כִּ֚י יֹדֵ֣עַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים כִּ֗י בְּיֹום֙ אֲכָלְכֶ֣ם מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְנִפְקְח֖וּ עֵֽינֵיכֶ֑ם וִהְיִיתֶם֙ כֵּֽאלֹהִ֔ים יֹדְעֵ֖י טֹ֥וב וָרָֽע׃
因為上帝知道，你們吃了它的那一天，眼睛就會明亮，你們就會像上帝一樣，知道善惡。
因为上帝知道，你们吃了它的那一天，眼睛就会明亮，你们就会像上帝一样，知道善恶。
Yīn wèi Shàngdì zhī dào, nǐ men chī le tā de nà yī tiān, yǎn jīng jiù huì míng liàng, nǐ men jiù huì xiàng Shàngdì yī yàng, zhī dào shàn è.
For God knows that on the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 因為 / 因为 | yīn wèi | Because | Conjunction |
| 上帝 | Shàngdì | God | Proper noun |
| 知道 | zhī dào | Knows | Verb |
| 你們 / 你们 | nǐ men | You (plural) | Pronoun |
| 吃了 | chī le | Ate | Verb |
| 它 | tā | It | Pronoun |
| 那一天 | nà yī tiān | That day | Noun phrase |
| 眼睛 | yǎn jīng | Eyes | Noun |
| 明亮 | míng liàng | Bright | Adjective |
| 像 | xiàng | Like | Preposition |
| 一樣 / 一样 | yī yàng | The same | Adjective |
| 善 | shàn | Good | Noun |
| 惡 / 恶 | è | Evil | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
Sentence Structure:
- 因為上帝知道 (Yīn wèi Shàngdì zhī dào): Introduces the reason for the serpent’s statement, “because God knows.”
- 你們吃了它的那一天 (Nǐ men chī le tā de nà yī tiān): Describes the condition, “on the day you eat it.”
- 眼睛就會明亮 (Yǎn jīng jiù huì míng liàng): Indicates the result, “your eyes will be opened.”
- 你們就會像上帝一樣 (Nǐ men jiù huì xiàng Shàngdì yī yàng): States the transformation, “you will be like God.”
- 知道善惡 (Zhī dào shàn è): Explains the knowledge gained, “knowing good and evil.”
Key Grammar Points:
- 因為 / 因为 (yīn wèi): A conjunction introducing the cause or reason.
- 就會 (jiù huì): Indicates a certain outcome or result.
- 像 (xiàng): A preposition meaning “like,” used for comparisons.
3. Pronunciation Practice
Pinyin: Yīn wèi Shàngdì zhī dào, nǐ men chī le tā de nà yī tiān, yǎn jīng jiù huì míng liàng, nǐ men jiù huì xiàng Shàngdì yī yàng, zhī dào shàn è.
Tone Practice:
- 因為 / 因为 (yīn wèi): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 上帝 (Shàngdì): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
- 知道 (zhī dào): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 你們 / 你们 (nǐ men): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + neutral tone
- 吃了 (chī le): 1st tone (flat) + neutral tone
- 它 (tā): 1st tone (flat)
- 那一天 (nà yī tiān): 4th tone (falling) + 1st tone (flat) + 1st tone (flat)
- 眼睛 (yǎn jīng): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 1st tone (flat)
- 明亮 (míng liàng): 2nd tone (rising) + 4th tone (falling)
- 像 (xiàng): 4th tone (falling)
- 一樣 / 一样 (yī yàng): 1st tone (flat) + 4th tone (falling)
- 善 (shàn): 4th tone (falling)
- 惡 / 恶 (è): 4th tone (falling)
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 知道 (zhī dào): Means “to know,” emphasizing understanding or awareness.
- 眼睛 (yǎn jīng): Refers to “eyes,” symbolizing perception and enlightenment.
- 善惡 / 善恶 (shàn è): Together means “good and evil,” often used in moral or ethical discussions.
5. Cultural Insights
- Knowledge as Power: The serpent’s claim highlights the association between knowledge and power, a theme present in both Hebrew and Chinese traditions, where wisdom often brings status and responsibility.
- Eyes as the Window to Truth: In many cultures, including Chinese, the eyes symbolize understanding and enlightenment, aligning with the idea of “opened eyes” in this passage.
- Duality of Good and Evil: The concept of knowing both good and evil resonates with Chinese philosophical traditions such as Yin and Yang, where duality is central to understanding the balance of life.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 眼睛 (yǎn jīng): Visualize a pair of eyes opening wide to symbolize clarity and understanding.
- 善惡 / 善恶 (shàn è): Imagine a scale balancing “good” on one side and “evil” on the other.
- 像上帝一樣 (xiàng Shàngdì yī yàng): Picture someone standing tall and radiant, representing a godlike presence.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- כִּ֚י יֹדֵ֣עַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים (Ki Yode’a Elohim): → 因為上帝知道 (Yīn wèi Shàngdì zhī dào): Both introduce the reason for the prohibition, emphasizing God’s knowledge.
- וִהְיִיתֶם֙ כֵּֽאלֹהִ֔ים (VeHiyitem KeElohim): → 你們就會像上帝一樣 (Nǐ men jiù huì xiàng Shàngdì yī yàng): Both describe the promise of becoming like God.
- יֹדְעֵ֖י טֹ֥וב וָרָֽע (Yod’ei Tov VaRa): → 知道善惡 (Zhī dào shàn è): Both describe the knowledge of good and evil.
- Comparison with English:
- “For God knows that on the day you eat of it” matches 因為上帝知道，你們吃了它的那一天 (Yīn wèi Shàngdì zhī dào, nǐ men chī le tā de nà yī tiān): Both introduce the serpent’s claim with a cause.
- “Your eyes will be opened” corresponds to 眼睛就會明亮 (Yǎn jīng jiù huì míng liàng): Both signify enlightenment or awareness.
- “You will be like God, knowing good and evil” aligns with 你們就會像上帝一樣，知道善惡 (Nǐ men jiù huì xiàng Shàngdì yī yàng, zhī dào shàn è): Both describe the transformation and the knowledge gained.
- Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
- Desire for Enlightenment: The promise of opened eyes resonates with the Chinese cultural emphasis on gaining wisdom and understanding.
- Duality of Good and Evil: The knowledge of good and evil parallels the Chinese concept of balance, as seen in Yin-Yang philosophy.
