Section: The World of Nekudim (Openings 36–50)
Op. 39 said Nekudim is the single material from which all divides. Op. 40 traces how that division proceeds. Two parts: (Part 1) The general material divides into details in two moments. First: a single general basic foundation — Atzilut with its three garments. At this stage, only the essential/secondary distinction is established (Atzilut = essential; B/Y/A = secondary), not yet the individual details within each. The general material is like a seed containing the entire tree's tiniest details while still formless; the first foundation is not an undifferentiated generality but contains only the essential-vs-secondary distinction. The lights of Nekudim are specifically lights of SaG of SaG emerging from AK's eyes — they came after AV of SaG (= lights of Ears/Nose/Mouth from Op. 33-35), and from SaG of SaG emerged the lowest aspect (BaN of SaG of SaG). Second moment: control passes successively to each garment by itself — only then are they called the three worlds of Beriyah, Yetzirah, Asiyah. Cross-refs Op. 31 and Op. 38 explicitly: whatever is given power by itself acquires its own name and reveals its powers separately; when secondary, it is not called by a separate name. (Part 2) Re-reading the proposition: Atzilut is the initial preparation of everything; BYA execute and actualize Atzilut's functions, each according to its level (Y produces less power than B; A < Y < B on scale, but each also has its own unique aspects — e.g., Yetzirah's angels). Critical concluding claim: literally nothing new is added in BYA — anything they contain is only a derivative of something already included as a facet of Atzilut.
This chapter completes a structural mini-arc: Op. 38 said ABYA = one world with three garments; Op. 39 said Nekudim = single material from which all divides; Op. 40 says here is HOW the division proceeds — Atzilut first, then BYA.
Part 1 — How the general material divides. First moment: a general basic foundation emerges — Atzilut with its three garments — establishing only the essential/secondary distinction. Lights: Nekudim-lights = SaG of SaG from AK's eyes; came after AV of SaG (Ears/Nose/Mouth); from SaG of SaG emerged BaN of SaG of SaG. The general material is like a seed (contains all details while still formless); the first foundation is not undifferentiated — it has one aspect essential, others secondary. Second moment: control passes successively to each garment by itself — only then are they called worlds of B/Y/A.
Part 2 — Why Atzilut is the root. Atzilut performs initial preparation of all that must exist; BYA execute and actualize Atzilut's functions, each according to its level (B > Y > A on the scale). Each also has unique aspects (Yetzirah's angels). Nothing new is added in BYA — they are derivatives of facets already in Atzilut.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
תחילת התפרטות עולם הנקודים לפרטיו:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> The connection of Beriyah, Yetzirah and Asiyah with Atzilut at their root in Nekudim Plain English: Theme: how B, Y, A connect with Atzilut at their root in Nekudim.
Concepts: world_of_nekudim, atzilut, beriyah, yetzirah, asiyah.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
זה החומר הכללי היה לו ליחלק לפרטיו, ואז ראשית הכל היה המונח הכללי, ונקרא אצילות עם שלושה לבושיו. ואחר כך היה מגיע שליטה לכל לבוש בפני עצמו, והיו נקראים שלוש עולמות בי"ע. כי האצילות מתוקן בתיקוניו הוא שורש הכל. ובי"ע - מוציאי תולדות האצילות, כל אחד מוציא תולדה בפני עצמו הראוי לו. וכולם אינם אלא תולדות מה שיש באצילות כבר:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> This general material had to divide up into its constituent details, and then, first of all, there was the general basic foundation, which is called Atzilut with its three garments. Afterwards, control passed successively to each garment by itself, and they were called the three worlds of Beriyah, Yetzirah and Asiyah. For Atzilut, as arranged with its proper repairs and adornments, is the root of everything, while Beriyah, Yetzirah and Asiyah serve to bring forth the offshoots of Atzilut. Each one individually brings forth the offshoot suited to it, and all of them are merely offshoots of what already exists in Atzilut. Plain English: Six-claim proposition: (1) general material had to divide; (2) first: general basic foundation = Atzilut + three garments; (3) afterwards: control passes to each garment by itself = the three worlds B/Y/A; (4) Atzilut = root of everything; (5) BYA = bring forth offshoots of Atzilut, each according to its level; (6) all of them = only offshoots of what already exists in Atzilut.
