Genesis 4:20

וַתֵּ֥לֶד עָדָ֖ה אֶת־יָבָ֑ל ה֣וּא הָיָ֔ה אֲבִ֕י יֹשֵׁ֥ב אֹ֖הֶל וּמִקְנֶֽה׃

亚大生了雅巴，他是住帐篷和放牧的人的祖先。

亚大生了雅巴，他是住帐篷和放牧的人的祖先。

Yà dà shēngle Yǎ bā, tā shì zhù zhàng fú hé fàng mù de rén de zǔ xiān.

Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock.

1. Vocabulary Breakdown

Chinese Character	Pinyin	Meaning	Grammar Role
亚大 / 亚大	Yà dà	Adah (proper noun)	Proper noun
生 / 生	shēng	Gave birth to	Verb
了 / 了	le	Indicates completed action	Particle
雅巴 / 雅巴	Yǎ bā	Jabal (proper noun)	Proper noun
他 / 他	tā	He	Pronoun
是 / 是	shì	Is, to be	Verb
住 / 住	zhù	Live	Verb
帐篷 / 帐篷	zhàng fú	Tent	Noun
和 / 和	hé	And	Conjunction
放牧 / 放牧	fàng mù	Herding	Verb
的人 / 的人	de rén	People	Noun
祖先 / 祖先	zǔ xiān	Ancestor	Noun

2. Grammar Explanation

Sentence Structure:

• 亚大 / 亚大 (Yà dà): This is a proper noun for Adah, the mother of Jabal.
• 生 / 生 (shēng): The verb “to give birth to” or “to bear,” indicating that Adah gave birth to Jabal.
• 了 / 了 (le): A particle indicating the completion of an action, in this case, the birth of Jabal.
• 雅巴 / 雅巴 (Yǎ bā): The name of Jabal, the son of Adah.
• 他 / 他 (tā): The pronoun “he,” referring to Jabal.
• 是 / 是 (shì): The verb “to be,” used here to identify Jabal’s role as the ancestor of tent dwellers and livestock herders.
• 住 / 住 (zhù): The verb meaning “to live,” indicating that Jabal’s descendants live in tents.
• 帐篷 / 帐篷 (zhàng fú): The noun for “tent,” referring to the dwelling place of Jabal’s descendants.
• 放牧 / 放牧 (fàng mù): The verb for “herding” or “pasturing,” indicating the occupation of those descended from Jabal.
• 的 / 的 (de): A possessive particle used to connect the people (people of tents and herders) to the description of their occupation and lifestyle.
• 祖先 / 祖先 (zǔ xiān): The noun “ancestor,” indicating that Jabal is the ancestor of those who live in tents and herd livestock.

3. Pronunciation Practice

Pinyin: Yà dà shēngle Yǎ bā, tā shì zhù zhàng fú hé fàng mù de rén de zǔ xiān.

Tone Practice:

• 亚大 / 亚大 (Yà dà): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
• 生 / 生 (shēng): 1st tone (flat)
• 了 / 了 (le): Neutral tone
• 雅巴 / 雅巴 (Yǎ bā): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 1st tone (flat)
• 他 / 他 (tā): 1st tone (flat)
• 是 / 是 (shì): 4th tone (falling)
• 住 / 住 (zhù): 4th tone (falling)
• 帐篷 / 帐篷 (zhàng fú): 4th tone (falling) + 2nd tone (rising)
• 放牧 / 放牧 (fàng mù): 4th tone (falling) + 4th tone (falling)
• 的 / 的 (de): Neutral tone
• 祖先 / 祖先 (zǔ xiān): 3rd tone (falling-rising) + 1st tone (flat)

4. Character Learning

Key Characters:

• 亚大 / 亚大 (Yà dà): The name of Jabal’s mother, Adah, marking the beginning of Jabal’s lineage.
• 生 / 生 (shēng): The verb “to give birth to,” an important action in the genealogical process.
• 雅巴 / 雅巴 (Yǎ bā): Jabal, the son of Adah, who is the ancestor of those who dwell in tents and herd livestock.
• 住 / 住 (zhù): “To live,” used to describe the dwelling of Jabal’s descendants.
• 帐篷 / 帐篷 (zhàng fú): “Tent,” which represents the nomadic lifestyle of Jabal’s descendants.
• 放牧 / 放牧 (fàng mù): “Herding,” referring to the occupation of Jabal’s descendants, who lived as herders and relied on livestock for their livelihood.
• 的 / 的 (de): A possessive particle indicating that the people being described (those who live in tents and herd livestock) belong to or are descendants of Jabal.
• 祖先 / 祖先 (zǔ xiān): “Ancestor,” indicating that Jabal is considered the ancestor of those who live in tents and practice herding as a way of life.

