Bible Numbers 2.0

A New Chinese Proclamation

(可 惜 這 頁 沒 有 中 文 繙 譯)

The Proclamation (Exodus 34:6-7) in Chinese produced numeric features when 上帝 replaced the other translations for the Hebrew name for God (יהוה). This means there is room for improvement in the Chinese Bible. But rather than starting from scratch, what are the chances that current translations of the Chinese Bible could be pieced together to produce something better?

***Special Note On The Odds For Chinese: The numeric system for Chinese characters is of consecutive numbers. This major difference from all other gematria systems changes the odds. When reading the odds on pages dealing with Chinese, please bear this in mind. For more on this, see Second Experiment: It's Not Easy.***

Is a Chinese version of The Proclamation possible with structured numeric features? The work below shows it is possible despite the odds.

There are three Chinese Bibles to work from: Catholic, Chinese Union, and the Chinese New Version. Exodus 34:6-7 is given below from each of the three versions.

3 Chinese Translations Of Exodus 34:6-7
KJVCatholicChinese UnionChinese New Version
And the LORD passed by before him上主由他面前經過時耶和華在他面前耶和華在摩西面前經過
and proclaimed大聲喊說宣告說並且宣告說
The LORD The LORD雅威雅威耶和華耶和華耶和華耶和華
God merciful and gracious是慈悲寬仁的天主是有憐憫有恩典的神是有憐憫有恩典的神
longsuffering緩於發怒不輕易發怒不輕易發怒
and abundant in goodness and truth富於慈愛忠誠並有豐盛的慈愛和誠實並且有豐盛的慈愛和誠實
Keeping mercy for thousands對萬代的人為千萬人為千千萬萬人
保持仁愛存留慈愛留下慈愛
forgiving iniquity寬赦過犯赦免罪孽赦免罪孽
and transgression and sin罪行和罪過過犯和罪惡過犯和罪惡
and that will by no means clear [the guilty]但是決不豁免懲罰萬不以有罪的為無罪一定要清除罪
visiting the iniquity of the fathers父親的過犯必追討他的罪追討罪孽
upon the children, and upon the children's children向子孫追討自父及子自父及子至孫
unto the third and to the fourth [generation]直到三代四代直到三四代直到三四代
N.B. None of the Chinese versions are exact literal translations from the Hebrew. Some words (love, graciousness, mercy, or sin, iniquity, transgression) overlap in meaning in English, and the same occurs in Chinese as well.
The KJV places the last word (generation) in square brackets to indicate it does not exist in the original Hebrew. The very last character 代 in all three Chinese translations means generation. It is a translation of the English, not the Hebrew, because it is understood and makes sense from the context, but it is not an exact literal one to one translation.

A computer can mix and match translations for each part of the passage from the various columns. The result would be a complete phrase. Each combination can be checked for numeric features.

This experiment begins with the second row of the table following the numeric study of the original Hebrew, not with the very beginning of the passage. 上帝 is included as a choice for the Hebrew divine name. The verb 係 is almost identical in meaning to 是 and is another option. Words like mercy, gracious, slow to anger, keeping, forgiving, and iniquity all have overlapping meaning with many Chinese words, and some of these have been added as choices as well.

I have included two of my own phrases: 慢慢地至怒 (slow to anger), and 父親的不正試煉落子及孫 (the father's imperfections are tried/tested on the sons and grandsons).

To keep the number of combinations to a manageable level some choices below have been restricted to just two choices, or eliminated altogether.

宣告說 The Catholic version was eliminated because it did not accurately reflect the Hebrew. In keeping with simplicity, the CUV was kept as the only option.
上帝上帝
耶和華耶和華
雅威雅威
Three Chinese Christian terms translate the Hebrew יהוה for God.

The verb is or to be has two character choices in Chinese.

0
The word has also doubles in meaning as is and can be included or excluded, producing two choices.
憐憫
仁慈
寬仁
Mercy, or compassion can be translated in more than these three ways.
慈悲
慈愛
恩典
The same applies to gracious. These words can sometimes mean mercy and compassion as well.
的神There being no other god word, this is the only choice.
不輕易怒
緩於怒
慢慢地至怒
The CUV and CNV have not easily angered. The Catholic is more accurate with slow to anger. The third entry is a more contemporary way of saying slow to anger.
並有
並且有
富於
There are three options for and having.
豐盛的慈愛和誠實
慈愛忠誠
Two selections for abundant in love and faithfulness are from the Catholic and CUV.
為千萬人The Hebrew text has to thousands because at that time the human population was small. In view of the billions today versus Solomon's one in a thousand, I have opted for ten million.
存留
留下
保持
維持
The Catholic 保持 is more accurate in expressing maintaining than the CUV and CNV, but I have kept them as options, and included a fourth with the same sense.
慈愛
仁愛
These two options for love are only a fraction of the words possible.
赦免
寬赦

