זוהר, תוספות כרך א ל״וZohar, Addenda, Volume I 36

Segment 1א׳

רַבִּי חִיָּיא אָמַר מֵעוֹלָם דָא הֲווּ, וְגוּבְרִין גִבָּרִין דְּסִטְרָא בִישָׁא הֲווּ, דִּכְתִיב אַנְשֵׁי הַשֵׁם. אַנְשֵׁי שֵׁם לָא כְּתִיב, אֶלָּא אַנְשֵׁי הַשֵׁם כְּגווָֹנָא דָא כְּתִיב, זְכוֹר רָחֲמֶיךָ יְיָ וַחֲסָדֶּיךָ כִּי מֵעוֹלָם הֵמָּה, מֵעוֹלָם וַדָּאי נָטַל לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְאִינוּן אֲבָהָן קַדְמָאֵי לְמֶהֱוֵי רְתִיכָא קַדִּישָׁא לְעֵילָא. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק מֵעוֹלָם דָא אִיהוּ מִטָּתוֹ שְׁלִשְׁלֹמָה דִּכְתִיב וְכוּ':

R. Hiya said: “Of old” — these they were; and they were mighty men of the evil side, as it is written, “the men of the Name.” It is not written “men of a name,” but “the men of the Name.” In this same manner it is written, “Remember, O Lord, Your compassions and Your mercies, for they have been from of old.” “From of old” — assuredly. The Holy One, blessed be He, took them, and they are the ancient patriarchs, to be a holy chariot above. R. Isaac said: “Of old” — this is “the litter of Solomon,” as it is written, and so forth.