"By forty-five colors of light"
As white sunlight refracts into the seven colors of the spectrum, the Light of The Creator also refracts into colors that produce the diversity of Creation. The Zohar describes the refraction of the supernal Light, and the birth of the countless colors that we experience as joy, bliss, and happiness upon performing a positive spiritual action. Through these passages, we gain a profound connection to all the colors of Light. Our reading literally ignites the extraordinary eruption of color in the Upper Worlds so that all the grades of Light begin to radiate in our souls.
269. The world, THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN, is differentiated by forty-five colors and types of lights. Seven SFIROT divide into seven chasms, each plumbing its own abyss, NAMELY MALCHUT. And stones turn within the abyss, MEANING THAT THEY OVERTURN SO AS TO SHINE DOWNWARD. And the light penetrates and pierces the stones, creating holes through which water flows and is poured into and covers both sides OF ITS ABYSS.
269. בְּאַרְבְּעִין וְחָמֵשׁ גַּוְונֵי זִינֵי נְהוֹרִין, אִתְפְּלֵיג עָלְמָא, שִׁבְעָה מִתְפַּלְּגִין, לְשִׁבְעָה תְּהוֹמִין. כָּל חַד בָּטַשׁ בִּתְהוֹמָא דִילֵיהּ, וַאֲבָנִין מִתְגַּלְגְּלִין בְּגוֹ תְּהוֹמָא. וְעָיֵיל הַהוּא נְהוֹרָא, בְּאִינוּן אֲבָנִין, וּנְקַב לוֹן, וּמַיָא נָפְקוּ בְּהוֹ, וְשָׁקְעִין כָּל חַד וְחַד, עַל תְּהוֹמָא, וְחַפְיָיא לִתְרֵין סִטְרִין.
270. As the water exits through the holes IN THE STONES, SUPERNAL Light OF THE ENDLESS WORLD shines through them and strikes the four sides of the abyss. Each light OF THE FOUR SIDES includes all others AT THE TIME OF STRIKING. They join as one, and the water FROM ZEIR ANPIN splits WITHIN IT.
270. נָפְקוּ מַיָא בְּאִינוּן נוּקְבִין, וְעָאל נְהוֹרָא וּבָטַשׁ לְאַרְבַּע סִטְרֵי תְהוֹמָא, מִתְגַּלְגְּלָא נְהוֹרָא בַּחֲבֶרְתָּהּ, וְאִעָרְעוּ בְּחַד. וּפַלְגִין מַיִין.
271. The seven SFIROT OF ZEIR ANPIN cling to their seven chasms, OR MALCHUTS, BECAUSE EACH SFIRAH CONTAINS SEVEN SFIROT ONE OF WHICH IS ALSO MALCHUT. They dig in that dark abyss, where darknesses mix with ALL THE SFIROT OF THE NUKVA, And water rises UPWARD FROM BELOW. THAT IS, THE LIGHT OF CHASSADIM, CALLED 'WATER,' WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE RIGHT COLUMN, FIRST SHINES UPWARD FROM BELOW. And then CHASSADIM fall back down TO THE LEFT COLUMN and links with the lights OF THE LEFT, THE LIGHT OF CHOCHMAH THAT IS DARK. And they all mix together - lights, darknesses, and water - and from them are made dark, invisible lights.
271. וַאֲחִידָן כָּל אִינוּן שִׁבְעָה בְּשִׁבְעָה תְּהוֹמֵי, וְכָרָאן בַּחֲשׁוֹכֵי תְהוֹמָא. וַחֲשׁוּכֵי אִינוּן אִתְעָרְבֵי בְּהוֹן, וְסָלְקִין מַיָא וְנָחֲתִין, וּמִתְגַלְגְּלִין בְּאִינוּן נְהוֹרִין, וְאִתְעָרְבוּ כַּחֲדָא. נְהוֹרִין, וַחֲשׁוֹכִין, וּמַיִין. וְאִתְעֲבִידוּ מִנַּיְיהוּ נְהוֹרִין דְּלָא אִתְחַזָּאן, חֲשׁוֹכָאן.
