יָ֭דַעְתָּ כִּי־אָ֣ז תִּוָּלֵ֑ד וּמִסְפַּ֖ר יָמֶ֣יךָ רַבִּֽים׃
De certo tu o sabes, porque já então eras nascido, e porque é grande o número dos teus dias!
Rabbeinu Bahya
A kabbalistic approach to our verse yields the following insight. The words את האורwere meant to include something that Rabbi Akiva achieved when he “descended into the “Pardes,” regions of enquiry into the mysteries of the universe. He was the only person to emerge intellectually unharmed and physically intact from such studies as we know from Shir Hashirim Rabbah 1,28 as well as Chagigah 15. It is also possible that these words were meant to convey that the souls were created simultaneously with this light. This idea is hinted at in Job 38,19: איזה הדרך ישכן אור, “which path leads to where light dwells?” And it says also (verse 21 there) “Surely You know for you were born then, and the number of your years is many.” [Nachmanides explains these verses in the manner our author understands them. Rabbi Chavell.]