The Zohar

Section

1. "And these are the names"
An explanation of the title verse proceeds from a discussion of the meaning of the quotation, "And they who are wise..." This, we learn, contains the secret of the Firmament, which illuminates the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life. Those imbued with supernal Wisdom - the internal and external angels, and the life giving souls born of the Tree of Life - inhabit the Tree, and these beings merit eternal life. The branches of the Tree spread over all forms and beings of Holiness, and the fruit of the Tree gives life to all. The side of Impurity, however, does not dwell in the Tree of Life, and derives no nourishment from it. There follows a description of the splendor of the Tree, which ascends to great heights, and the one radiation in the Tree, which contains the colors white, red and green. Rising in direct light and descending in returning light, these colors come to rest only in the Tree. From this Tree, the twelve Tribes of Israel went down into the exile of Egypt with the light that does not illuminate (Malchut), accompanied by multitudes of heavenly hosts.
The Relevance of this Passage
A reading of this section reveals the connectedness of all forms and beings of Holiness, including humans, animals, plant life, and even stars and constellations. We are reminded that there is a clear distinction between the sides of evil and purity, and it is incumbent on us to consciously position ourselves on the side of purity if we desire to merit the rewards of spiritual nourishment and everlasting life.


1. "And these are the names of the children of Yisrael who came into Egypt with Jacob, every man came with his household" (Shemot 1:1). "And they who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they who turn many to righteousness like the stars for ever and ever" (Daniel 12:3). "And they who are wise," are those who observe the secret of wisdom; "shall shine," means they illuminate and sparkle with the shine of supernal Chochmah; and "as the brightness," MEANS the brightness and sparkle of the river that emanates from Eden. This is the concealed secret that is called 'firmament'" for in it are located the stars and the constellations, the sun, WHICH IS THE ZEIR ANPIN, and moon, WHICH IS THE NUKVA, and all the candles that give light, WHICH ARE ALL THE LIGHTS THAT ARE IN THE WORLDS BRIYAH, YETZIRAH AND ASIYAH.
2. The brightness of this firmament illuminates the garden, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and the Tree of Life, WHICH IS TIFERET, stands in the center of the garden - THAT IS, IN THE CENTRAL COLUMN. Its branches, ITS SFIROT, cover all forms, NEFASHOT, trees, RUCHOT, and spices, NESHAMOT, in the garden that are in fitted vessels, MEANING THEY HAVE THREE COLUMNS, RIGHT, LEFT AND CENTRAL. And all the animals of the field, WHO ARE THE EXTERNAL ANGELS, find shelter in its shadow. And all the birds of heaven, THE INTERNAL ANGELS, sit under its branches.
3. The splendor of the fruits of the tree, WHICH ARE THE SOULS THAT ARE BORN FROM IT, gives life to all. It exists forever. The Other Side OF IMPURITY does not dwell in it, MEANING THAT THE OTHER SIDE HAS NO NOURISHMENT FROM THE TREE OF LIFE, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN IN GREATNESS. Only the side of holiness is nourished. Fortunate are those who taste from it, for they live eternally, AS IS WRITTEN: "AND HE WILL TAKE ALSO FROM THE TREE OF LIFE AND EAT AND WILL LIVE FOREVER" (BERESHEET 3:22). They are called 'Wise Ones' and merit life in this world and in the World to Come.
4. The splendor of this tree, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, rises higher, and higher. WHEN RISING it is a distance of 500 parasangs. WHEN RISING HIGHER, its spread is 600,000 parasangs. In this tree, there is one radiation, WHICH IS MALCHUT, in which body, all the colors - WHITE, RED, AND GREEN, WHICH ARE THE SECRET OF THE LIGHTS OF CHESED, GVURAH, AND TIFERET - are found. These colors rise IN OR YASHAR ('DIRECT LIGHT') and descend IN OR CHOZER ('RETURNING LIGHT'), and they do not settle in any place except in this tree BECAUSE IT IS THE SECRET OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN.
5. When THE LIGHTS emanate from it, FROM THE TREE, to appear in the glow that does not illuminate, THESE LIGHTS sometimes settle and SOMETIMES do not settle in it; they are sometimes found and sometimes not found, because they settle in no other place EXCEPT THIS TREE. From this tree emanated twelve tribes whose boundaries are therein contained. They descended in this splendor that does not illuminate, into the exile of Egypt with many supernal camps. This is the meaning of: "And these are the names of the children of Yisrael..."