寬容
寬恕
饒恕
There are six possible options for forgiving,
不正
罪孽
過犯
and three options for iniquity.
過犯
違犯
犯罪
破戒
罪行
Five choices for transgression convey the deliberate act.
和罪
和違背
和罪惡
和罪過
和錯誤
There are at least five choices for sin. (N.B. In Chinese, all these words for iniquity, transgression and sin overlap in meaning and could have been placed in the other rows.)
萬不以有罪的為無罪
一定要清除罪
但是決不豁免懲罰
Three choices cover the most obscure part of the passage: by no means clear [the guilty].
必追討他的罪自父及子至孫
追討罪孽自父及子至孫
父親的不正試煉落子及孫
The Bible translations for visiting the iniquity of the fathers– are from the Catholic and Protestant versions, along with my own understanding of the matter.
三四伐One choice reflects the Hebrew third and fourth [generation].
宣告說|上帝上帝 耶和華耶和華 雅威雅威|是 係|有 0|憐憫 仁慈 寬仁|慈悲 慈愛 恩典|的神|不輕易怒 緩於怒 慢慢地至怒|並有 並且有 富於|豐盛的慈愛和誠實 慈愛忠誠|為千萬人|存留 留下 保持 維持|慈愛 仁愛|赦免 寬赦 宥 寬容 寬恕 饒恕|不正 罪孽 過犯|過犯 違犯 犯罪 破戒 罪行|和罪 和違背 和罪惡 和罪過 和錯誤|萬不以有罪的為無罪 一定要清除罪 但是決不豁免懲罰|必追討他的罪自父及子至孫 追討罪孽自父及子至孫 父親的不正試煉落子及孫|三四伐

The red lines are the major sections of the passage. Within each section are the various options (coloured blue and green). The number zero stands for a word that could be dropped.

From the above data, the computer generated 62,985,600 combinations.

Number of features         12   13   14
Combinations found         76   3    2

Of the two with the highest number of features, one used the term 上帝, and the other 耶和華. The phrase with 上帝 is mostly constructed with pieces from the three Chinese Bible translations. The phrase with 耶和華 is more different.1

The result with 上帝 (66 words).

宣告說上帝上帝係有仁慈恩典的神不輕易怒並且有慈愛忠誠為千萬人留下仁愛寬容過犯違犯和罪萬不以有罪的為無罪必追討他的罪自父及子至孫三四伐.

Proclaim (and) speak: SeungDai SeungDai is a God having/of mercy/benevolence and grace, not easily angered, and having love/benevolence(to the deprived/young), loyalty/faithfulness/constancy towards tens of millions of people; leaving/flowing down (with) kindness, disposed to forgive error/mistake, transgression and sin; but never holding the guilty guiltless, pursuing (his) guilt from father with/to son to grandson, three four generations.

This result with 上帝 actually has more features.

Total: 141953 = 72 x 2897.
Odd positioned words: 94031 = 72 x 19 x 101.
Even positioned words: 47922 = 2 x 3 x 72 x 163. SF: 182 = 2 x 7 x 13.
Odd positioned segments of 2 words: 66640 = 24 x 5 x 72 x 17.
Even positioned segments of 2 words: 75313 = 72 x 29 x 53.
Odd positioned segments of 3 words: 72849 = 3 x 7 x 3469.
        SF: 3479 = 72 x 71.
Even positioned segments of 3 words: 69104 = 24 x 7 x 617.
Odd positioned segments of 11 words:  73129 = 7 x 31 x 337.
Even positioned segments of 11 words: 68824 = 23 x 7 x 1229.
Odd positioned segments of 22 words:  78246 = 2 x 35 x 7 x 23.
Even positioned segments of 22 words: 63707 = 7 x 19 x 479.
Odd positioned segments of 33 words:  66871 = 7 x 41 x 233.
Even positioned segments of 33 words: 75082 = 2 x 7 x 31 x 173.
Odd valued words:  57995 = 5 x 7 x 1657.
Even valued words: 83958 = 2 x 3 x 7 x 1999.
Sixteen words are divisible by 7.
       The positions of these words: 507 = 3 x 132.
       The sum of these words is naturally divisible by 7 and is not a 
       feature, but the real feature is in the sum of the factors: 
       17164 = 22 x 7 x 613. SF: 624 = 24 x 3 x 13.

