It all starts with a verse from Isaiah (26:4): "... YaQ YQV”Q the rock of ages..." Now, the Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar isn't just interested in the plain meaning. It's after the spark hidden within the words themselves. It notices something remarkable: Y-Q, Y-Q, Y-Q. Then, it connects this to ADaM, the first human, whose numerical value, gematria, is 45.
What does it mean? That's where it gets interesting.
The text goes on: Four wings – lion, ox, eagle – representing the Divine Chariot, the Merkavah. Intriguingly, this also relates to Y-H, Y-H, Y-H, which also equals ADaM, or 45. Think of it: these seemingly disparate images – the letters of God's name, the first human, the celestial chariot – all linked together through numerical value and mystical association. It's like the Kabbalists are saying: there’s a hidden unity underlying all of creation.
Then the text shifts slightly. We move to Y”Q YQV”Q. Y”Q YQV”Q. Y”Q. Then we have Y-H-V-H Y-H-V-H Y-H-V-H, the most holy name of God.
According to the Tikkunei Zohar, YQV”Q is above them all. It's connected to Ḥokhmah and Binah (Wisdom and Understanding), two of the Sefirot, the emanations of God's divine energy. And it points to Keter, the highest of the Sefirot. This then is linked to the verse in Exodus (3:14) where God says EQYeQ asher EQYeQ, "I will be that which I will be.” The names are stacked, one upon another, in an infinite hierarchy.
But it doesn't stop there. The text references Isaiah 6:2, describing the Seraphim, angelic beings, standing above God, each with six wings. The Tikkunei Zohar sees this as a reference to A-V-G-Y-T-Tz, a powerful name of God formed from various verses.
Why six wings? The text gives us a fascinating interpretation. "With two it covers its face – for Israel, so that their enemies cannot see them." The angels are shielding the Jewish people from harm. "And with two it covers its feet – so that ‘the deed of the calf’ be not mentioned." This is a reference to the Golden Calf incident, a moment of profound betrayal in the desert. The angels are covering their feet, symbolically obscuring this shameful episode. The Midrash Tanhuma, Emor Ch. 16, also picks up on this idea.
"And with two it will fly – from exile." Even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for redemption, for a return to God. It is then said in Exodus 19:4, "… and I raised you upon eagles’ wings, and I brought you to Me."
What does it all mean? It's a multilayered exploration of God's name, the creation of humanity, and the ongoing relationship between the Divine and the world. It’s a reminder that even in moments of darkness, even when we feel hidden or ashamed, there is always the possibility of being carried, like eagles, towards something greater. It's a complex, poetic, and ultimately hopeful vision of the universe. A reminder that even the smallest details can hold profound meaning, if we know how to look.