272. When each OF THE SEVEN CHASMS OF ZEIR ANPIN has struck its companion, ITS CORRESPONDING ASPECT IN THE ABYSS OF THE NUKVA, they split into 75 channels of the abyss, through which water - MEANING LIGHTS - is channeled. Each pipe raises its voice and the chasms OF THE RECEPTOR are shaken. When the voices are heard, each abyss calls to its companion, "split your waters so, that I can enter within you." As is written: "Deep calls to deep, at the noise of your cataracts" (Tehilim 42:8).
272. בָּטַשׁ כָּל חַד בְּחַבְרֵיהּ, וּמִתְפַּלְּגִין לְשַׁבְעִין וְחָמֵשׁ צִנוֹרֵי תְּהוֹמָא, וּבְהוֹ נָגְדָן מַיָא. כָּל צִנּוֹרָא וְצִנּוֹרָא סָלֵיק בְּקָלֵיהּ, וְאִזְדַּעְזְעָן תְּהוֹמִין, וְכַד הַהוּא קָלָא אִשְׁתְּמַע, כָּל תְּהוֹמָא קָרֵי לְחַבְרֵיהּ וַאֲמַר, פַּלֵּיג מֵימָךְ וְאֵעוֹל בָּךְ. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב תְּהוֹם אֶל תְּהוֹם קוֹרֵא לְקוֹל צִנּוֹרֶיךָ.
273. Beneath the 75 CHANNELS extend 365 sinews. Some are white, some are black, and some are red. They mix with each other, become included within each other, and turn into one color. The 365 sinews are enmeshed in seventeen nets, each of which is called a network of sinews. Enmeshed within each other, they descend to the end of the abyss BECAUSE THEY TOOK ON THE ASPECT OF YESOD, WHICH TERMINATES THE STRUCTURE OF THE LEVEL. Underneath THE SEVENTEEN NETS ARE FOUR MORE. Two nets resemble iron, and two resemble copper.
273. תְּחוֹת אִלֵּין, תְּלַת מְאָה וְשִׁתִּין וַחֲמִשָּׁה גִּידִין, מִנְהוֹן חִוְּורִין, מִנְהוֹן אוּכְמִין, מִנְהוֹן סוּמְקִין, אִתְכְּלִילוּ דָּא בְּדָא, וְאִתְעֲבִידוּ גַּוָּון חָד. אִינוּן גִּידִין אִתְרְקִימוּ בִּשְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה רְשָׁתוֹת. וְכָל חַד, רֶשֶׁת גִּידִין אִקְרֵי, אִתְרְקִימוּ דָּא בְּדָא, וְנַחֲתִין בְּשִׁפּוּלֵי תְּהוֹמֵי. תְּחוֹת אִלֵּין, תְּרֵין רִשְׁתִּין קָיְימִין, כְּחֵיזוּ דְּפַרְזְלָא, וּתְרֵין רִשְׁתִּין אָחֳרָנִין כְּחֵיזוּ דִּנְחָשָׁא.
274. Two pedestals stand OVER ALL THESE ASPECTS, one to the right and one to the left. All the nets join to be one, and the water, WHICH IS THE LIGHTS, flows down the channels and enters the nets. THE CHANNELS, THE NETS, AND ALL THEIR LIGHTS ARE INCLUDED WITHIN these two pedestals. One pedestal is made of the black firmament; the other is made of a firmament that is the color of a badger, WHICH IS REDDISH.
