זוהר, יתרו י״אZohar, Yitro 11

Segment 1א׳

אוּף אִינּוּן פָּתְחוּ וְאָמְרוּ, כְּתִיב (יחזקאל א׳:ח׳) וִידֵי אָדָם מִתַּחַת כַּנְפֵיהֶם, הַאי קְרָא אוּקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָּיא, דְּאִינּוּן יְדִין לְקַבְּלָא מָארִיהוֹן דִתִיוּבְתָּא דְּתָבָאָן לְגַבֵּי (נ"א לקבל) קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. אֲבָל יְדֵי אָדָם, אִלֵּין אִינּוּן דְּיּוּקְנִין וְרָזִין עִלָּאִין, דְּשַׁוִּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּבַר נָשׁ, וְסִדֵּר לוֹן בְּאֶצְבְּעָן לְבַר וּלְגוֹ. וּבְהַהוּא כַּ"ף.

They too discoursed on the verse: “And they had the hands of a man under their wings” (Ezek. 1, 8). This verse the Companions have explained: those hands are stretched out to receive the penitent, who return to the Holy One, blessed be He. But “the hands of a man” — these are the forms and the supernal mysteries which the Holy One, blessed be He, set in man, and which He ordered in the fingers, without and within, and in that Kaph.

Segment 2ב׳

וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כַּד בָּרָא לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ, סִדֵר בֵּיהּ, כָּל דִּיּוּקְנִין דְּרָזִין עִלָּאִין, דְּעָלְמָא דִּלְעֵילָּא, וְכָל דִּיּוּקְנִין דְּרָזִין תַּתָּאִין, דְּעָלְמָא דִּלְתַתָּא, וְכֹלָּא מִתְחַקְּקָא בְּבַּר נָשׁ, דְּאִיהוּ קָאִים בְּצֶלֶם אֱלהִים, בְּגִין דְּאִקְרֵי יְצִיר כַּ"ף.

What, then, is man? Does he consist solely of skin, flesh, bones and sinews? Nay, the essence of man is his soul; the skin, flesh, bones and sinews are but an outward covering, the mere garments, but they are not the man. When man departs (from this world) he divests himself of all these garments. The skin with which he covers himself, and all these bones and sinews, all have a symbolism in the mystery of the Supernal Wisdom, corresponding to that which is above.

Segment 3ג׳

וְרָזָא דְּכַ"ף, דְּאָת דָּא דְּאִקְרֵי כַּ"ף, דִּכְתִּיב, (בראשית א׳:כ״ז) וַיִּבְרָא אֱלהִים אֶת הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ, דָּא אִיהוּ רָזָא דְּאָת כַּ"ף. אָת דָּא, אִית בֵּיהּ רָזִין עִלָּאִין, וְדִיּוּקְנִין עִלָּאִין. בְּהַאי כַּ"ף תַּלְיָין עֶשֶׂר אֲמִירָן מִימִינָא וּמִשְּׂמָאלָא, חָמֵשׁ מִימִינָא, וְחָמֵשׁ מִשְּׂמָאלָא, וְאִינּוּן חַד בְּרָזָא חֲדָא.

The symbolism of the skin is as the Master has taught us in connection with the words: “Who stretchest out the heaven like a curtain” (Ps. 104, 2); and again: “Rams’ skins, dyed red, and badgers’ skins” (Ex. 25, 5, in connection with the tabernacle). These skins are a garment which protects a garment, viz. the extension of the heavens, which is the outer garment (of the Divine). The curtains (of the Tabernacle) are the inner garments; corresponding to the skin upon the flesh. The bones and the sinews symbolize the Chariots and the celestial Hosts, which are inward. All these are garments upon that which is inward; which also is the mystery of the Supernal Man, who is the innermost.