Philosophy:Anthropomorphism/2

Anthropomorphism

Exegetical Approaches

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Hashem Can Be Corporeal¹

Sources:Merkavah Shelemah Shiur KomahMerkavah Shelemah Shiur Komah,² RashiShemot 7:4About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki,³ R. Moshe TakuKetav Tamim (printed in Otzar Nechmad), scholars cited by RaavadHilkhot Teshuvah 3:7About R. Avraham b. David, scholars cited by R. Avraham b. HaRambamMilchamot HaSham pp. 48-75About R. Avraham Maimonides

Anthropomorphic verses – According to this approach it is expected that Tanakh should talk about Hashem as if he has a body.

Hashem is limited

"וְאֶל מִי תְדַמְּיוּנִי"

Seeing Hashem

Bereshit 1:26-27 – R. Moshe Taku cites these verses a proof that Hashem has a body.

Hashem Is Not Corporeal

Sources:R. Saadia GaonHaEmunot VeHaDeiot 2in Otzar HaGeonim Berakhot 6bAbout R. Saadia Gaon, R. Sherira GaonOtzar HaGeonim Chagigah 11b, R. Hai GaonOtzar HaGeonim Berakhot 59a, R. Yehuda HaLeviKuzari 1:88-89About R. Yehuda HaLevi, Ibn EzraShemot First Commentary 33:18Shemot Second Commentary 33:21About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, R. Yosef Bekhor ShorBereshit 1:26About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, RambamHilkhot Yesodei HaTorah 1:5Hilkhot Yesodei HaTorah 1:7-12Hilkhot Yesodei HaTorah 2:4Hilkhot Teshuvah 3:7Moreh Nevukhim 1:1Moreh Nevukhim 1:27Moreh Nevukhim 1:36Iggeret Techiyat HaMetimAbout R. Moshe b. Maimon

Anthropomorphic verses – Rasag, Rambam and R. Yosef Albo all explain these verses as a figure of speech.  They render the purpose of using such language, as to simplify for the nation so they will be able to relate more easily to Hashem.

Seeing Hashem

• Hashem's glory – R. Saadia. All the prophets who saw Hashem just saw a bright light from where they heard Hashem. Moshe, who was on a different level, saw a larger light.
• Intellectual vision – R. Chananel. The prophets did not see any physical vision, rather "saw" Hashem in their hearts.

Bereshit 1:26-27 – The commentators suggest multiple ways of rereading these verses as not to imply that Hashem has an equivalent to a human body:

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¹ R. Saadia quotes "some people" who say that Hashem takes on a physical but not a human form, suggesting that he is either fire, air, space, or the like.

² It is disputed already by the Geonim if Shiur Komah holds authentic citations of R. Yishmael and R. Akiva or this was a later work attributed to them to gain popularity.  See Shaarei TeshuvahTeshuvot HaGeonim Shaarei Teshuvah 122 where R. Sherira Gaon and R. Hai Gaon say the work is original but we just don't understand it, and on the other hand the RambamShut HaRambam 117 who says they did not write it.

³ Rashi's stance on the issue is unclear.  See