Explanations of the Holy Names and appelations

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon tells us the names that are applied to the Endless Light, and says that these names are a result of the creation of those creatures who can apply those names to Him. His name changes depending on the actions of those in the world; for the righteous He has the attribute of Mercy and for the wicked He has the attribute of Judgment - thus His name can be Yud Hei Vav Hei or Adonai. He is therefore called after the quality of each generation and each person, but He Himself has no specific quality or name. Rabbi Shimon says that the soul is not found in any one part of the body but is in the whole body; in just this way God is found everywhere in the world. Every single one of His names testifies that He is Master of all the worlds. We hear that every person in Yisrael inherits a world according to his level on high, as each and every righteous person has a world for himself. Lastly Rabbi Shimon concludes that the soul is like God only insofar as it rules over all parts of the body, but not in any other respect.

Creation Ein Sof (Infinity) Grades Heaven Infinity Infinity (Ein Sof) Mercy Righteous Wisdom

858. And it should be known that THE ENDLESS LIGHT is called 'Wise One in all sorts of wisdom', and 'Understanding One in all sorts of understanding', and 'Pious One in all sorts of piety', and 'Mighty One in all sorts of might', and 'Counselor in all sorts of counsel', and 'Righteous in all sorts of righteousness', and 'King in all sorts of kingship', to infinity and immeasurably. And in all these grades, in one He is called 'Merciful One' and in another He is called 'Judge', and so on in a number of grades until infinity. HE ASKS, if so, it implies that there is a difference between Merciful One and Judge. AND HE ANSWERS, yet before He created the world, He was called by all these grades after the names of the creatures of the world, that were destined to be created. And if not AFTER the creatures of the world, why should He have been called 'Merciful One', 'Judge', FOR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NONE FOR HIM TO SHOW MERCY TO. Thus HE WAS INDEED SO CALLED only after the creatures that were in the future to be created, BUT THERE IS NOT, HEAVEN FORBID, ANY CHANGE IN HIM HIMSELF.

858. וְאִית לְמִנְדַּע, דְּאִיהוּ אִתְקְרֵי חָכָם בְּכָל מִינֵי חָכְמוֹת. וּמֵבִין, בְּכָל מִינֵי תְּבוּנוֹת. וְחָסִיד, בְּכָל מִינֵי חֲסָדִים. וְגִבּוֹר, בְּכָל מִינֵי גְּבוּרוֹת. וְיוֹעֵץ, בְּכָל מִינֵי עֵצוֹת. וְצַדִּיק, בְּכָל מִינֵי צְדָקוֹת. וָמֶלֶךְ, בְּכָל מִינֵי מַלְכוּת. עַד אֵין סוֹף. עַד אֵין חֵקֶר. וּבְכָל אִלֵּין דַּרְגִּין, בְּחַד אִקְרֵי רַחֲמָן. וּבְחַד אִקְרֵי דַּיָּין. וְהָכִי בְּכַמָּה דַּרְגִּין, עַד אֵין סוֹף. אִי הָכִי שִׁנּוּי אִית, בֵּין רַחֲמָן לַדַּיָּין. אֶלָּא קוֹדֶם דְּבָרָא עָלְמָא, אִתְקְרֵי הוּא בְּכָל אִלֵּין דַּרְגִּין, עַל שֵׁם בִּרְיָין דַּהֲווֹ עֲתִידִין לְהִבָּרְאוֹת, דְּאִי לָאו בִּרְיָין דְּעָלְמָא, אֲמַאי אִתְקְרֵי רַחוּם דַּיָּין, אֶלָּא עַל שֵׁם בִּרְיָין דַּעֲתִידִין.

Body Compassion Creation Deeds Judgment Likenesses Mercy Precepts Soul, The Universe

859. And for this reason, all the Names are appellatives of Him, after His deeds. In such a way He created the soul in His likeness, which is so named following its actions in each of the parts of the body, which is itself called 'a small world'. Just as the Master of the Universe behaves with each creature in each generation according to its deeds, so also is the soul according to the deeds of each part. That same part of the body with which he observes a precept is called 'soul' because of compassion, loving-kindness, grace and mercy THAT ARE ACTIVATED IN HIS BODY. And that part of his body with which he commits a transgression is called 'soul' for judgment and wrath and anger THAT ARE ACTIVE IN HIS BODY. But outside the body, for whom can there be compassion or cruelty BECAUSE OF THE DEEDS OF THE BODY?

