zài yuán dōng shèlìle jīlùbō hé xuánzhuǎn de huǒjiàn, yǐ fángshǒu shēngmìng shù de dàolù): Both describe the same actions, with a focus on guarding access to the Tree of Life.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Divine Guardians: The concept of cherubim guarding the Tree of Life has parallels in Chinese mythology, where divine beings protect sacred realms or items, such as the guarding of immortality.
- Expulsion as Transformation: The idea of expulsion in the Bible reflects a transformation that forces humanity to live in a different state. This is similar to Chinese myths where banishment often leads to self-discovery or change, such as the exile of figures like Hou Yi.
