Génesis 1:27 Cábala: Zohar, Sefer Etz Chaim, The Beginning & Sha'arei Orah

AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES IN THE WILDERNESS OF SINAI, IN THE TENT OF MEETING, ETC. R. Abba cited here the verse: “And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him”, etc. (Gen. 1, 27). ‘We have already explained’, he said, ‘that when the Holy One, blessed be He, created man, He made him in the image of the higher and the lower grades, so that he epitomised the whole, and his light shone forth from one end of the world to the other, and the whole of creation feared him.

[After the] point... After the [point] and the chamber were established as one, Beresheet which is Arich Anpin includes a lofty beginning to the light of Chochmah. Later, the appearance of the chamber changed and it was called a house and the supernal point was called the head. They were included in each other through the secret of the Beginning, because combining the words Bayit and Rosh forms the term Beresheet. This was so as long as Bayit and Rosh were as one, as long as there was no manner of habitation in the house; as long as Chochmah was not clothed with Chassadim, which reveals the four colors of the house. But it was sown for the purpose of habitation and, once it was inhabited, it was called by the name 'Elohim' hidden and concealed.

11. Certainly, it is explicitly clear that above there is no physical body, nor any bodily power, heaven forbid. The reason for these images and representations is not because they are so, heaven forbid. Rather, it is to ease the ear, so that a person can comprehend the higher, non-perceptible, and intellectual matters. Therefore, permission is granted to speak in terms of drawings and images when it is simple, as in all the books of the Zohar. Even in the verses of the Torah itself, all unanimously respond and say in this matter, as the Scripture says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth" (2 Chronicles 16:9). "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous" (Psalms 34:16). "And the Lord heard" (Genesis 21:17). "And the Lord smelled" (Genesis 8:21). "And the Lord spoke" (Exodus 6:10). And many others like these. It is greater than all of them, as the Scripture states, "And God created man in His image; in the image of God, He created him; male and female, He created them" (Genesis 1:27). And if the Torah itself spoke in this way, so can we speak in a similar manner. Since it is evident that above, there are only subtle lights in the utmost spirituality, imperceptible altogether. As the Scripture says, "For you saw no form" (Deuteronomy 4:15) and many other verses. However, there is another way to continue and depict the higher things, which is the form of writing letters. For each letter signifies an upper, specific light. Also, this is a simple metaphor and illustration to ease the ear, as mentioned. Therefore, now we will explain the aforementioned introduction in the manner of drawing letters as well. In these drawings, both the drawing of man and the drawing of letters, both are required to understand the matter of the upper lights. This is as you will see in the books of the Zohar, constructed on these two forms of drawings.