859. ובג"ד, כָּל שְׁמָהָן, אִינּוּן כִּנּוּיִין דִּילֵיהּ. עַל שֵׁם עוֹבָדִין דִּילֵיהּ. כְּגַוְונָא דָּא, בָּרָא נִשְׁמְתָא, בְּדִיּוּקְנָא דִּילֵיהּ, דְּאִתְקְרִיאַת עַל שֵׁם פְּעוּלוֹת דִּילָהּ, בְּכָל אֵבֶר וְאֵבֶר דְּגוּפָא, דְּאִתְקְרֵי עָלְמָא זְעֵירָא. כְּגַוְונָא דְּמָארֵי עָלְמָא, אִתְנְהִיג בְּכָל בִּרְיָין. וּבְכָל דָּרָא, כְּפוּם עוֹבָדוֹי. כַּךְ נִשְׁמְתָא, כְּפוּם עוֹבָדוֹי דְּכָל אֵבֶר וְאֵבֶר. הַהוּא אֵבֶר דְּעָבֵיד בֵּיהּ פִּקּוּדָא, אִתְקְרֵי נִשְׁמְתָא, לְגַבֵּי חֶמְלָה וְחִסְדָּא חִנָּא וְרַחֲמֵי. וּבְהַהוּא אֵבֶר דְּעָבֵיד בֵּיהּ עֲבֵירָה, אִתְקְרֵי נִשְׁמְתָא לְגַבֵּי, דִּינָא וְחֵימָה וָכָעַס. אֲבָל לְבַר מִן גּוּפָא, לְמַאן תְּהֵא חֶמְלָה, אוֹ אַכְזָרִיוּת.

Adonai Judgment Mercy Tetragrammaton Universe Wicked Wickedness Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH)

860. So, too, for whom could the Master of the Universe have been called 'Merciful One', 'Gracious One' or 'Judge' prior to His creating the world and His creating His creatures? Thus all His names are but appellations, and He is so called only after the creatures of the world. Thus, when the members of the generation are good, namely, He is for them called Yud Hei Vav Hei in the attribute of Mercy. But when the members of the generation are wicked, He is for them called 'Adonai' in the attribute of Judgment. For He is CALLED after the quality of each generation and of each person, but He Himself has no SPECIFIC quality and no specific name.

860. אוֹף הָכִי מָארֵי עָלְמָא, קֺדֶם דְּבָרָא עָלְמָא, וּבָרָא בִּרְיָין דִּילֵיהּ, לְמַאן אִתְקְרֵי רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אוֹ דַּיָּין. אֶלָּא כָּל שְׁמָהָן דִּילֵיהּ, אִינּוּן כִּנּוּיִין, וְלָא אִתְקְרֵי בְּהוֹן, אֶלָּא עַל שֵׁם בִּרְיָין דְּעָלְמָא, ובג"ד, כַּד מָארֵי דָּרָא אִינּוּן טָבִין, אִיהוּ אִתְקְרֵי לְגַבַּיְיהוּ, יְהֹוָ"ה בְּמִדַת רַחֲמִים. וְכַד מָארֵי דָּרָא אִינּוּן חַיָּיבִין, אִתְקְרֵי אֲדֺנָ"י בְּמִדַת הַדִּין. לְכָל דָּרָא, וּלְכָל ב"נ, כְּפוּם מִדָּה דִּילֵיהּ. אֲבָל לָאו דְּאִית לֵיהּ מִדָּה וְלָא שֵׁם יְדִיעַ.

Body Directions Soul, The Universe

861. Consider the Sfirot, where each Sfirah has a specific name, quality, border, and field. The Master of the Universe spreads throughout these names and rules by them and is called after them and is clothed in them and lives amongst them as a soul within the parts of the body. And just as the Master of the Worlds has no specific name and no specific place, but His rule is in all directions IN THE WORLD, so also the soul has neither name nor place anywhere in the body, but its rule is in every direction, and there is no part of the body that is vacated of it.

861. כְּגַוְונָא דִּסְפִירָאן, דְּכָל סְפִירָה אִית לָהּ שֵׁם יְדִיעַ, וּמִדָּה, וּגְבוּל, וּתְחוּם. וּבְאִלֵּין שְׁמָהָן מָארֵי עָלְמָא אִיהוּ אִתְפְּשַּׁט, וְאַמְלִיךְ בְּהוֹן, וְאִתְקְרֵי בְּהוֹן, וְאִתְכַּסֵּי בְּהוֹן, וְדָר בְּהוֹן, כְּנִשְׁמְתָא לְגַבֵּי אֵבָרִים דְּגוּפָא. וּמַה רִבּוֹן עָלְמִין, לֵית לֵיהּ שֵׁם יְדִיעַ וְלָא אֲתָר יְדִיעַ, אֶלָּא בְּכָל סִטְרָא שׁוּלְטָנוּתֵיהּ. אוֹף הָכִי לֵית לָהּ לְנִשְׁמְתָא שֵׁם יְדִיעַ, וְלָא אֲתָר יְדִיעַ, בְּכָל גּוּפָא אֶלָּא בְּכָל סְטָר שׁוּלְטָנוּתֵיהּ, וְלֵית אֵבֶר פָּנוּי מִנָּהּ.