There are two sets of words symmetrically positioned from the beginning 
of the phrase and from the end of the phrase. The first set starts from 
the 5th word (counting from the beginning or end) and ending at the 32nd 
word (also from beginning or end). The sum of these two groups: 
124852 = 22 x 74 x 13.
A similar set of 12 words start from the 15th to the 26th words (counting 
from the beginning or end). The sum of these words: 
62426 = 2 x 74 x 13.
Note how both sets have a 2, four 7s and a 13 as common factors. The 
second set is exactly half the size of the first set. The positions 
defining these two sets are a feature on their own: 5 + 32 + 15 + 26 = 78.
       And 78 = 2 x 3 x 13.

The features are wonderfully balanced like Yin and Yang, demonstrating order and structure. In total, there are 18 features. There are probably many more features that could be discovered. At the very least, the odds of this happening are one in 25,853,744.

This is an improvement in the number of numerical features, but is it an improvement in translation?

Context is everything. If the numeric section was left in place with the rest of verse 6, 宣告說 would mean and he proclaimed. If the numeric section is taken out, removing the beginning of verse 6, this widens the meaning to proclaim and speak a more general statement than the original Hebrew. In Chinese it could even be a command. It no longer matters who is speaking. It is a witness to God’s character.

上帝: This is the proper term for the one supreme God in Chinese.

不輕易怒: The original translations into Chinese were 緩於發怒 (Catholic), and 不輕易發怒 (Protestant). 緩於發怒 and 不輕易發怒 could simply mean God is slow to anger, or not easily angered, but these phrases could also mean a stronger anger: rage or tantrum. 發怒 has the sense of temper tantrum or even rage. There being no such sense in the original Hebrew, dropping 發 in favour of 不輕易怒 is more accurate.

The Catholic Chinese Bible has the phrase 對萬代的人 (to ten thousand generations of people). The CUV has 為千萬人 (to ten million people), and the CNV has 為千千萬萬人 (to millions and hundred millions of people). The original Hebrew just mentions thousands. Our number experiment worked fine with the CUV phrase. This is an update from the ancient Hebrew, but not overly extravagant as the Catholic or CNV. It accounts for the billions today, but is mindful of Solomon's ratio of one in a thousand.

All three Chinese Bibles have 直到, meaning straight through to the third and fourth generations. These two words were dropped, but the sense is still maintained in the context: 自父及子至孫三四伐 from the father(s) including the son(s) to the grandson(s) three four generations. This phrase is more like the Hebrew. The Hebrew basically reads on the children, and on the children's children to the third and fourth. There is no straight through to though the sense could be implied.

Improvement in translation may not always coincide with improvement in numerical features, but in this case it seems to have worked out. How appropriate that it works so well in God’s proclamation of His character.

A Second Level Of Coincidences

This version of The Proclamation has a second level of numeric coincidences unlike most other verses in Chinese. These are ChangJie Numbers.

1               2           3                   4        5                6        7
宣              告          說                   上       帝               上        帝
JMAM            HGR         YRCRU               YM       YBLB             YM       YBLB
142             170         151                 9        33               9        33
1    2  3   4   5   6   7   8  9   10  11  12   13  14   15  16  17  18   19  20   21  22  23  24
100- 1- 40- 1   30- 80- 60  8- 60- 20- 60- 3    8-  1    8-  10- 5-  10   8-  1    8-  10- 5-  10

8                9        10           11                12           13            14
係               有       仁            慈                恩           典             的
OHVF             KB       OMM          TVIP              WKP          TBC           HAPI
156              17       72           815               397          530           379
25  26  27  28   29  30   31  32  33   34   35  36  37   38  39  40   41   42  43   44  45  46   47
70- 30- 6-  50   7-  10   70- 1-  1    500- 6-  9-  300  90- 7-  300  500- 10- 20   30- 40- 300- 9

15                   16       17                     18                19            20
神                   不       輕                      易                怒            並
IFLWL                MF       JJMVM                  APHH              VEP           TTC
159                  51       208                    400               706           1020
48  49  50  51  52   53  54   55   56   57  58  59   60  61   62  63   64  65   66   67   68   69
9-  50- 5-  90- 5    1-  50   100- 100- 1-  6-  1    40- 300- 30- 30   6-  400- 300  500- 500- 20

21       22       23                24                25       26                   27
且       有       慈                 愛                忠       誠                    為
BM       KB       TVIP              BBPE              LP       YRIHS                IKNF
11       17       815               720               305      111                  68
70  71   72  73   74   75  76  77   78  79  80   81   82  83   84  85  86  87  88   89  90  91  92
10- 1    7-  10   500- 6-  9-  300  10- 10- 300- 400  5-  300  8-  60- 9-  30- 4    9-  7-  2-  50

