Zohar Commentary Notes: Introduction, Chapter 7
The Text
Introduction Chapter 7
BERESHITH (In the beginning). Said R. Yudai: ‘What is the meaning of Bereshith? It means “with Wisdom”, the Wisdom on which the world is based, and through this it introduces us to deep and recondite mysteries. In it, too, is the inscription of six chief supernal directions, out of which there issues the totality of existence. From the same there go forth six sources of rivers which flow into the Great Sea. This is implied in the word Bereshith, which can be analysed into BaRa-SHiTH (He created six). And who created them? The Mysterious Unknown.’
Commentary
This passage from The Zohar provides a deeply Kabbalistic interpretation of the word Bereshith (בְּרֵאשִׁית, “In the beginning”), demonstrating how each letter and syllable encodes profound mystical meaning. It focuses on Chochmah(Wisdom), the six directions of creation, and the concept of divine emanation. Below is a detailed commentary on its imagery and language as it applies to Kabbalah.
1. Bereshith as “With Wisdom” — The Primacy of Chochmah
The passage opens with R. Yudai interpreting Bereshith as meaning “with Wisdom.”
- Wisdom (Chochmah) as the Foundation of Creation
- In Kabbalah, Chochmah (חָכְמָה) is the second Sefirah and the first stage of divine emanation that descends into structured reality.
- This reflects Proverbs 3:19: “The Lord by Wisdom founded the earth.”
- Chochmah is associated with pure, undifferentiated insight — the flash of divine knowledge before it is structured by Binah (Understanding).
- Connection to Divine Thought
- By stating that Bereshith signifies “with Wisdom,” the text suggests that creation is not random but an expression of divine intellect.
- This aligns with the idea that the universe originates as a thought in the divine mind before materialising.
- Wisdom as the First Act of Divine Emanation
- This interpretation affirms that all things begin in divine thought before their physical manifestation.
- This is linked to Chochmah Ilah’ah (Supernal Wisdom), the highest level of divine intelligence, transcending human comprehension.
2. The Six Supernal Directions — Cosmic Structure in the Sefirot
The passage mentions “six chief supernal directions,” which is a reference to the foundational structure of creation.
- The Six Directions in Kabbalah
- The number six corresponds to the six Sefirot that structure the divine flow into the lower worlds:
- Chesed (Kindness, Right)
- Gevurah (Judgment, Left)
- Tiferet (Beauty, Center)
- Netzach (Victory, Forward)
- Hod (Glory, Backward)
- Yesod (Foundation, Downward)
- These are the primary divine attributes that govern creation, often collectively referred to as Zeir Anpin (the “Lesser Countenance”).
- Directions as a Spatial and Metaphysical Framework
- The six directions do not merely represent physical space but the totality of divine influence in the universe.
- This reflects Ezekiel’s vision of the divine chariot (Merkavah), where movement and divine force extend in all six directions.
- Link to the Hebrew Letter Vav (ו)
- The number six corresponds to the letter Vav, which symbolises connection and structure.
- This reinforces the idea that these six forces unify the higher and lower worlds.
3. The Six Rivers and the Great Sea — The Flow of Divine Energy
The passage states that from these six directions, six rivers emerge, flowing into “the Great Sea.”
- Six Rivers as Channels of Divine Energy
- The image of six rivers alludes to the divine flow from Zeir Anpin down to Malkhut (the final Sefirah, representing the material world).
- In Kabbalistic cosmology, Yesod is the conduit that channels divine energy, often metaphorically depicted as a river or stream.
- The Great Sea as Malkhut
- The “Great Sea” represents Malkhut, the last Sefirah, which receives all the divine influx and manifests it in the created world.
- This mirrors the verse in Ecclesiastes 1:7: “All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full.”
- Malkhut is often associated with the Shekhinah (Divine Presence), receiving the light from above and distributing it into reality.
- Parallel to Eden’s Four Rivers
- This imagery echoes Genesis 2:10, where a single river from Eden splits into four branches, symbolising the flow of divine sustenance into the world.
- In Sefer Yetzirah, rivers represent the transmission of divine wisdom and energy from higher realms.
4. Bereshith as Bara-Shith — “He Created Six”
A major mystical revelation in this passage is the breakdown of Bereshith into Bara-Shith (“He created six”).
- Numerical and Structural Significance
- The division into “He created six” aligns with the six lower Sefirot that sustain existence.
- This indicates that the entire cosmos is structured upon these six divine forces.
- Creation as a Structured Process
- The phrase “He created six” signifies that divine creation was not chaotic but followed a structured, hierarchical order.
- This corresponds to the Etz Chaim (Tree of Life), where the six Sefirot act as channels guiding divine energy downward.
5. The Mysterious Unknown as the Ultimate Source
The passage concludes by stating that “Who created them? The Mysterious Unknown.”
- The Hidden God (Ein Sof)
- In Kabbalah, Ein Sof (the Infinite) is beyond comprehension and cannot be directly named.
- This reinforces the idea that while creation is structured, its ultimate source remains unknowable.
- Use of Mi (“Who?”) as a Divine Name
- The term Mi (מִי, “Who?”) is often used in Kabbalah as a name for God in His hidden aspect.
- This mirrors Isaiah 40:26: “Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these?”
- The divine remains a mystery, and even though it manifests in structured forms, its essence is beyond human grasp.
Conclusion: A Mystical Blueprint of Creation
This passage from The Zohar offers a profound Kabbalistic interpretation of creation, using the word Bereshith as a key to unlocking divine mysteries.
- Creation Begins with Wisdom — The world originates from Chochmah (divine wisdom), showing that creation is intentional and structured.
- Six Directions Define Reality — The six Sefirot shape existence, mirroring divine governance over all dimensions.
- Flow of Divine Energy — The rivers flowing into the Great Sea illustrate how divine sustenance moves through the universe.
- Numerical Mysticism in Bereshith — The phrase Bara-Shith (“He created six”) encodes the foundation of creation within the word itself.
- God as the Mysterious Unknown — The ultimate source remains unknowable, reinforcing the Kabbalistic theme that divine essence transcends human comprehension.
Through its intricate symbolism and linguistic analysis, this passage transforms the first word of Genesis into a gateway for contemplating the entire structure of divine creation.
