הקדמה

107. “Furthermore, “How great, etc.”Furthermore, we can interpret “How [ma] great is Your goodness” [as teaching] that here the secret of the Ḥokhma is engraved, and all the secrets are incorporated here. For the meaning of ma is as we learned (in section 19, above). “Great” is a great and strong tree, which is Ze’er Anpin, since there is a smaller tree than him, that is, the Malkhut. This Ze’er Anpin is great and he brings him into the height of the firmaments.

Explanation: In addition to [the previous] interpretation of the verse as referring to the attainment of the brains of the first three [sefirot], it can also be understood as recording the inner [aspects] of the Ḥokhma, and “all the secrets are incorporated” into this verse. “The secret of the Ḥokhma” means the fusion of the Atik; “and all the secrets” refers to the completion of the total rectification.

“Ma is as we learned; ‘great’ is a great and strong tree.” Ma is the lower world, as stated earlier (section 8). “Great” means a great and strong tree, that is, Ze’er Anpin at the time of its enclothing of the partzuf of Ab, at which time [Ze’er Anpin] is called “a great tree,” as a result of the [access to] Ḥokhma, and [Ze’er Anpin] is called “strong” with regard to itself. However, when Ze’er Anpin is in its own place, it is termed merely “a tree.” This is the meaning of “since there is a smaller tree than him,” which is the Malkhut,” which is also called “a tree.” “This is great” – for when [Ze’er Anpin] enclothes the level of Ab, [Ze’er Anpin] is called “great.” “And he brings him into the height of the firmaments” – the Ab brings the Ze’er Anpin to “the height of the firmaments.” The height of Ab reaches until the Keter, which is called “the height of the firmaments,” since the Ab enclothes over the partzuf of Keter. Thus, Ab raises the Ze’er Anpin to “the height of the firmaments.”