Body Grades Soul, The

862. ובג"ד, לֵית לְרַשְּׁמָא לָהּ בְּחַד אֲתָר, דְּאִי לָאו הָא חָסֵר שׁוּלְטָנוּתָא בִּשְׁאַר אֵבָרִים. וְלָא לְאִתְקְרֵי לָהּ בִּשְׁמָא חַד, אוֹ בִּתְרֵין, אוֹ בְּג'. לְמֵימָר דְּאִיהִי חָכְמָה מִבִּינָה, וְאִית לָהּ דַּעַת, וְלָא יַתִּיר. דְּאִי עָבֵיד הָכִי, הָא חָסֵר לָהּ מִשְּׁאַר דַּרְגִּין.

Chariot Eagle Ezekiel Face Grades Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Likenesses Lion Ox Patriarchs Point Universe

863. And this is even truer with respect to the Master of the Universe, to whom no place should be ascribed nor specific name attributed, nor should He be doubled or tripled IN THEM, namely, the grade of the Chariot, in which it is said, 'They thrice ascribe holiness to You', since all the grades of all His Chariots are tripled, as in "the patriarchs, they are the Chariot," namely the likeness of lion, ox and eagle. For they are a Chariot for man, and it is said of them: "As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man" (Yechezkel 1:10). And from the aspect of the Female, they, LION, OX, EAGLE, rule over man, WHICH IS THE NAME OF THE FEMALE, and the Female is a Chariot for LION, OX, EAGLE. And this is why it is said about her "They thrice ascribe holiness to You."

863. כ"ש לְמָארֵי עָלְמָא, דְּלֵית לְרַשְׁמָא לֵיהּ בַּאֲתָר יְדִיעַ, אוֹ לְאִתְקְרֵי לֵיהּ בִּשְׁמָהָן, אוֹ לְשַׁנָּאָה לֵיהּ בְּהוֹן, אוֹ לְשַׁלְּשָׁא לֵיהּ כְּגוֹן דַּרְגָּא דְּמֶרְכַּבְתָּא, דְּאִתְּמַר בָּהּ קְדוּשָּׁה לְךָ יְשַׁלֵּשׁוּ, דְּכָל דַּרְגִּין דְּכָל מַרְכְּבוֹת דִּילֵיהּ, אִינּוּן מְשׁוּלָּשִׁים, כְּגוֹן הָאָבוֹת הֵן הֵן הַמֶּרְכָּבָה, דְּאִינּוּן דְּמוּת אַרְיֵה שׁוֹר נֶשֶׁר, דְּאִינּוּן מֶרְכָּבָה לְאָדָם. דְּאִתְּמַר עָלֵיהּ, וּדְמוּת פְּנֵיהֶם פְּנֵי אָדָם. וּמִסִּטְרָא דְּנוּקְבָּא, אִינּוּן שַׁלְטִין עַל אָדָם, וְנוּקְבָּא אִיהִי מֶרְכָּבָה לְגַבַּיְיהוּ. ובג"ד אִתְּמַר עָלָהּ, קְדוּשָּׁה לְךָ יְשַׁלֵּשׁוּ.

Adonai Beasts Eagle Face Hebrew Letters Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Lion Ox Peace Peace-offering Tetragrammaton Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH)

864. Similarly, the letters YUD-HEI-VAV, that ALLUDE TO the faces of the living creatures, LION, OX AND EAGLE, are tripled, thus: Yud-Hei-Vav, Hei- Vav-Yud, and Vav-Hei-Yud. Hei is a fourth FOR THEM AND IS THE SECRET OF "They thrice ascribe holiness to You," AS ABOVE. It is the peace offerings (Heb. shelamim) of all of them, for in all of them it completes (Heb. mashlemet) in them all the Name of Yud Hei Vav Hei. But neither names nor letters must be tripled for the Master of All, for He is called by all the names and has no one specific name, and every single name testifies about Him that He is Master of all the worlds, AND THE NAME Adonai testifies about Him.

