Difference between revisions of "Seeing Hashem/2"
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<category>Prophetic Vision | <category>Prophetic Vision | ||
<p>Hashem reveals himself to mankind only via prophecy.  Any image of God that they see is only in a prophetic dream.</p> | <p>Hashem reveals himself to mankind only via prophecy.  Any image of God that they see is only in a prophetic dream.</p> | ||
| − | <mekorot> | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RSaadiaGaoninOtzarHaGeonimBerakhot6b" data-aht="source">R. Saadia Gaon</a><a href="RSaadiaGaoninOtzarHaGeonimBerakhot6b" data-aht="source">in Otzar HaGeonim Berakhot 6b</a><a href="RSaadiaGaonHaEmunotVeHaDeiot2-9" data-aht="source">HaEmunot VeHaDeiot 2:9</a><a href="RSaadiaGaonHaEmunotVeHaDeiot2-10" data-aht="source">HaEmunot VeHaDeiot 2:10</a><a href="RSaadiaGaonHaEmunotVeHaDeiot3-5" data-aht="source">HaEmunot VeHaDeiot 3:5</a><a href="R. Saadia Gaon" data-aht="parshan">About R. Saadia Gaon</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary12-7" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary12-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit First Commentary 12:7</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotFirstCommentary13-21" data-aht="source">Shemot First Commentary 13:21</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotFirstCommentary16-7" data-aht="source">Shemot First Commentary 16:7</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotFirstCommentary24-10-11" data-aht="source">Shemot First Commentary 24:10-11</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotFirstCommentary33-18" data-aht="source">Shemot First Commentary 33:18</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotSecondCommentary13-21" data-aht="source">Shemot Second Commentary 13:21</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotSecondCommentary16-6" data-aht="source">Shemot Second Commentary 16:6</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotSecondCommentary24-10-11" data-aht="source">Shemot Second Commentary 24:10-11</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotSecondCommentary33-21" data-aht="source">Shemot Second Commentary 33:20-21</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotSecondCommentary33-21" data-aht="source">Shemot Second Commentary 33:20-21</a><a href="IbnEzraVayikra16-2" data-aht="source">Vayikra 16:2</a><a href="IbnEzraDevarim5-4" data-aht="source">Devarim 5:4</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RChananelBerakhot6a" data-aht="source">R. Chananel</a><a href="RChananelBerakhot6a" data-aht="source">Berakhot 6a</a><a href="R. Chananel b. Chushiel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Chananel b. Chushiel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit1-26" data-aht="source">Bereshit 1:26</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit32-31" data-aht="source">Bereshit 32:31</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorShemot13-21" data-aht="source">Shemot 13:21</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorShemot33-18-23" data-aht="source">Shemot 33:18-23</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorVayikra16-2" data-aht="source">Vayikra 16:2</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambamHilkhotYesodeiHaTorah1-7-12" data-aht="source">Rambam</a><a href="RambamHilkhotYesodeiHaTorah1-7-12" data-aht="source">Hilkhot Yesodei HaTorah 1:8-12</a><a href="RambamHilkhotYesodeiHaTorah2-4" data-aht="source">Hilkhot Yesodei HaTorah 2:4</a><a href="MorehNevukhim1-4" data-aht="source">Moreh Nevukhim 1:4</a><a href="MorehNevukhim1-27" data-aht="source">Moreh Nevukhim 1:27</a><a href="MorehNevukhim2-41" data-aht="source">Moreh Nevukhim 2:41</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Maimon (Rambam, Maimonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Maimon</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RadakYeshayahu6-1" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakBereshit32-31" data-aht="source">Bereshit 32:31</a><a href="RadakYeshayahu6-1" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 6:1</a><a href="RadakYeshayahu6-5" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 6:5</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamShemot24-10-11" data-aht="source">R. Avraham b. HaRambam</a><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamBereshit26-24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 26:24</a><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamShemot24-10-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 24:10-11</a><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamShemot33-12-23" data-aht="source">Shemot 33:12-23</a><a href="R. Avraham Maimonides" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham Maimonides</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambanShemot24-10-11" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanShemot24-10-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 24:10-11</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="DerashotHaRan9" data-aht="source">Ran</a><a href="DerashotHaRan9" data-aht="source">Derashot HaRan 9</a><a href="R. Nissim Gerondi (Ran)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Nissim Gerondi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="SefornoShemot24-11" data-aht="source">Seforno</a><a href="SefornoShemot19-9" data-aht="source">Shemot 19:9</a><a href="SefornoShemot19-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 