Concepts: atzilut, beriyah, yetzirah, asiyah, one_world_three_garments, first_division_essence_secondary.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
אחר שנתבאר איך עולם הנקודים הוא חומר אחד שצריך ליחלק לפרטיו, עכשיו נבאר מה ששייך בענין התחלקו לפרטים:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Having explained how the world of Nekudim is one material that has to divide up into its details, we will now discuss how it divides up. Plain English: Op. 39 said that it is one material; Op. 40 explains how it divides.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלקי המאמר הזה ב'. ח"א, זה החומר הכללי, והוא ההנחה בכלל בענין התחלקות החומר לפרטים. ח"ב, כי האצילות וכו',**** והוא ביאור וטעם וה הענין:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> The proposition consists of two parts. Part 1: This general material... This is the general principle relating to the division of the material into its details. Part 2: For Atzilut... This explains the reason behind this. Plain English: Two parts: (1) division principle; (2) reason behind it.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק א: זה החומר הכללי היה לו ליחלק לפרטיו, כי התחלת המציאות הוא החומר לבדו. אחר כך צריך שינתן מציאות לכל פרט בפני עצמו, לפי הענין והצורה הראויה לו, כנ"ל:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Part 1: This general material had to divide up into its constituent details... For at the start of existence there was only the material. Afterwards (in the repair), it was necessary to give existence to each detail by itself (i.e. to each Partzuf in accordance with its unique aspect) in accordance with its function and its appropriate form. Plain English: At start: only the material. Afterwards (in the repair): existence given to each detail by itself — each Partzuf according to its unique aspect, function, and appropriate form.
Concepts: tikkun_repair, partzuf.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ואז ראשית הכל היה המונח הכללי - החומר הראשון הזה הוא כלל אורות הס"ג היוצאים מן העינים, שמהם אנחנו מדברים.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...and then, first of all, there was the general basic foundation... This first material consists of all the lights of SaG emerging from the eyes of Adam Kadmon, for these are what we are discussing. (The lights of Nekudim are the lights of SaG of SaG, which came after the lights of the Ears, Nose and Mouth, these being AV of SaG. From SaG of SaG emerged the lowest aspect – BaN of SaG of SaG.) Plain English: First material = all the lights of SaG emerging from the eyes of AK. Specifically: Nekudim-lights = SaG of SaG, which came after the lights of Ears, Nose, Mouth (= AV of SaG). From SaG of SaG emerged the lowest aspect — BaN of SaG of SaG.
Concepts: sag_expansion, av_expansion, ban_expansion, lights_of_eyes, lights_of_ears, lights_of_nose, lights_of_mouth, sag_of_sag_lights, ban_of_sag_of_sag, world_of_nekudim.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
וכדי להשתלם יציאת כל פרט מן החומר הזה, צריך שימצאו כל הנמצאים העליונים והתחתונים, כי החומר הוא חומר לכל, כנ"ל. אך ענין הראשון מה שצריך לצאת בהתפרט החומר לפי ענין השתלשלות ההנהגה, הוא, כח אחד כללי שיכלול הכל כאחד, אך שחלק מן הפרטים האלה שנכללים בו יהיו בדרך עיקר, והשאר טפלים אליו להשלים ענינו.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> In order to ensure the complete emergence of every detail from this material, it was necessary that all the entities that exist in the upper and lower realms be included, for it was from this material or substance that they were all made, as stated earlier. However, the first thing that had to emerge as the material began to divide into its particulars according to the unfolding sequence of the governmental order was a single, overall, general power that would include everything as one. Some of the details included in this would be there as the essence (i.e. Atzilut) while the others (i.e. Beriyah, Yetzirah and Asiyah) would be secondary to it in order to enable it to fulfill its purpose. Plain English: For complete emergence: all upper-and-lower entities must be included (since all were made from this substance). The first thing to emerge as the material began to divide: a single overall general power including everything as one. Some details = essence (Atzilut); others = secondary (BYA) to enable Atzilut to fulfill its purpose.