274. תְּרֵין כָּרְסְוָון קָיְימֵי עֲלַיְיהוּ, חַד מִיָּמִינָא, וְחַד מִשְּׂמָאלָא, כָּל אִינוּן רִשְׁתִין מִתְחַבְּרָן כַּחֲדָא, וּמַיִין נָחֲתִין מֵאִינוּן צִנּוֹרִין, וְעָאלִין בְּאִלֵּין רִשְׁתִּין. אִינוּן תְּרֵין כָּרְסְוָון, חַד כָּרְסְיָיא דִרְקִיעָא אוּכְמָא, וְחַד כָּרְסְיָיא דִּרְקִיעָא סַסְגוֹנָא.
275. When THE LIGHTS rise, THAT IS, WHEN THEY RADIATE UPWARD, they elevate through the pedestal of the black firmament THAT SHINES UPWARD. And when they descend, they do so through the firmament of the badger color THAT SHINES DOWNWARD.
275. אִלֵּין תְּרֵין כָּרְסְוָון, כַּד אִינוּן סָלְקִין, סָלְקִין בְּהַהוּא כָּרְסְיָיא דִּרְקִיעָא אוּכְמָא, וְכַד נָחֲתִין, נָחֲתִין בְּהַהוּא כָּרְסְיָיא דִּרְקִיעָא סַסְגוֹנָא.
276. One of the pedestals is to the right; the other is to the left. The right pedestal is on the black firmament; the left one on the firmament of the badger color. And when THE LIGHTS go up through the pedestal of the black firmament, the pedestal of the left firmament goes down against it, AND THE LIGHTS go down through it.
276. אִלֵּין תְּרֵין כָּרְסְוָון, חַד מִיָּמִינָא, וְחַד מִשְּׁמָאלָא. וְהַהוּא כָּרְסְיָיא דִּרְקִיעָא אוּכְמָא, מִיָּמִינָא. וְהַהוּא כָּרְסְיָיא דִּרְקִיעָא סַסְגוֹנָא, מִשְּׁמָאלָא. כַּד סָלְקִין בְּכָרְסְיָיא דִרְקִיעָא אוּכְמָא, מָאִיךְ כָּרְסְיָיא דִּרְקִיעָא שְׂמָאלָא, וְנָחֲתִין בֵּיהּ.
277. Each pedestal is embraced within the other. Within them, they contain all the nets, and they lure the lights to the very end of the lower abyss. One pedestal rises and elevates above all the chasms. The second remains at the bottom of the chasms. Between them, the chasms revolve and become perfected. As the chasms revolve, the channels are inserted between the two pedestals.
277. מִתְגַּלְגְּלִין כָּרְסְוָון, חַד בְּחַד. נָקְטִין כָּל אִינוּן רִשְׁתִּין בְּגַוַויְיהוּ, וְעָאלִין לוֹן, בְּשִׁפּוֹלָא דִּתְהוֹמָא תַּתָּאָה, קָאֵים חַד כָּרְסְיָיא, וְסָלֵיק לְעֵילָא מִכָּל אִינוּן תְּהוֹמֵי, וְקָאֵים כָּרְסְיָיא אָחֳרָא, לְתַתָּא דְּכָל תְּהוֹמֵי. בֵּין תְּרֵין כָּרְסְוָון אִלֵּין, מִתְגַּלְגְּלִין כָּל אִינוּן תְּהוֹמִי, וְכָל אִינוּן צִנּוֹרִין אִתְנְעָצוּ בֵּין תְּרֵין כָּרְסְוָון אִלֵּין.
278. There is a total of 75 pipes, YET of them, THE SEVEN ABYSSES OF ZEIR ANPIN are superior. They are above the others, which cling to them. The 75 PIPES are inserted in the wheels of the pedestals of the RIGHT and LEFT sides.
278. שַׁבְעִין וְחָמֵשׁ צִנּוֹרִין אִינוּן, שִׁבְעָה, אִינוּן עִלָּאֵי דְּכֹלָּא, וְכָל אִינוּן אָחֳרָנִין אֲחִידָן בְּהוֹ. וְכָלְהוֹ נְעִיצֵי בְּגַלְגְּלוֹי דְּהַאי כָּרְסְיָיא, בְּסִטְרָא דָא וּנְעִיצִין בְּגַלְגְּלוֹי דְהַאי כָּרְסְיָיא, בְּסִטְרָא דָא.
