sefirot | Definition, Meaning, & Facts | Britannica

sefirot, also spelled sephiroth, singular sefira or sephira, in the speculations of esoteric Jewish mysticism (Kabbala), the 10 emanations, or powers, ... sefirot Sections Article Introduction&QuickFacts FastFacts RelatedContent AdditionalInfo MoreArticlesOnThisTopic Contributors ArticleHistory Home Philosophy&Religion ReligiousBeliefs sefirot Judaism Alternatetitles:sefira,sephira,sephiroth Print Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/sefirot More GiveFeedback ExternalWebsites Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). FeedbackType Selectatype(Required) FactualCorrection Spelling/GrammarCorrection LinkCorrection AdditionalInformation Other YourFeedback SubmitFeedback Thankyouforyourfeedback Oureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle. JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork! ExternalWebsites JewishEncyclopedia.com-TheTenSefirot By TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannica | ViewEditHistory sefirot,alsospelledsephiroth,singularsefiraorsephira,inthespeculationsofesotericJewishmysticism(Kabbala),the10emanations,orpowers,bywhichGodtheCreatorwassaidtobecomemanifest.TheconceptfirstappearedintheSeferYetzira(“BookofCreation”),asthe10idealnumbers.InthedevelopmentofKabbalisticliterature,theideawasexpandedandelaboratedtodenotethe10stagesofemanationfromEnSof(theInfinite;theunknowableGod),bywhichGodtheCreatorcanbediscerned.EachsefirareferstoanaspectofGodasCreator;therhythmbywhichonesefiraunfoldstoanotherwasbelievedtorepresenttherhythmofcreation.Themysticalnatureofthesefirotandtheprecisewayinwhichtheyfunctionwereoftendisputed.Kabbalistsusedthemasoneoftheirprincipalsubjectsofmysticalcontemplation,despitevigorouscriticismthatsuchspeculationswereimplicitlyheretical.Theindividualsefirotareketerʿelyon(“supremecrown”),ḥalhma(“wisdom”),bina(“intelligence”),ḥesed(“love”),gevura(“might”),tifʾeret(“beauty”),netzah(“eternity”),hod(“majesty”),yesod(“foundation”),andmalkhut(“kingship”).Thesefirothavealsobeencalledbyothernames,themostpopularbeing“crowns,”“attributes,”“principles,”and“steps.”Thoughoftenarrangedintriadstoformaright,left,andmiddlepillar,arrangementsvaried. TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannica ThisarticlewasmostrecentlyrevisedandupdatedbyAdamAugustyn. LearnMoreintheserelatedBritannicaarticles: Judaism:Seferyetzira …the10numbers(sefirot,singularsefira)ofdecimalnotationandthe22lettersoftheHebrewalphabet.The10numbersarenotunderstoodmerelyasarithmeticalsymbols:theyarecosmologicalfactors—thefirstofwhich,signifiedbythemultiplyambiguoustermruaḥ,isthespiritofGod,whilethenineothers… Judaism:ThemakingoftheZohar(c.1260–1492) …ofthelevelsofthesefirottoeachotherandtotheextra-divineworld.Themythoftheprimordialman(AdamQadmon),avirtuallydivinebeing,reappearedhereunderanewform,anditremainedinthesubsequentdevelopmentofKabbala.… MosesDeLeón …of10descendingemanations,orsefirot(e.g.,“love”ofGod,“beauty”ofGod,and“kingdom”ofGod).InadditiontotheinfluenceofNeoplatonism,theZoharalsoshowsevidenceoftheinfluenceofJosephGikatilla,amedievalSpanishKabbalistthoughttohavebeenafriendofMosesdeLeón.Gikatilla’s…