Semantics Series 1: 申正
August 17th, 2023
Semantic Series 1: 申正
"耶稣说：「你们来看。」他们就去看他在那里住，这一天便与他同住；那时约有申正了。” - 约翰福音1:39 (Chinese Union Bible Simplified Edition)
“He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.” (John 1:39)
In ancient times, 申was used to refer to a specific time period in the Chinese traditional timekeeping system, specifically representing the hours between 3pm and 5pm. The word 申 in general is often used in words relating to time, space or distance. Meanwhile, 正carries the idea of justice, fairness, righteousness and equity. In several times throughout the gospel of John, John the Baptist referred to himself as the 见证 or witness of Christ. Together, a direct translation of 申正 would be the ‘specific time that is correct’.
The meaning of a Chinese 短语 or phrase varies based on textual context. Yet, it is noteworthy that 申正 is translated as “tenth hour” in the ESV. The Greek word for this is dekatos hora which because of “deka” carries the numerical idea of ten as well. However, since each languages designated time is different, in Chinese 3-5pm and in English and Greek a numerical 10th, it stands to reason that the text is speaking about something more nuanced than time. The Greek word for hour, hora, is marked out by a settled routine or train of circumstances. It is likely that the those who translated the Bible into Chinese selected the word 申to reflect the fact that the hour was marked by a meaningful event. They then added the word 正to make it clear that something just or right was going to happen at the time.
In John 1:39, a superficial reading makes it look at first like the two disciples were staying with Jesus because it was late. However, perhaps the deeper implication that John the gospel writer was trying to make was that it was an opportune time before a meaningful event. In the verses after John 1:39, John details the process of the disciples finding Jesus and recognising that he is the Messiah and Son of God. The tenth hour, the dekatos hora or the 申正, was perhaps saying more than just the time of day.
Ideas are original but researched, formulated and proofread with the assistance of ChatGPT.