Zeir Anpin
Encyclopedia
Zeir Anpin is a revealed aspect of God
in Kabbalah
, comprising the emotional sephirot attributes: Chesed
, Geburah, Tiphereth, Netzach, Hod
and Yesod.
The Zohar
's imagery expoundes its role in Creation, where it is the microscopic equivalent of Arich Anpin
(Macroprosopus) in the Sephirotic tree of life
. The Siphra Dtzenioutha portrays it as the revealed face of God, and the Idra Rabba elaborates on the Kabbalistic significance of its several attributes. Its Tetragrammaton
is IHVH (יהוה), the traditional name of God in Judaism
. In 16th century Lurianic doctrine it becomes systemised as one of the 6 Primary Partzufim
Divine Personae, as part of the cosmic process of Tikkun Rectification.
Divine infinite. Nukvah ("Female" of Zeir Anpin) is the indwelling immanent Shechinah (Divine Presence) within Creation, the concealed Divine Elokim
Divine finitude. In Medieval Kabbalah, the sin of Adam
, as well as any later sin, introduced apparent separation (perceived from Creation) between the two, bringing exile and constriction on High. The task of man is restoring union (Yichud) to the Male and Female Divine manifestations, "for the sake of the union of the Holy One Blessed be He, and His Shechinah".
In Lurianic Kabbalah, the origin of disharmony in the Sephirot is located earlier in the collapse of the Realm of Tohu, though later sin brings further exile. The task of man, while also affecting Male-Female union on High, involves Messianic redemption of the exiled "Sparks of Holiness" (Birur) from Tohu that are scattered in Physical existence. Birur becomes the inner dimension of Yichud.
God in Judaism
The conception of God in Judaism is strictly monotheistic. God is an absolute one indivisible incomparable being who is the ultimate cause of all existence. Jewish tradition teaches that the true aspect of God is incomprehensible and unknowable, and that it is only God's revealed aspect that...
in Kabbalah
Kabbalah
Kabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
, comprising the emotional sephirot attributes: Chesed
Chesed
The Hebrew noun khesed or chesed is the Hebrew word for "kindness." It is also commonly translated as "loving-kindness," or "love." Love is a central Jewish value, and leads to many particular commandments. Chesed is central to Jewish ethics and Jewish theology...
, Geburah, Tiphereth, Netzach, Hod
Hod
Hod or HOD may refer to:*Brick hod, a long-handled box for carrying bricks or mortar*Hod, term for a Coal scuttle, bucket-like container for carrying coalPlaces*Hod Hill, an archaeological site in Dorset, England...
and Yesod.
The Zohar
Zohar
The Zohar is the foundational work in the literature of Jewish mystical thought known as Kabbalah. It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the Torah and scriptural interpretations as well as material on Mysticism, mythical cosmogony, and mystical psychology...
's imagery expoundes its role in Creation, where it is the microscopic equivalent of Arich Anpin
Arich Anpin
Arich/Arikh Anpin is an aspect of Divine emanation in Kabbalah, identified with the sephirah attribute of Keter, the Divine Will....
(Macroprosopus) in the Sephirotic tree of life
Tree of life
The concept of a tree of life, a many-branched tree illustrating the idea that all life on earth is related, has been used in science , religion, philosophy, mythology, and other areas...
. The Siphra Dtzenioutha portrays it as the revealed face of God, and the Idra Rabba elaborates on the Kabbalistic significance of its several attributes. Its Tetragrammaton
Tetragrammaton
The term Tetragrammaton refers to the name of the God of Israel YHWH used in the Hebrew Bible.-Hebrew Bible:...
is IHVH (יהוה), the traditional name of God in Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. In 16th century Lurianic doctrine it becomes systemised as one of the 6 Primary Partzufim
Partzufim
Partzufim/Partsufim , meaning Divine "Personae/Visages/Faces/Forms/Configurations", are particular reconfigured arrangements of the 10 sephirot Divine attributes/emanations of Kabbalah into harmonised interactions in Creation. Their names derive from mystical discourses in the Zohar, the...
Divine Personae, as part of the cosmic process of Tikkun Rectification.
Uniting Zeir Anpin-Short Face with Nukvah-Female
Zeir Anpin, and its counterpart of the emotional sephirot centred around Tiferet (Beauty), is the transcendent revelation of God to Creation, "The Holy One Blessed Be He", a perceptible manifestation of the essential TetragrammatonTetragrammaton
The term Tetragrammaton refers to the name of the God of Israel YHWH used in the Hebrew Bible.-Hebrew Bible:...
Divine infinite. Nukvah ("Female" of Zeir Anpin) is the indwelling immanent Shechinah (Divine Presence) within Creation, the concealed Divine Elokim
Elohim
Elohim is a grammatically singular or plural noun for "god" or "gods" in both modern and ancient Hebrew language. When used with singular verbs and adjectives elohim is usually singular, "god" or especially, the God. When used with plural verbs and adjectives elohim is usually plural, "gods" or...
Divine finitude. In Medieval Kabbalah, the sin of Adam
Adam
Adam is a figure in the Book of Genesis. According to the creation myth of Abrahamic religions, he is the first human. In the Genesis creation narratives, he was created by Yahweh-Elohim , and the first woman, Eve was formed from his rib...
, as well as any later sin, introduced apparent separation (perceived from Creation) between the two, bringing exile and constriction on High. The task of man is restoring union (Yichud) to the Male and Female Divine manifestations, "for the sake of the union of the Holy One Blessed be He, and His Shechinah".
In Lurianic Kabbalah, the origin of disharmony in the Sephirot is located earlier in the collapse of the Realm of Tohu, though later sin brings further exile. The task of man, while also affecting Male-Female union on High, involves Messianic redemption of the exiled "Sparks of Holiness" (Birur) from Tohu that are scattered in Physical existence. Birur becomes the inner dimension of Yichud.