19:11</a><a href="SefornoShemot24-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 24:11</a><a href="SefornoShemot33-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 33:11</a><a href="SefornoShemot33-18-23" data-aht="source">Shemot 33:18-23</a><a href="SefornoVayikra9-6" data-aht="source">Vayikra 9:6</a><a href="SefornoDevarim34-10" data-aht="source">Devarim 34:10</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Seforno" data-aht="parshan">About R. Ovadyah Seforno</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="KeliYekarBereshit12-7" data-aht="source">Keli Yekar</a><a href="KeliYekarBereshit12-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit 12:7</a><a href="R. Shelomo Ephraim Luntschitz (Keli Yekar)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Ephraim Luntschitz</a></multilink> <multilink><a href="ShadalShemot13-21" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalShemot13-21" data-aht="source">Shemot 13:21</a><a href="ShadalShemot19-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 19:11</a><a href="ShadalShemot24-10-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 24:10-11</a><a href="ShadalShemot33-18" data-aht="source">Shemot 33:18</a><a href="ShadalShemot33-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 33:20</a><a href="ShadalYeshayahu6-1" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 6:1</a><a href="ShadalYeshayahu6-5" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 6:5</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="MalbimBereshit12-7" data-aht="source">Malbim</a><a href="MalbimBereshit12-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit 12:7</a><a href="MalbimShemot33-18-23" data-aht="source">Shemot 33:18-23</a><a href="MalbimYeshayahuBeurHaInyan6-1" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu Beur HaInyan 6:1</a><a href="MalbimYeshayahuBeurHaMilot6-1" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu Beur HaMilot 6:1</a><a href="R. Meir Leibush Weiser (Malbim)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Meir Leibush Weiser</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannBereshit12-7" data-aht="source">R. D"Z Hoffmann</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannBereshit12-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit 12:7</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannShemot16-7" data-aht="source">Shemot 16:7</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannShemot16-10" data-aht="source">Shemot 16:10</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannVayikra9-23" data-aht="source">Vayikra 9:23</a><a href="R. David Zvi Hoffmann" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Zvi Hoffmann</a></multilink></mekorot> |
| − | + | <point><b>What do prophets see?</b></point> | |
| − | + | <point><b>"לֹא יִרְאַנִי הָאָדָם וָחָי"</b><ul> | |
| − | + | <li>R. Chananel explains that though one cannot physically see Hashem, prophets may receive an image (which they interpret to be Hashem) in a dream or vision.<fn>As support he points to Hoshea's words, "וּבְיַד הַנְּבִיאִים אֲדַמֶּה" (<a href="Hoshea12-11" data-aht="source">Hoshea 12:11</a>).</fn> </li> | |
| + | <li>Rambam distinguishes between prophecy and underatanding</li> | ||
| + | <li></li> | ||
| + | </ul></point> | ||
| + | <point><b>Revelation to Avot: "...וַיֵּרָא י״י אֶל"</b> – Keli Yekar, Malbim and R. D"Z Hoffmann point out that this formulation (as opposed to the language of  "...וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל") refers to a unique type of prophecy in which Hashem not only speaks to a prophet but also appears to them in some visual image.<fn>R. Hoffmann points out that the Torah does not share the nature of this visual and how Hashem appeared in such prophecies.</fn></point> | ||
| + | <point><b>כִּי לֹא רְאִיתֶם כׇּל תְּמוּנָה בְּיוֹם דִּבֶּר י״י אֲלֵיכֶם</b></point> | ||
| + | <point><b>"Face to Face" Revelation at Sinai</b><ul> | ||
| + | <li>Seforno understands this phrase to mean that the nation received prophecy while fully in control of their senses (ie. not in a dream-like state).  As such, the pharse says nothing about actually seeing the face or any image of Hashem, fitting Hashem's words, "כִּי לֹא רְאִיתֶם כׇּל תְּמוּנָה בְּיוֹם דִּבֶּר י״י אֲלֵיכֶם".</li> | ||
| + | <li></li> | ||
| + | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>Shemot 24: וַיִּרְאוּ אֵת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל</b></point> | <point><b>Shemot 24: וַיִּרְאוּ אֵת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל</b></point> | ||
<point><b>"וְרָאִיתָ אֶת אֲחֹרָי"</b></point> | <point><b>"וְרָאִיתָ אֶת אֲחֹרָי"</b></point> | ||
| Line 34: | Line 43: | ||
<category>Cognitive Experience | <category>Cognitive Experience | ||
<p>When Torah speaks of humans seeing Hashem, it refers to a cognitive experience, man's comprehending of some aspect of Hashem's nature.</p> | <p>When Torah speaks of humans seeing Hashem, it refers to a cognitive experience, man's comprehending of some aspect of Hashem's nature.</p> | ||