279. Through THE SEVEN CHASMS OF ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH ARE THE MOST SUPERNAL CHASMS, water, ALLUDING TO LIGHTS, flows up and down. Those that flow down - dig into the chasms and pierce them. These rising lights enter the holes that are pierced in the stones, rise, and then fill up the seven seas. Thus, WE HAVE EXPLAINED the seven kinds of lights THAT EMANATE from the supernal secret.
279. בְּהוֹן מַיִין סָלְקִין וְנַחֲתִין, אִינוּן דְּנַחֲתִין כָּרָאן בִּתְהוֹמֵי, וּבָקְעֵי לוֹן. אִינוּן דְּסָלְקִין עָאלִין, בְּאִינוּן נוּקְבֵי אַבְנִין, וְסָלְקִין וּמַלְיָין לִשְׁבַע יַמִּין, עַד כָּאן שִׁבְעָה גְּוָונֵי נְהוֹרִין בְּרָזָא עִלָּאָה.
280. Seven other lights divide into seven seas, and one sea includes them all. This one sea is the supernal sea that includes all the other seven seas.
280. שִׁבְעָה נְהוֹרִין אָחֳרָנִין, מִתְפַּלְּגִין לְשִׁבְעָה יַמִּים. וְיַמָּא חַד כָּלֵיל לוֹן, הַהוּא יַמָּא חָד, אִיהוּ יַמָּא עִלָּאָה, דְּכָלְהוֹ שְׁבַע יַמִין כְּלִילָן בֵּיהּ.
281. The seven lights go into the sea - REFERRING TO THIS ONE SUPERNAL LIGHT THAT INCLUDES SEVEN - and strike it. As a result, THIS SEA has seven sides. Each side splits into seven streams, as it is written: "And he shall smite it into seven streams" (Yeshayah 11:15). Each stream then splits into seven rivers, each river splits into seven routes, and each route into seven lanes. And all the waters of the seas flow through them.
281. שִׁבְעָה נְהוֹרִין אִלֵּין, עָאלִין לְגוֹ הַהוּא יַמָּא, וּמָחָאן לֵיהּ לְיַמָּא, לְשִׁבְעָה סִטְרִין. וְכָל סִטְרָא וְסִטְרָא אִתְפְּלַג לְשִׁבְעָה נַחֲלִין. כְּדִכְתִיב וְהִכָּהוּ לְשִׁבְעָה נְחָלִים וגו', וְכָל נַחֲלָא וְנַחֲלָא אִתְפְּלַג לְשִׁבְעָה נְהָרִין. וְכָל נַהֲרָא וְנַהֲרָא אִתְפְּלַג לְשִׁבְעָה אָרְחִין. וְכָל אוֹרְחָא וְאוֹרְחָא אִתְפְּלַג לְשִׁבְעָה שְׁבִילִין. וְכָל מֵימוֹי דְיַמָּא כָּלְהוֹן עָאלִין לְגַוַּויְיהוּ.
282. Seven lights ascend and descend in seven directions. Seven supernal lights enter the LOWER sea OF THE SEVEN UPPER SEAS. Nevertheless, they are only six, INSTEAD OF SEVEN, and originate from the supernal one. TOGETHER, THEY ARE CONSIDERED AS SEVEN. And in the same manner that the sea receives, it divides its waters into the other seas and waters.
