SEFER YETZIRAH (On Nothingness) 10= (3+7+12=22) The Hebrew word here is Beli-mah. This word can also be translated as meaning closed, abstract, absolute or ineffable. This word occurs only once in scripture, in the verse, He stretches the north on Chaos, He hangs the earth on Nothingness (Beli-mah) (Job 26:7). According to many commentaries, the word Beli-mah is derived from the two words, Beli, meaning without, and Mah, meaning what or anything. The word Beli-mah would then mean without anything. or nothingness. According to this interpretation, the designation Sefirot of Nothingness is used to indicate that the Sefirot are purely ideal concepts, without any substance whatever. Unlike letters which have form and sound, the Sefirot have no intrinsic physical properties. As such, they are purely conceptual. Other sources state that Belimah comes from the root Balam, meaning to bridle. This is found in the verse, Do not be like a horse or mule, who do not understand, whose mouth must be bridled (balam) with bit and rein (Psalms 32:9) This second interpretation seems to be indicated by the Sefer Yetzirah itself, since it later says, Bridle (balom) your mouth from speaking of them. (1:8). According to this, Belimah would be translated as ineffable. The text is speaking of Ten Ineffable Sefirot, indicating that they cannot be described in any manner whatever. Similarly, the bible verse, He hangs the earth on the ineffable, would mean that the forces which uphold creation cannot be described.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 04:12:21 +0000
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