וַיְחִ֣י מְתוּשֶׁ֔לַח שֶׁ֧בַע וּשְׁמֹנִ֛ים שָׁנָ֖ה וּמְאַ֣ת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיֹּ֖ולֶד אֶת־לָֽמֶךְ׃
瑪土撒拉活到一百八十七歲，生了拉麥。
玛土撒拉活到一百八十七岁，生了拉麦。
Mǎtǔsālǎ huó dào yībǎi bāshíqī suì, shēngle Lāmài.
Methuselah lived 187 years and fathered Lamech.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 瑪土撒拉 / 玛土撒拉 | Mǎtǔsālǎ | Methuselah (proper noun) | Proper noun |
| 活 | huó | To live | Verb |
| 到 | dào | To reach | Verb |
| 一百八十七 | yībǎi bāshíqī | One hundred and eighty-seven | Number |
| 歲 / 岁 | suì | Years old | Noun |
| 生 | shēng | To give birth to | Verb |
| 了 | le | Particle indicating completed action | Particle |
| 拉麥 / 拉麦 | Lāmài | Lamech (proper noun) | Proper noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
- 瑪土撒拉 / 玛土撒拉 (Mǎtǔsālǎ): Methuselah, a proper noun referring to the oldest recorded person in the Bible.
- 活到 (huó dào): “Lived to,” indicating Methuselah’s age at the time he fathered Lamech.
- 歲 / 岁 (suì): A measure word for age, commonly used to indicate years.
3. Pronunciation Practice
- 瑪土撒拉 / 玛土撒拉 (Mǎtǔsālǎ): [mǎ tǔ sā lǎ] – Falling, rising, high-level, and falling tones respectively.
- 拉麥 / 拉麦 (Lāmài): [lā mài] – High-level and falling tones.
- 歲 / 岁 (suì): [suì] – Falling tone.
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 瑪土撒拉 / 玛土撒拉 (Mǎtǔsālǎ): Methuselah, a key figure in the genealogy, notable for his long life.
- 拉麥 / 拉麦 (Lāmài): Lamech, a descendant of Methuselah and father of Noah, representing a critical link in the biblical lineage.
5. Cultural Insights
- Longevity in Biblical Genealogies: The extensive ages in Genesis emphasize the patriarchs’ proximity to creation and their direct connection to divine blessings.
- Significance of Naming: Names in ancient cultures often carried meanings or reflected important traits, roles, or divine purposes, as seen in the genealogy of Methuselah and Lamech.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 瑪土撒拉 / 玛土撒拉 (Mǎtǔsālǎ): Remember Methuselah as a symbol of longevity, living close to the longest recorded age in the Bible.
- 拉麥 / 拉麦 (Lāmài): Think of Lamech as the bridge to Noah and the events of the flood, linking generations in the biblical narrative.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיֹּ֖ולֶד אֶת־לָֽמֶךְ → 生了拉麥 / 生了拉麦: Both the Hebrew and Chinese emphasize the action of Methuselah fathering Lamech.
- שֶׁ֧בַע וּשְׁמֹנִ֛ים שָׁנָ֖ה וּמְאַ֣ת שָׁנָ֑ה → 一百八十七歲 / 一百八十七岁: The age is directly translated, maintaining its significance in the genealogical record.
8. Application
Methuselah’s age and the genealogy emphasize the importance of legacy and the continuity of faith through generations. This passage encourages reflection on the role of family and lineage in preserving spiritual traditions, as well as the significance of names and their meanings in maintaining cultural and religious identity.