| − | <mekorot><multilink><a href="MorehNevukhim1-4" data-aht="source">Rambam</a><a href="MorehNevukhim1-4" data-aht="source">Moreh Nevukhim 1:4</a><a href="MorehNevukhim1-27" data-aht="source">Moreh Nevukhim 1:27</a><a href="MorehNevukhim2-41" data-aht="source">Moreh Nevukhim 2:41</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Maimon (Rambam, Maimonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Maimon</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamShemot16-10" data-aht="source">R. Avraham b. HaRambam</a><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamShemot16-10" data-aht="source">Shemot 16:10</a><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamShemot24-10-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 24:10-11</a><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamShemot33-12-23" data-aht="source">Shemot 33:12-23</a><a href="R. Avraham Maimonides" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham Maimonides</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagShemotBeurHaParashah24-10-11" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagVayikra16-1" data-aht="source">Vayikra 16:1</a><a href="RalbagShemotBeurHaParashah24-10-11" data-aht="source">Shemot Beur HaParashah 24:10-11</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink></mekorot> | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="MorehNevukhim1-4" data-aht="source">Rambam</a><a href="MorehNevukhim1-4" data-aht="source">Moreh Nevukhim 1:4</a><a href="MorehNevukhim1-27" data-aht="source">Moreh Nevukhim 1:27</a><a href="MorehNevukhim2-41" data-aht="source">Moreh Nevukhim 2:41</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Maimon (Rambam, Maimonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Maimon</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamShemot16-10" data-aht="source">R. Avraham b. HaRambam</a><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamShemot16-10" data-aht="source">Shemot 16:10</a><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamShemot24-10-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 24:10-11</a><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamShemot33-12-23" data-aht="source">Shemot 33:12-23</a><a href="R. Avraham Maimonides" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham Maimonides</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagShemotBeurHaParashah24-10-11" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagVayikra16-1" data-aht="source">Vayikra 16:1</a><a href="RalbagShemotBeurHaParashah24-10-11" data-aht="source">Shemot Beur HaParashah 24:10-11</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="MalbimShemot33-18-23" data-aht="source">Malbim</a><a href="MalbimBereshit12-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit 12:7</a><a href="MalbimShemot33-18-23" data-aht="source">Shemot 33:18-23</a><a href="MalbimYeshayahuBeurHaInyan6-1" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu Beur HaInyan 6:1</a><a href="MalbimYeshayahuBeurHaMilot6-1" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu Beur HaMilot 6:1</a><a href="R. Meir Leibush Weiser (Malbim)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Meir Leibush Weiser</a></multilink>, </mekorot> |
</category> | </category> | ||
<category>Mediated Revelation | <category>Mediated Revelation | ||
Version as of 10:38, 3 February 2020
Seeing Hashem
Exegetical Approaches
Direct Revelation of Hashem
At times, Hashem directly reveals himself, allowing humans to glimpse God Himself.
"לֹא יִרְאַנִי הָאָדָם וָחָי"
Revelation to Avot: "...וַיֵּרָא י״י אֶל"
Revelation at Sinai
Shemot 24: וַיִּרְאוּ אֵת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל
"וְרָאִיתָ אֶת אֲחֹרָי"
"'כְּבוֹד ה"
Anthropomorphism
Uniqueness of Moshe's prophecy
Prophetic Vision
Hashem reveals himself to mankind only via prophecy. Any image of God that they see is only in a prophetic dream.
Sources:R. Saadia Gaon, Ibn Ezra, R. Chananel, R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, Rambam, Radak, R. Avraham b. HaRambam, Ramban, Ran, Seforno, Keli Yekar Shadal, Malbim, R. D"Z Hoffmann
What do prophets see?
"לֹא יִרְאַנִי הָאָדָם וָחָי"
- R. Chananel explains that though one cannot physically see Hashem, prophets may receive an image (which they interpret to be Hashem) in a dream or vision.1
- Rambam distinguishes between prophecy and underatanding
Revelation to Avot: "...וַיֵּרָא י״י אֶל" – Keli Yekar, Malbim and R. D"Z Hoffmann point out that this formulation (as opposed to the language of "...וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל") refers to a unique type of prophecy in which Hashem not only speaks to a prophet but also appears to them in some visual image.2
כִּי לֹא רְאִיתֶם כׇּל תְּמוּנָה בְּיוֹם דִּבֶּר י״י אֲלֵיכֶם
"Face to Face" Revelation at Sinai
- Seforno understands this phrase to mean that the nation received prophecy while fully in control of their senses (ie. not in a dream-like state). As such, the pharse says nothing about actually seeing the face or any image of Hashem, fitting Hashem's words, "כִּי לֹא רְאִיתֶם כׇּל תְּמוּנָה בְּיוֹם דִּבֶּר י״י אֲלֵיכֶם".
Shemot 24: וַיִּרְאוּ אֵת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל
"וְרָאִיתָ אֶת אֲחֹרָי"
"'כְּבוֹד ה" – R. Saadia suggests that mentions of "hashem's glory"
וַי״י הֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם יוֹמָם בְּעַמּוּד עָנָן
Anthropomorphism
Uniqueness of Moshe's prophecy
Cognitive Experience
When Torah speaks of humans seeing Hashem, it refers to a cognitive experience, man's comprehending of some aspect of Hashem's nature.
Mediated Revelation
Hashem's Glory
Hashem at times reveals His glory, or a symbol thereof, to mankind in the form of light, a cloud, or fire.
Sources:R. Saadia Gaon, Ralbag, Ran
Angel
Verses which speak of Hashem appearing to man refer not to Hashem Himself, but to an angel.