5. Cultural Insights

• The Importance of Family Lineage: In both the Bible and Chinese culture, family lineage plays a significant role in shaping one’s identity. The naming of Jabal as the ancestor of those who live in tents and herd livestock reflects the value placed on family continuity and the legacy of one’s ancestors. In Chinese culture, family lineage is similarly crucial, with names often passed down through generations to preserve family history and values.
• The Nomadic Lifestyle: Jabal’s descendants are noted for their nomadic lifestyle, dwelling in tents and herding livestock. This can be compared to historical nomadic cultures, such as the Mongols in China, who lived in yurts and were known for their herding practices. The concept of living in tents and herding livestock is also symbolic of adaptability and survival in challenging environments, a trait that can be found in many ancient cultures.
• The Role of Agriculture and Livestock: Jabal’s story emphasizes the importance of agriculture and livestock in the ancient world. In both biblical and Chinese culture, the success of a family or community often depended on their ability to manage land and animals. In ancient China, pastoralism and farming were key to sustaining communities, just as they were for Jabal’s descendants in the Bible.

6. Mnemonics for Retention

• 亚大 / 亚大 (Yà dà): Remember “Adah” as the mother who gave birth to Jabal, who becomes the ancestor of those who live in tents.
• 生 / 生 (shēng): Think of “shēng” as the act of giving birth, symbolizing the continuation of the family line through Jabal.
• 雅巴 / 雅巴 (Yǎ bā): “Jabal” is easy to remember as the man who started the tradition of tent-dwelling and herding. His name becomes synonymous with a lifestyle.
• 住 / 住 (zhù): Picture Jabal’s descendants living in tents, remembering that “zhù” means “to live” in a mobile, nomadic lifestyle.
• 帐篷 / 帐篷 (zhàng fú): Visualize the tents that represent the nomadic lifestyle of Jabal’s descendants, where they live and work with livestock.
• 放牧 / 放牧 (fàng mù): Associate “fàng mù” with herding, the key occupation of Jabal’s descendants. Remember them as the herders of the ancient world.
• 祖先 / 祖先 (zǔ xiān): Remember “zǔ xiān” as a symbol of family legacy, where Jabal’s descendants carry on his name and lifestyle.

7. Comparative Studies

• Comparison with Hebrew:
  • וַתֵּ֥לֶד עָדָ֖ה אֶת־יָבָ֑ל (Vattēled ‘Ādāh ‘et-Yāḇāl): → 亚大生了雅巴 (Yà dà shēngle Yǎ bā): Both texts describe Adah giving birth to Jabal, with the same structure in both languages emphasizing the birth of Jabal and his future role as the ancestor of tent dwellers.
  • ה֣וּא הָיָ֔ה אֲבִ֕י יֹשֵׁ֥ב אֹ֖הֶל וּמִקְנֶֽה (Hû’ hāyāh ‘ăvī yōšēb ‘ōhel ûmiqneh): → 他是住帐篷和放牧的人的祖先 (tā shì zhù zhàng fú hé fàng mù de rén de zǔ xiān): Both versions describe Jabal as the ancestor of those who live in tents and herd livestock. The sentence is rendered more concisely in Chinese, while the Hebrew includes additional detail about Jabal’s role.
• Comparison with English:
  • “Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock” (English) vs. “亚大生了雅巴，他是住帐篷和放牧的人的祖先” (Chinese):
    The English version mirrors the Chinese in meaning, although the Chinese is slightly more succinct. Both convey the idea that Jabal was the ancestor of a specific group of people who lived in tents and herded livestock.
• Comparison with Chinese Cultural Concepts:
  • The Role of Agriculture and Livestock in Chinese Society: Like Jabal’s descendants, many Chinese pastoralists relied on livestock for their livelihood. The Chinese culture has a long history of farming and herding, with the development of agriculture and livestock management forming the backbone of ancient societies.
  • The Importance of Family Legacy in Chinese Culture: Similar to the biblical genealogy, the Chinese value family legacy highly. The passing down of a name and occupation from one generation to the next plays a central role in maintaining a family’s honor and place in society.

8. Application

This passage reflects the importance of legacy, family, and occupation in both biblical and Chinese cultures. Just as Jabal’s descendants were known for their lifestyle of tent-dwelling and herding, family occupations and traditions are similarly passed down through generations in Chinese culture. The concept of heritage, both in terms of identity and occupation, is emphasized in both traditions. Understanding this passage through the lens of cultural continuity highlights the significance of both the past and the future in shaping identity and societal roles.