Tiferet (Kabbalah)

The sefira of Tiferet is the sixth of the ten sefirot. When the sefirot are divided into the five primary sefirot – Keter, Ḥokhma, Bina, Tiferet, and Malkhut –Tiferet is parallel to the third level of the direct light of giving emanating from the Creator. This level of light is primarily drawn from the desire of the created beings to bond with the Creator, a will to give, but it also contains a certain amount of the will to receive the light of the Creator, which draws in illuminations from the light of wisdom. Tiferet means “Beauty” (the concept of harmony), and it is called by this name because it is able to integrate both kinds of light within it, the light of wisdom, and the light of giving. This integration, which can be thought of as being formed of two columns of light, as well as an intermediating column which connects them, is the harmonious beauty of this sefira. It is this integrative capacity and its unique combination of lights that gives Tiferet its unique characterization in which the five sefirot that comprise it are given different names (recall that each sefira is formed of all five sefirot): The Keter in Tiferet is called Ḥesed. The Ḥokhma in Tiferet is called Gevura. The Bina in Tiferet is called Tiferet. The Tiferet within Tiferet is called Netzaḥ. The Malkhut within Tiferet is called Hod. In addition to these five, there is a sixth sefira in Tiferet called Yesod, which includes the preceding five within it. It is this grouping of the sefirot that gives rise to the familiar count of ten sefirot. In the structure of partzufim, Tiferet is considered the body of the partzuf. Two hands (Ḥesed and Gevura) emerge from the body, as well as two legs (Netzaḥ and Hod) and the limb of procreation and life (Yesod), thus forming the image of the human body. The partzuf that correlates to Tiferet is Ze’er Anpin, which encompasses the six extremities. Each of the five primary sefirot is also parallel to one of the five worlds that form existence. The world that correlates to the sefira of Tiferet is the world of Yetzira.