864. וְאוֹף הָכִי אַתְוָון, דְּאִינּוּן אַנְפִּין דְּחֵיוָן, מְשׁוּלָּשִׁין, כְּגַוְונָא דָּא: יד"ו. הו"י. וה"י. ה' רְבִיעָאָה, קְדוּשָּׁה לְךָ יְשַׁלֵּשׁוּ. אִיהִי שְׁלָמִים דְּכֻלְּהוּ, לְאַשְׁלְמָא בְּכֻלְּהוּ שֵׁם יְדֺוָ"ד. אֲבָל לְמָארֵיהּ דְּכֺלָּא, לֵית לְשַׁלְּשָׁא בֵּיהּ בִּשְׁמָהָן, וְלָא בְּאַתְוָון, אֶלָּא אִיהוּ אִתְקְרֵי בְּכָל שְׁמָהָן, וְלֵית לֵיהּ שֵׁם יְדִיעַ. וְכָל שֵׁם וְשֵׁם אַסְהִיד עָלֵיהּ, דְּאִיהוּ אֲדוֹן כָּל עָלְמִין. אַסְהִיד עָלֵיהּ אֲדֺנָי.

Adonai Grades Hundred Keter Love Righteous Substance (Yesh) Ten Universe Yesh (Substance)

865. And there is a person who inherits three hundred and ten worlds, as it is written: "That I may cause those that love Me to inherit substance (Heb. yesh = 310)" (Mishlei 8:21). THIS IS according to the level OF CHOCHMAH that is called 'something out of nothing', FOR KETER IS CALLED 'NAUGHT' AND CHOCHMAH, 'SUBSTANCE THAT IS DRAWN OUT OF NAUGHT', and this is upper Chochmah. And there is also the person who only inherits one world, according to his level as has been taught: Each and every righteous man has a world for himself. Likewise every person in Yisrael inherits a world according to his level on high, but there is no recording of a world for the Master of the Universe, for He is the Master (Heb. adon) of all the worlds, as the name Adonai testifies about Him.

865. דְּאִית ב"נ, דְּיָרִית ג' מֵאָה וְעֶשֶׂר עָלְמִין, הה"ד, לְהַנְחִיל אוֹהֲבַי יֶשׁ. כְּפוּם דַּרְגָּא דִּילֵיהּ, דְּאִתְקְרֵי יֵשׁ מֵאַיִן. וְדָא חָכְמָה עִלָּאָה. וְאִית ב"נ דְּלָא יָרִית אֶלָּא עָלְמָא חַד, כְּפוּם דַּרְגָּא דִּילֵיהּ, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקְמוּהָ, כָּל צַדִּיק וְצַדִּיק יֵשׁ לוֹ עוֹלָם בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ. וְהָכִי יָרִית עָלְמִין כָּל ב"נ מִיִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּפוּם דַּרְגָּא דִּילֵיהּ לְעֵילָּא. אֲבָל לְמָארֵי עָלְמָא, לֵית לְרַשְׁמָא לֵיהּ עָלְמִין בְּחוּשְׁבָּן, אֶלָּא אֲדוֹן כָּל עָלְמִין, וְאֲדֺנָ"י קָא סָהִיד עָלֵיהּ.

Tetragrammaton Universe Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH)

866. אוֹף הָכִי יְהוָֹ"ה, מִנֵּיהּ תַּלְיָיא כָּל הֲוָיָין, וְאִיהוּ וְכָל הֲוָיָין דִּילֵיהּ, סָהֲדִין עַל מָארֵי עָלְמָא, דְּאִיהוּ הֲוָה קֺדֶם כָּל הֲוָיָין. וְאִיהוּ בְּתוֹךְ כָּל הֲוָיָה. וְאִיהוּ לְאַחַר כָּל הֲוָיָה. וְדָא רָזָא, דְּסָהֲדִין הַוָיָין עָלֵיהּ, הָיָה, הֺוֶה, וְיִהְיֶה.

Adonai Daniel Earth Fire Grades Heaven Hebrew Letters Hosts Judgment Shadai Tetragrammaton Water Wind Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH)

867. Dina (Eng. 'judgment') is composed of the letters of Adonai, re-arranged. And for this reason, our teachers of blessed memory said: The law of the government is the law (Heb. dina). The name El testifies about the Master of All, that no name, Yud Hei Vav Hei, grade, and certainly none of the other creatures has any ability apart from Him. And this is as is written: "and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He does according to His will in the host of heaven..." (Daniel 4:32). Elohim testifies to His Divinity, that He is the Elohim, and the Elohim of Elohim, and He is Eloha over all, and there is no Eloha above Him. Tzva'ot (Eng. 'Hosts') testifies about Him, as it is written: "He does according to His will in the host of heaven." Shadai (Shin-Dalet-Yud) testifies about Him that (Heb. she), when He said to the world "Enough" (Heb. dai), THE WORLD stopped within its limits and did not expand any more. Likewise, to the water, wind, and fire HE SAID: "ENOUGH."

