Chinese Pictographs of Bible History (August 2)

The ancient Chinese possessed an unusual knowledge of Bible history that they incorporated into their written pictograph language. The most ancient of Chinese writings are called oracle bones in which the pictographs are inscribed on bones and tortoise shells. The inventor of the original Chinese characters obviously had knowledge of the Genesis account. For example, the word for desire or covet is made up of two characters, trees and woman:

There were two trees in the Garden of Eden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (the forbidden tree) and the tree of life. In the Genesis account, Eve saw the fruit of a forbidden tree and desired it.

The word difficulty, trouble is made up of tree and garden.

When Adam and Eve ate of that forbidden fruit in the garden, difficulty resulted. Now there would be thorns and thistles and difficulty during childbirth.

Not only was the Earth cursed, but now death would enter in. The character meaning, to die, perish is (see illustration above).

Note how the two mouths (Adam and Eve) indicating eating fruit from the forbidden tree produced death.

These are just a few examples of how the knowledge of the first eleven chapters of Genesis is embedded in the Chinese pictograph language. When witnessing to the Chinese, you can show them that Christianity is not just a Western religion but that their ancient fathers knew and believed in the One true God of the Bible. The Chinese language is a silent witness to the knowledge of Genesis 1-11.

Genesis 2:9, 3:6

KJV: And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. … And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

NIV: The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. … When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Reference

Nelson, Ethel R., Richard E. Broadberry, Ginger Tong Chock. 1997. God’s Promise to the Chinese, Read Books Publisher. Dunlap, TN p.36, 47, 48, 52.

Learn More

Chinese Characters and Genesis

The original ‘unknown’ god of China

Recommended

Book: God’s Promise to the Chinese, ER Nelson, RE Broadberry & G Tong Chock