282. שִׁבְעָה נְהוֹרִין סָלְקִין וְנָחֲתִין לְשִׁבְעָה סִטְרִין, שִׁבְעָה נְהוֹרִין עִלָּאִין, עָאלִין לְגוֹ יַמָּא. שִׁתָּא אִינוּן, וּמֵחַד עִלָּאָה נָפְקֵי. כְּמָה דְּנָטֵיל יַמָא, הָכֵי פָּלֵיג מֵימוֹי לְכָל אִינוּן יַמִּין, לְכָל אִינוּן נְהָרִין.
283. There is a serpent below, from the left side, that swims in all the rivers. It comes to the side - THE LEFT SIDE, BECAUSE IT CAN ONLY DRAW SUSTENANCE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RIVERS. Its scales are strong like iron, REFERRING TO ITS JUDGMENTS, WHICH ARE VERY STRONG. It draws sustenance FROM THE SINS OF LOWER BEINGS and invades the place. All lights in the rivers are thus darkened before the serpent. Its mouth and tongue are blazing fires, its tongue as sharp and tough as a sword - MEANING THAT HIS JUDGMENTS ARE VERY SEVERE, AND THERE IS NO SALVATION FROM HIM.
283. חַד תַּנִינָא לְתַתָּא, בִּסְטַר שְׂמָאלָא, שָׁאט בְּכָל אִינוּן נְהָרִין. אָתֵי בִּסְטַר, קַשְׂקְשׂוֹי כָּלְהוֹן תַּקִּיפִין כְּפַרְזְלָא. וּמָטֵי לְשָׁאֲבָא, וְשָׁאֵיב אַתְרָהּ. וְכָל אִינוּן נְהוֹרִין אִתְחַשְׁכָן קַמֵּיהּ, פּוּמֵיהּ וְלִישְׁנֵיהּ מְלַהֲטָא אֶשָׁא חָדוּד לִישְׁנֵיהּ, כְּחַרְבָּא תַּקִּיפָא.
284. When THE SERPENT enters the temple in the sea, WHICH IS MALCHUT, the temple is defiled, and its lights are extinguished. Thus, the supernal lights, THE LIGHTS OF THE TOP THREE SFIROT, leave the sea. Then, the waters of the sea split and go to the left side. The sea then freezes, and its waters do not flow.
284. עַד דְּמָטֵי לְמֵיעַל לְמַקְדְּשָׁא, גּוֹ יַמָּא. וּכְדֵין סָאֵיב מַקְדְּשָׁא, וְאִתְחַשְּׁכָן נְהוֹרִין. וּנְהוֹרִין עִלָּאִין סָלְקִין מִן יַמָא, כְּדֵין יַמָּא מִתְפַּלְגִין מֵימוֹי, בִּסְטַר שְׂמָאלָא, וְיַמָּא קָאפֵי, וְלָא נָגְדִין מֵימוֹי.
285. This explains the hidden meaning of "now the serpent was craftier than all the beasts" (Beresheet 3:1). The secret is that the wicked serpent descends from the upper to the lower. IT DRAWS THE LIGHTS OF THE LEFT DOWNWARD, and it swims upon the bitter water. Thus, it went down to ensnare EVE INTO EATING FRUIT FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE. IT DRAWS THE LIGHTS OF THE LEFT DOWN and ensnares them in its net.
285. וְעַל דָּא רָזָא דְמִלָּה, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב, וְהַנָּחָשׁ הָיָה עָרוּם מִכָּל חַיַּת הַשָּׁדֶה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה ה' אֱלֹקִים. רָזָא דְחִוְיָא בִישָׁא, נָחֵית מֵעֵילָא לְתַתָּא, וְהוּא שָׁאט עַל אַפֵּי מַיִין מְרִירָן, וְנָחֵית לְאַפְתֵּי לְתַתָּא, עַד דְּיִפְּלוּן גּוֹ רִשְׁתּוֹי.