Concepts: first_division_essence_secondary, atzilut, beriyah, yetzirah, asiyah, world_of_nekudim.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
וכל זה נקרא רק פרט אחד, שהרי אין ענין זה נשלם אלא בחק אחד לעיקר, והאחרים לטפלים לו. ותראה מה שבין המונח הזה לחומר הכללי. החומר הכללי הוא כולל כל החוקים וכל הנמצאים, לפי [מה] שהם מושלמים בכל תנאיהם, וזה המונח - אינו בכלל, אלא ענין אחד בדרך עיקר, והאחר טפל להשלים ענינו:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> This entire initial division within the overall material is called only a single detail, for the overall purpose is accomplished (i.e. after the repair) precisely through the institution of a single law as the foundation, with the others being secondary to it. (What was determined here was only which one is fundamental and which are secondary, not the individual details contained in each one.) See the difference between this basic foundation (the establishment of what is fundamental and what is secondary) and the general material. The general material includes all the laws of government and all the creations complete with everything they require (just as the seed contains the tiniest details of the complete tree), whereas this basic foundation is not an undifferentiated generality. Rather, it consists of one aspect as the essential root while the other is secondary to it and comes to complete its purpose. (The general material contains all the individual details while at the stage of formless material – just as the seed contains all the details of the tree – whereas the first foundation includes only the category of essential/secondary.) Plain English: This initial division = only a single detail. Overall purpose accomplished after the repair by one law as foundation with others secondary. What was determined: only which is fundamental and which are secondary — not the individual details. Distinction: General material = all laws and all creations complete with everything they require (like a seed containing the whole tree). First foundation = not an undifferentiated generality; only one aspect essential, others secondary. (General material at the stage of formless material; first foundation at the stage of essential/secondary category.)
Concepts: first_division_essence_secondary, nekudim_as_substance, tikkun_repair.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ונקרא אצילות עם שלושה לבושיו, והיינו אצילות הוא העיקר, וג' לבושים הם הטפלים, ואחריהם נמשכים גם הנפרדים:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...which is called Atzilut with its three garments. Thus Atzilut is primary, while its three garments are secondary, and the separate creations follow them. Plain English: Atzilut = primary; three garments = secondary; separate creations = follow them.
Concepts: atzilut, one_world_three_garments, garments_as_concealing_veils, nifradim_separate_creations.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ואחר כך היה מגיע שליטה לכל לבוש בפני עצמו, וזהו תשלום ענין החומר הכללי, שהוא כולל כל החלקים לפי מה שהם, ונכלל בזה להיות כל לבוש שולט בפני עצמו ועושה את שלו. שכל מה שהוא עושה - אינו אלא תנאי אחד ממה שנבחן בכללות ההנהגה, שהוא האצילות עם כללות ענפיו:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Afterwards, control passed successively to each garment by itself... This completes the function of the general material, which includes all the different parts in accordance with their intrinsic nature. This includes the provision that each garment should rule by itself and do what is in its power. (This is also part of the overall governmental order leading to the ultimate purpose, and is therefore included in the general material.) For everything the garment does is merely one necessary provision included with everything else that can be discerned in the totality of the governmental order constituted by Atzilut with all its branches. Plain English: Afterwards, control passes to each garment by itself. This completes the function of the general material (which includes all parts according to intrinsic nature). Provision: each garment should rule by itself. Each garment's action is one necessary provision in the totality of the governmental order — Atzilut with all its branches.
Concepts: control_passes_to_each_garment, garments_as_concealing_veils, hanhagah_governmental_order.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
והיו נקראים ג' עולמות בי"ע, והיינו כמ"ש כבר למעלה, כי כל מה שניתן לו שליטה בפני עצמו קונה שם בפני עצמו, ומגלה כחותיו בפני עצמם, כי מה שכשהוא נטפל לאחרים אינו נקרא בשם בפני עצמו, אלא כמו חלק קטן מן האחרים שהוא נכלל בהם:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...and they were called the three worlds of Beriyah, Yetzirah and Asiyah. As already mentioned earlier (Openings 31 & 38), everything which is given power and control by itself acquires its own name and reveals its powers separately. However, when it is secondary to others, it is not called by a separate name but is considered as merely a small part of the others in which it is included. Plain English: Naming-principle (cross-ref Op. 31 and 38): whatever is given power and control by itself acquires its own name and reveals its powers separately. When secondary, no separate name — considered merely a small part of the others in which it is included.
Concepts: power_revealed_separately, beriyah, yetzirah, asiyah.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק ב: כי האצילות מתוקן בתיקוניו. שלעשות פעולותיו - צריך כל מה שיש בו, וגם שיהיה לבוש במלבושיו: הוא שורש הכל, שאצילות ענינו הוא - הכנת כל הדברים בתחלה, בבחינת כל המדרגות ותיקוניהם, הצריכים להמצא:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Part 2: For Atzilut, as arranged with its proper repairs and adornments... In order to perform its functions, it requires everything that is in it, and also that it be clothed in its garments. ...is the root of everything... For the function of Atzilut is the initial preparation of everything that has to exist with all their different levels and all their various institutions and repairs. Plain English: Part 2: Atzilut as arranged with proper repairs/adornments. To perform its functions: requires everything in it AND that it be clothed in garments. Root of everything: Atzilut's function is the initial preparation of all that has to exist — all levels, institutions, repairs.
