וַיִּגְבְּר֥וּ הַמַּ֛יִם וַיִּרְבּ֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ הַתֵּבָ֖ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם׃
水勢浩大，極其洶湧，方舟漂浮在水面上。
水势浩大，极其汹涌，方舟漂浮在水面上。
Shuǐ shì hàodà, jíqí xiōngyǒng, fāngzhōu piāofú zài shuǐmiàn shàng.
And the waters prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the waters.
1. Vocabulary Breakdown
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Grammar Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 水勢 / 水势 | shuǐ shì | Force of water | Noun |
| 浩大 | hàodà | Great, vast | Adjective |
| 極其 / 极其 | jíqí | Extremely | Adverb |
| 洶湧 / 汹涌 | xiōngyǒng | Surging, turbulent | Adjective |
| 方舟 | fāngzhōu | Ark | Noun |
| 漂浮 | piāofú | To float | Verb |
| 水面 | shuǐmiàn | Water surface | Noun |
2. Grammar Explanation
- 水勢浩大 (shuǐ shì hàodà): Describes the power and vastness of the floodwaters, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the scene.
- 方舟漂浮 (fāngzhōu piāofú): “The ark floated” uses the verb 漂浮 to indicate movement on the water.
- 極其洶湧 (jíqí xiōngyǒng): “Extremely turbulent,” an adverbial phrase intensifying the description of the waters.
3. Pronunciation Practice
- 水勢 / 水势 (shuǐ shì): [shuǐ shì] – Both syllables have falling-rising tones.
- 浩大 (hàodà): [hào dà] – “Hào” has a falling tone, and “dà” has a high-level tone.
- 漂浮 (piāofú): [piāo fú] – “Piāo” has a high-level tone, and “fú” has a rising tone.
4. Character Learning
Key Characters:
- 水勢 / 水势 (shuǐ shì): Refers to the strength and movement of the floodwaters.
- 方舟 / 方舟 (fāngzhōu): The ark, a symbol of salvation and divine protection.
- 漂浮 / 漂浮 (piāofú): To float, representing the ark’s survival amidst the floodwaters.
5. Cultural Insights
- Flood Narratives Across Cultures: Many ancient cultures have flood myths symbolizing divine judgment, renewal, and the survival of a chosen few.
- The Ark as a Symbol: The ark’s ability to float amidst chaos represents hope, faith, and resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity.
6. Mnemonics for Retention
- 水勢浩大 / 水势浩大 (shuǐ shì hàodà): Imagine vast, powerful waters surging across the land.
- 漂浮 (piāofú): Visualize the ark gently floating on turbulent waters, untouched by the chaos below.
7. Comparative Studies
- Comparison with Hebrew:
- וַיִּגְבְּר֥וּ הַמַּ֛יִם: “The waters prevailed” aligns with the Chinese “水勢浩大,” both emphasizing the force of the floodwaters.
- וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ הַתֵּבָ֖ה: “The ark floated” matches “方舟漂浮,” describing the ark’s movement on the water.
8. Application
This verse reminds us of the importance of faith and divine provision during life’s most turbulent times. The ark’s ability to float symbolizes protection and salvation provided through trust and obedience to God. It encourages resilience and faith in our journeys, no matter the challenges we face.
