Isaías 51:9 Cábala: Sha'arei Orah

Know that this quality called God-Elohi”m-אלהי״ם is sometimes called Might-Gevurah-גבורה, because it is mighty and overpowering-Mitgaberet-מתגברת in actualizing judgement upon those who rebel and sin. It takes vengeance on the wicked and all who rise up against HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He. Since this quality is the Upper Court of Law, that recompenses in kind for whatever is deserved, and because it has the power to render judgment, exact the penalty and override all other considerations, in that nothing can stand in its way, it is called Might-Gevurah-גבורה. About this the prophet said,¹²⁴Isaiah 51:9 “Awaken! Awaken! Don strength, O’ arm of HaShem-יהו״ה,” and continues, “Are you not the One who decimated the haughty, who terrified the sea serpent?” Were it not for this Might-Gevurah-גבורה, judgments would never actually be rendered, nor would the mighty be punished. However, because HaShem’s-יהו"ה quality of Might-Gevurah dominates and rules over all, the decrees passed in its Courts are actually rendered.

After transmitting these important principles, we now will return to explaining the remaining matters. This Sefirah is sometimes also called Strengths-Gevurot-גבורות, as in the secret of the verse,²⁴⁵Psalms 106:2 “Who-Mee-מ״י can express the Strengths-Gevurot-גבורות of HaShem-יהו״ה.”²⁴⁶That is, “Who-Mee-מי-50” refers to the fifty gates of the Understanding-Binah, as discussed in the preceding Gates. Know that the quality of judgment-Din, which is called Might-Gevurah-גבורה and is the quality of the Fear of Yitzchak-Pachad Yitzchak-פחד יצחק, is only called Might-Gevurah-גבורה, in the singular. It is not called Strengths-Gevurot-גבורות [in the plural], since it is surrounded by many castigators and constraints (Meitzarim-מצרים), and when the Jewish people sin, it is not dominant, because the surrounding ministers have an opening to accuse, and it thus is weakened. This is the secret of the verse,²⁴⁷Deuteronomy 32:18; See Midrash Eichah Rabba 1:33 “You have weakened-Teshee-תשי the Rock who gave birth to you,” and it states,²⁴⁸Isaiah 51:9 “Awaken! Awaken! Don strength, O’ arm of HaShem-יהו״ה,” and it states,²⁴⁹Isaiah 63:15 “Where is Your vengeance and your might-Gevurotecha-גבורתך?” All this is because the ministers of the nations are juxtaposed to the quality of Might-Gevurah-גבורה, and are the castigators who cause its might to be restrained. The prophet thus cried out and lamented about the quality of Might-Gevurah-גבורה, saying,²⁵⁰Lamentations 1:3 “Judah has gone into exile because of suffering and great servitude. She dwelt amongst the nations, but found no rest; all her pursuers overtook her between the straits-Mitzarim-מצרים.” Indeed, she certainly is constrained.