Concepts: atzilut, tikkun_repair, dmut_adam.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ובי"ע - מוציאי תולדות האצילות, שזהו גדרם של בי"ע ממש - להוציא פעולות האצילות: כל אחד מוציא תולדה בפני עצמו הראוי לו, והיינו שלפי מהות העולמות בבחינת תיקוניהם ומציאותם - הם מוציאים מן האצילות פעולות לפועל. והדברים הולכים בהדרגה, כי כח מה שמוציאה היצירה הוא פחות משל בריאה. אך מלבד ההדרגה, יש להם ענינים כל אחד מוציא תולדה בפני עצמו, אלא שכוחם הוא הנבחן בערך ההדרגה:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...while Beriyah, Yetzirah and Asiyah serve to bring forth the offshoots of Atzilut. This is the defining quality of Beriyah, Yetzirah and Asiyah – that they execute the functions of Atzilut. Each one individually brings forth the offshoot suited to it... i.e. they execute and actualize the functions of Atzilut, each world according to its individual nature, institutions and level of existence. And things proceed stage by stage on a scale, for the power produced by Yetzirah is less than that produced by Beriyah. But besides their different levels, each has its own individual aspects and produces offshoots in accordance with its intrinsic nature. (For example, besides the fact that Yetzirah in itself is a level lower than that of Beriyah, it has its own unique aspects, such as angels.) But their strength is considered on a relative scale. Plain English: Defining quality of BYA: they execute Atzilut's functions. Each: brings forth offshoot suited to itself, according to its nature, institutions, level. Scale: Yetzirah's power less than Beriyah's; A < Y < B. But also: each has its own unique aspects — e.g., Yetzirah-and-angels — beyond mere position on the scale. Strength considered on relative scale.
Concepts: beriyah, yetzirah, asiyah, nifradim_separate_creations.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
וכולם אינם אלא תולדות מה שיש כאצילות כבר, שאין נוסף מהם שום דבר חדש ממש, אלא המשכת איזה ענין מעניני האצילות:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...and all of them are merely offshoots of what already exists in Atzilut. For literally nothing new is added to them and anything they contain is only a derivative of something included as a facet of Atzilut. Plain English: Literally nothing new added. Anything BYA contain = only a derivative of something already a facet of Atzilut.
Concepts: atzilut, garments_as_concealing_veils.
Op. 40 completes a three-chapter mini-arc on the structure of Nekudim's relation to ABYA. Op. 38 defined ABYA as one world with three garments. Op. 39 defined Nekudim as the single material from which all divides. Op. 40 now traces how that division proceeds: in two moments. First: a general basic foundation — Atzilut with its three garments — establishes only the essential/secondary distinction (not yet individual details). The general material is like a seed (all the tree's details, while still formless); the first foundation is not undifferentiated — it has one aspect essential, others secondary. The lights at this stage are specifically SaG of SaG from AK's eyes — coming after the AV-of-SaG lights of Ears/Nose/Mouth — and from SaG of SaG emerged the lowest aspect, BaN of SaG of SaG (the chapter's most consequential forward-reference: this is the aspect most exposed to the coming break). Second moment: control passes successively to each garment by itself — only then are they named the three worlds of Beriyah, Yetzirah, Asiyah. The naming-principle (Op. 31, Op. 38): whatever is given own power gets own name; when secondary, no separate name. Atzilut's function: initial preparation of everything; BYA's defining quality: execute and actualize Atzilut's functions, each according to its level (B > Y > A) and its own unique aspects (e.g., Yetzirah-and-angels). The chapter's last claim, returning to Op. 38's body-and-garments analogy: literally nothing new is added in BYA — anything they contain is only a derivative of something already a facet of Atzilut.
first_division_essence_secondary, sag_of_sag_lights, ban_of_sag_of_sag, control_passes_to_each_garment, power_revealed_separately.Op. 40 specifies how the general material of Nekudim divides — two moments: essential/secondary first; then control passes; SaG of SaG / BaN of SaG of SaG. The chapter forecasts Op. 31, 38.