28       29                30   31              32         33              34
千       萬                人    留              下         仁               愛
HJ       TWLB              O    HHW             MY         OMM             BBPE
130      605               70   150             9          72              720
93  94   95   96  97  98   99   100  101  102   103  104   105  106  107   108  109  110  111
30- 100  500- 90- 5-  10   70   30-  30-  90    1-   8     70-  1-   1     10-  10-  300- 400

35                   36                   37                   38                   39
寬                   容                   過                    犯                   違
JTBI                 JCOR                 YBBR                 KHSU                 YDMQ
619                  250                  88                   44                   809
112  113  114  115   116  117  118  119   120  121  122  123   124  125  126  127   128  129  130  131
100- 500- 10-  9     100- 20-  70-  60    8-   10-  10-  60    7-   30-  4-   3     8-   200- 1-   600

40                   41              42                        43                   44
犯                   和              罪                         萬                   不
KHSU                 HDR             WLLMY                     TWLB                 MF
44                   290             109                       605                  51
132  133  134  135   136  137  138   139  140  141  142  143   144  145  146  147   148  149
7-   30-  4-   3     30-  200- 60    90-  5-   5-   1-   8     500- 90-  5-   10    1-   50

45              46         47                        48                   49
以              有         罪                         的                   為
VIO             KB         WLLMY                     HAPI                 IKNF
85              17         109                       379                  68
150  151  152   153  154   155  156  157  158  159   160  161  162  163   164  165  166  167
6-   9-   70    7-   10    90-  5-   5-   1-   8     30-  40-  300- 9     9-   7-   2-   50

50              51                        52         53                   54
無              罪                        必          追                   討
OTF             WLLMY                     PH         YHRR                 YRDI
620             109                       330        158                  277
168  169  170   171  172  173  174  175   176  177   178  179  180  181   182  183  184  185
70-  500- 50    90-  5-   5-   1-   8     300- 30    8-   30-  60-  60    8-   60-  200- 9

55              56                   57                        58              59         60
他              的                   罪                         自              父         及
OPD             HAPI                 WLLMY                     HBU             CK         NHE
570             379                  109                       43              27         432
186  187  188   189  190  191  192   193  194  195  196  197   198  199  200   201  202   203  204  205
70-  300- 200   30-  40-  300- 9     90-  5-   5-   1-   8     30-  10-  3     20-  7     2-   30-  400

61         62              63                        64              65         66
子         至              孫                         三              四          伐
ND         MIG             NDHVF                     MMM             WC         OI
202        90              288                       3               110        79
206  207   208  209  210   211  212  213  214  215   216  217  218   219  220   221  222
2-   200   1-   9-   80    2-   200- 30-  6-   50    1-   1-   1     90-  20    70-  9

ChangJie total: 16653 = 3 x 7 x 13 x 61. SF: 84 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 7. SF: 14 = 2 x 7.

Odd valued characters: 7735 = 5 x 7 x 13 x 17. SF: 42 = 2 x 3 x 7.

Even valued characters: 8918 = 2 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 13.

Odd valued symbols: 299 = 13 x 23.

Even valued symbols: 16354 = 2 x 13 x 17 x 37.

Amazingly, the ChangJie numbers mirror the first level of numbers from the characters. They are paired and balanced as a second witness to the authenticity of the Bible transmitting God’s words.

Conclusion

The odds of the generated phrase having as many features as it did was one in 25 million. The ChangJie numbers changes this to one in 420 billion! Such a phrase should not have been found so easily in 62 million combinations. It should have taken several trillion or more. It cannot be coincidence when it keeps happening.

The above result was based on the Chinese Catholic Bible, the Chinese Union Version and the Chinese New Version. These translations were heavily based on the English understanding of the scriptures. These translations were not based on the original Hebrew. What would happen if a translation was based more on the actual Hebrew? For more on this, see the next part.

中 國 要 回 歸 上 帝

(For more on China and America in prophecy: Bible Issues.)

Notes

  1. This is the second result, which uses 耶和華. It has 72 words and fewer features than the one above. It also has two phrases which are not found in any of the three Chinese Bible translations: 慢慢地至怒 (slowly gets angry) and 父親的不正試煉落子及孫 (the father's faults are tested in the son and grandson).

    宣告說耶和華耶和華是有憐憫慈悲的神慢慢地至怒並有豐盛的慈愛和誠實為千萬人存留仁愛寬容罪孽過犯和罪過萬不以有罪的為無罪父親的不正試煉落子及孫三四伐.

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