867. דִּינָא, בְּהִפּוּךְ אַתְוָון אֲדֺנָ"י. ובג"ד אָמְרוּ רז"ל, דִּינָא דְּמַלְכוּתָא דִּינָא. שֵׁם אֵ"ל סָהִיד עַל מָארֵי דְּכֺלָּא, דְּלֵית יְכוֹלֶת לְכָל שֵׁם, וַהֲוָיָה וְדַרְגָּא. כָּל שֶׁכֵּן לִשְׁאַר בִּרְיָין, פָּחוּת מִנֵּיהּ. הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב, כְּלָא חֲשִׁיבָין וּכְמִצְבְּיֵהּ עָבֵּיד בְּחֵיל שְׁמַיָא וְגוֹ'. אֱלֹהִי"ם, סָעִיד עַל אֱלָהוּת דִּילֵיהּ, דְּאִיהוּ אֱלֹהִי"ם וֵאלֺהֵי הָאֱלֹהִים, וְאִיהוּ אֱלוֹהַּ עַל כֺּלָּא, וְלֵית אֱלוֹהַּ עָלֵיהּ. צְבָאוֹ"ת, סָהִיד עָלֵיהּ כְּדִכְתִיב, וּכְמִצְבְּיֵיהּ עָבֵיד בְּחֵיל שְׁמַיָא. שַׁדַּ"י, סָהִיד עָלֵיהּ, דְּכַד אִיהוּ אָמַר לְעוֹלָם דַּי עָמַד בִּתְחוּמֵיהּ, וְלָא אִתְפְּשָּׁט יַתִּיר. וְאוּף לְמַיָּא וְרוּחָא וְאֶשָּׁא.

Creation Tetragrammaton Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH)

868. וְאוֹף הָכִי, כָּל הֲוָיָה, וְשֵׁם, סָהֲדִין עָלֵיהּ. דְּכַד הֲוָה אִיהוּ יָחִיד קוֹדֶם דְּבָרָא עָלְמָא, אֲמַאי הֲוָה אִיהוּ צָרִיךְ לְאִתְקְרֵי בִּשְׁמָהָן אִלֵּין, אוֹ בִּשְׁאַר כִּנּוּיִין, כְּגוֹן רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְגוֹ', דַּיָּין אַמִּיץ חָזָק. וְסַגִּיאִין בְּכָל אִינּוּן שְׁמָהָן וְכִנּוּיִין, אִתְקְרֵי עַל שֵׁם כָּל עָלְמִין וּבִרְיָין דִּלְהוֹן, לְאַחֲזָאָה שׁוּלְטָנוּתֵיהּ עָלַיְיהוּ.

Body Creation Soul, The

869. And it is likewise with the soul, WHICH, IN THE ASPECT OF its rule over all the parts of the body, is likened to Him. JUST AS HE IS RULER OVER ALL THE WORLDS, SO IS THE SOUL RULER OVER ALL PARTS OF THE BODY, but it is not meant to say that the soul is like Him in its essence, for it was He who created it, while HE has no Elohim above Him who created Him. Furthermore there are a number of differences and incidents and causes that happen to the soul, which is not the case for the Master of All. For this reason, the soul is like Him only respecting its rule over all parts of the body, but not in any other respect.

869. אוּף הָכִי נִשְׁמְתָא, עַל שׁוּלְטָנוּתָא דְּכָל אֵבָרִים דְּגוּפָא, אַמְתִּיל לָהּ לְגַבֵּיהּ. לָאו דְּאִיהִי אַדְמְיָא לֵיהּ אִיהִי בְּעַצְמָהּ, דְּהוּא בָּרָא לָהּ, וְלֵית לֵיהּ אֱלוֹהַּ עָלֵיהּ דְּבָרָא לֵיהּ. וְעוֹד, נִשְׁמְתָא אִית לָהּ כַּמָה שִׁנּוּיִים וּמִקְרִים וְסִבּוֹת, דְּאִתְקְרִיאוּ לָהּ. מַה דְּלָאו הָכִי לְמָארֵי כֺּלָּא. ובג"ד הִיא אַדְמְיָא בְּשָׁלְטָנוּתָא דִּילָהּ עַל כָּל אֵבָרֵי גּוּפָא, אֲבָל לָא בְּמִלָּה אַחֲרָא.