Seeing Hashem/1

Seeing Hashem

Introduction

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To See or Not to See?

Hashem's revelation to mankind is a prevalent theme throughout Tanakh, but one which is shrouded in mystery.  Several verses speak of Hashem not only speaking to but also appearing to man.¹  Others speak of individuals who merit to "see Hashem," from the elders at Sinai about whom it is said "וַיִּרְאוּ אֵת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל"‎² to Michayhu,³ Yeshayahu,⁴ Yechezkel⁵ and Daniel⁶ who detail their visions of Hashem sitting on a throne. What, though, does it mean for Hashem to reveal Himself or for man to see the Divine? If Hashem has no corporeal form, what is there to see?  Moreover, does not Hashem Himself say that it is impossible for man to see Him and live?! In Shemot 33, He tells Moshe:

EN/HEע/E

וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא תוּכַל לִרְאֹת אֶת פָּנָי כִּי לֹא יִרְאַנִי הָאָדָם וָחָי.

He said, “You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live.”

How are we to understand the seemingly contradictory verses?  Can a mortal see Hashem or not? Under what circumstances will this lead to death? Finally, does the root "ראה" mean the same thing in all of these verses, or in some might it be metaphoric?  If so, what does it connote?

¹ See, for example, Bereshit 12:7, Bereshit 17:1, Bereshit 18:1 and Bereshit 26:2.  In all of these verses, Tanakh uses the formulation, "'...וַיֵּרָא י״י אֶל".

² See Shemot 24:1-12.

³ The prophet shares, "רָאִיתִי אֶת י״י יֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאוֹ וְכׇל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם עֹמֵד עָלָיו מִימִינוֹ וּמִשְּׂמֹאלוֹ" (Melakhim I 22:19).

⁴ Yeshayahu describes, "וָאֶרְאֶה אֶת אֲדֹנָי יֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רָם וְנִשָּׂא" (Yeshayahu 6:1).

⁵ Yechezkel 1 conatins an elaborate description of Yechezkel's visions, including, "דְּמוּת כִּסֵּא וְעַל דְּמוּת הַכִּסֵּא דְּמוּת כְּמַרְאֵה אָדָם עָלָיו מִלְמָעְלָה" (Yechezkel 1:26)

⁶ See Daniel 7:9.