זוהר, שלח לך ל״בZohar, Sh'lach 32

Segment 1א׳

אָמַר לֵיהּ רִבִּי (שמעון), חֲגוֹר זֵינָךְ, וְתָקִין גַּרְמָךְ, אִי תִּבְעֵי לְמִנְדַּע מִלִּין דְּשָׁארִית. אוֹ אִי תִּשְׁאַל בְּהָנֵי מִלִּין, אֵימָא לִי. אָמַר לֵיהּ ודַּאי, הָא יְדַעְנָא דְּבֵיתָאי שְׁכִיבַת, דְּלָא יְדַעְנָא מִנָּהּ כְּלוּם. וְחַבְרַיָּיא יַדְעִין. נָשִׁין מַאי טַעְמָא דַּעְתַּיְיהוּ קַלָּה.

He said to him: Rabbi (Simeon), gird your weapon and set yourself in order, if you want to know the words that I began; or if you would ask about these words, tell me. He said to him: Certainly. See, I know that my wife has died, and I know nothing of her, and the Companions know. Women — what is the reason that their understanding is light?

Segment 2ב׳

אָמַר לֵיהּ דַּעְתָּא אַתְיָא בְּשִׁית דַּרְגִּין, וְכָל חַד נָטִיל חוּלָקֵיהּ, מַה דְּאִשְׁתְּאַר, קַל אִיהוּ. אֲבָל יַקִּירָא דָּא, אִי לָאו דְּאֵשֶׁת כְּסִילוּת אִשְׁתְּתַּף בָּה. בְּמִלָּה דָּא לָא תִּשְׁאַל, דְּהָא יְדַעְנָא דְּלָאו עַל דְּבִיתָךְ שָׁאַלְתָּ, אֶלָּא עַל מַה דִּכְתִּיב, (ישעיהו י״ט:א׳) הִנֵּה יְיָ רוֹכֵב עַל עָב קַל. וְהַהוּא עָב קַל אִקְרֵי דַּעַת, מֵהַהִיא כַּלָּה יִרְאַת יְיָ, וְאִיהִי קַיְּימָא בְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא כְּגַוְונָא דְּדַעַת עִלָּאָה, אֲבָל (ועל דא) אִקְרֵי קַל. וְהָא יְדַעְנָא שְׁאֶלְתָּא דִּילָךְ מַאי הִיא.

He said to him: Understanding comes in six grades, and each one takes its portion; what is left is light. But this precious one, were it not that the woman of folly had partnered with her. On this matter do not ask, for I know that you did not ask about your wife, but about what is written, “Behold, the Lord rides upon a light cloud” (Isa. 19, 1). And that light cloud is called knowledge, from that bride, the fear of the Lord; and she stands in the middle, in the way of the supernal knowledge; but (and therefore) she is called light. And see, I know what your question is.