Part 5 · Chapter 23

The Ari's Text

These four phases are the actual four letters HaVaYaH. The Yod-Vav are two phases of expansion, and the Hey-Hey are two phases of departure. You already know that the name HaVaYaH begins only from Hochma downward. The reason is that these four phases belong only to Hochma and under, but Keter contains only two phases. And correspondingly, it is called Yod-Hey, Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey. This is the meaning of, “For in Koh [Yod-Hey] is the Lord [HaVaYaH], an everlasting rock.” This is because He first began to picture and create the world in them. This is the meaning of Akudim, which are the Yod-Hey HaVaYaH, since Yod-Hey in Keter, HaVaYaH in all the other Partzufim.

Inner Light

This commentary hasn't been matched to individual seifim yet — items are shown in reading order, and the number beside each one counts the notes themselves, not the seifim of the Ari's text.

Not matched to a seif

1The Yod-Vavare two Behinot Hitpashtut, and the Heys are two Behinot Histalkut. The first Hitpashtut is the Yod; the second Hitpashtut is the Vav. The first Histalkut is the First Heyand the second Histalkut is the last Hey.
2HaVaYaH begins only from Hochma downward. It is known that the Yod means Hochma, Vav means ZA, the First Hey means Bina and the last Heymeans Malchut. Keter, however, is not implied in the four Otiot, except in the tip of the Yod. This is so for the reason that the Rav explains below.