Sefirot – Pillar

Combining sefirot with qlipot refine the meaning of the ten sefirot with verse references.

Combining the sefirot (emanations of divine attributes in Kabbalah) with the qlipot (forces of impurity or concealment) offers a deeper understanding of the ten sefirot by juxtaposing their divine purpose with their potential distortions. Below is a refined meaning of each sefirah, supported by verse references that illustrate their essence and their possible negative counterpart (qlipot).

1. Keter (Crown): Divine Will and Unity

Meaning: The source of all emanation, representing the pure will of God, beyond comprehension.
Verses: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8)
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever” (Psalm 45:6).
Qlipot: Pride or false self-exaltation.
Distortion Verses: “Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.” (Ezekiel 28:17)
“You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God’” (Isaiah 14:13).

2. Chokhmah (Wisdom): The Seed of Divine Thought

Meaning: The intuitive flash of wisdom, the beginning of insight, and the spark of creation.
Verses: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9:10)
“The Lord by wisdom founded the earth” (Proverbs 3:19).
Qlipot: Rashness or misuse of wisdom for selfish purposes.
Distortion Verses: “Professing to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:22)
“The wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish” (Isaiah 29:14).

3. Binah (Understanding): Analytical Thought and Comprehension

Meaning: The ability to discern and analyze, giving structure to wisdom.
Verses: “Incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding.” (Proverbs 2:2)
“A heart of wisdom you will teach me” (Psalm 90:12).
Qlipot: Over-analysis leading to doubt or despair.
Distortion Verses: “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7)
“They are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).

4. Chesed (Kindness): Overflowing Love and Generosity

Meaning: Unbounded love and mercy.
Verses: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” (Psalm 103:8)
Qlipot: Excessive indulgence or enabling harmful behavior.
Distortion Verses: “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.” (Proverbs 13:24)
“Their love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early” (Hosea 6:4).

5. Gevurah (Strength): Discipline and Judgment

Meaning: The power of restraint and justice, boundaries and righteous discipline.
Verses: “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” (Deuteronomy 4:24)
“The Lord is known by His acts of justice” (Psalm 9:16).
Qlipot: Cruelty, excessive judgment, or harshness.
Distortion Verses: “But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:15)
“You have ruled them harshly and brutally” (Ezekiel 34:4).

6. Tiferet (Beauty): Harmony and Compassion

Meaning: The balance between kindness and judgment, manifesting as compassion.
Verses: “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
“Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:2).
Qlipot: Vanity or imbalance leading to hypocrisy.
Distortion Verse: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” (Matthew 23:25)

7. Netzach (Endurance): Perseverance and Victory

Meaning: The drive to overcome obstacles and persist in the divine path.
Verses: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14).
Qlipot: Overambition or obsession with success or conquest.
Distortion Verses: “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36)
“Those who live by the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).

8. Hod (Splendor): Humility and Submission

Meaning: The ability to surrender, submit, and acknowledge divine glory.
Verses: “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to Your name be the glory.” (Psalm 115:1)
“Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name” (Psalm 29:2).
Qlipot: False humility, excessive self-doubt, or manipulation through submission.
Distortion Verses: “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:43)
“They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Isaiah 29:13).

9. Yesod (Foundation): Connection and Communication

Meaning: The channel through which divine energy flows to creation.
Verses: “For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.” (Psalm 36:9)
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne” (Psalm 89:14).
Qlipot: Misuse of intimacy or broken connections.
Distortion Verses: “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)
“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served created things” (Romans 1:25).

10. Malkhut (Kingdom): Manifestation and Leadership

Meaning: The realization of divine will in the physical world.
Verse: “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Yours.” (1 Chronicles 29:11)
Qlipot: Tyranny or passivity in leadership, or materialism.
Distortion Verses: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” (Proverbs 29:2)
“Is this not the great Babylon I have built as my royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30).

This framework highlights how the sefirot embody divine attributes, while their qlipot counterparts distort these ideals. By reflecting on these paired meanings, one can strive to align with the divine attributes and guard against their potential distortions.