286. This serpent is death in the world, BECAUSE IT ENTICED EVE WITH THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE AND THUS BROUGHT DEATH TO THE WORLD. It penetrates the closed intestine of man - the appendix, which is to the left -FROM WHICH IT DRAWS SUSTENANCE. Another serpent, which brings life, is located in the right side, WHICH IS THE GOOD INCLINATION - THE ONE THAT BRINGS LIFE TO MAN. Both sides - THE GOOD AND EVIL INCLINATIONS - accompany man, as has already been explained.
286. הַאי חִוְיָא הִיא מוֹתָא דְעָלְמָא. וְהוּא עָאל בְּמֵעוֹי דְּסָתִים דְּבַר נָשׁ, הוּא לִסְטַר שְׂמָאלָא, וְאִית חִוְיָא אַתְרָא דְחַיֵּי, בִּסְטַר יָמִינָא, תַּרְוַיְיהוּ אָזְלֵי עִמֵּיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ. כְּמָה דְּאוֹקְמוּהָ.
287. (A). "...than all the beasts of the field" (Ibid.). WE LEARN FROM THESE WORDS THAT OF ALL THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD, THE KLIPOT, there is none that causes harm as the serpent does, because he is the dross of gold. Woe to him, ALLUDING TO ADAM, who was seduced by the serpent. He brought death upon himself and all who came after him. All of this has been explained already.
(B). Adam was drawn downward after THE SERPENT. He went down to learn of all that is below. As he went down FOR THE PURPOSE OF DRAWING LIGHT FROM ABOVE DOWNWARDS, his desires and his ways were drawn after THE KLIPOT. THIS DRAWING DOWNWARD OF THE LIGHT OF UNION IS THE SECRET OF THE PROHIBITION OF THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE. SINCE HE INTENDED TO DRAW THE LIGHT DOWNWARD, HE CLEAVED IMMEDIATELY TO THE KLIPOT, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD NOT YET ACTUALLY DRAWN ANY LIGHT. They went down to the serpent and saw the desire of the world. And his ways were swayed to this place OF MALCHUT, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF EATING OF THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE. Then THE SERPENT was drawn after Adam and his wife. It cleaved to them WITH ITS FILTH, bringing death to them and all subsequent generations. Its venom did not cease to exist in the world, until Yisrael stood at Mount Sinai. This has already been stated.
287. (א). מִכָּל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה, דְּהָא כָּל שְׁאָר חֵיוָן דְּחַקְלָא, לֵית בְּהוֹ חַכִּים לְאַבְאָשָׁא כְּהַאי, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ זוּהֲמָא דְדַהֲבָא. וַוי לְמַאן דְּאִתְמְשֵׁיךְ אֲבַתְרֵיהּ. דְּאִיהוּ גָרֵים לֵיהּ מוֹתָא, וּלְכָל דְּאַתְיָין אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ.
(ב). אָדָם, אִתְמְשִׁיךְ אֲבַתְרֵיהּ לְתַתָּא, וְנָחֵית לְמִנְדַע, בְּכָל מַה דִּלְתַתָּא, כְּמָה דְּנָחֵית הָכֵי אִתְמְשֵׁיךְ רְעוּתֵיהּ, וְאָרְחוֹי אֲבַתְרַיְיהוּ, עַד דְּמָטִין לְהַאי חִוְיָא, וְחָמוֹ תֵּיאוּבְתֵּיהּ דְּעָלְמָא, וְשָׁטוֹ אוֹרְחוֹי בַּאֲתַר דָּא. כְּדֵין קָם וְאִתְמְשֵׁיךְ אִיהוּ אֲבַתְרַיְיהוּ דְּאָדָם וְאִתְּתֵיהּ, וְאִתְדַּבַּק בְּהוֹ, וְגָרֵים לְהוֹ מוֹתָא, וּבְכָל דָּרֵי דְּאָתוֹ אֲבַתְרֵיהּ. עַד דְּמָטוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְטוּרָא דְסִינַי, לָא פָּסַק זוּהֲמָא דִילֵיהּ מֵעָלְמָא, וְהָא אִתְּמָר.