Hidden in the Beginning

"In the beginning G-d created the heaven and the earth." (Gen. 1:1)

Our Sages explain that the world was created with ten utterances (Avot 5:1), expressed over the period of the six days of Creation. Although there appear to be only nine utterances, the Sages conclude that the word "bereishit" (meaning "in the beginning") is also an utterance, even though it is not preceded explicitly by the words "and G-d said…"(Rosh HaShana 32a; Megillah 21b; Zohar 15a, 30a)

The following extract explains these ideas.

Rabbi Abba said: The Higher World is concealed, and everything associated with the Higher World is also concealed, because they are all part of the sublime mystery of the day in which all other days are contained.

All nine utterances, spread over the six days of Creation, are included in the first utterance, "Bereishit" - "In the beginning." 1

[At this stage, Creation is not yet manifest as material being. However,] when the Holy One blessed be He, brought the Creation into manifest existence, he emanated the six.

The six days of creation (Mikdash Melech) during which the physical creation came about. Then each of the nine utterances through which Creation came about is preceded by the phrase "And G-d said".

But, since the Higher World is concealed, and everything that is associated with it is also concealed, the verse [merely] states "Bereshit…" [meaning:] "bara -" [Hebrew for "He created"]"- sheet" [meaning "six"]. [This implies the creation of] six supernal days.

The opening word "bereishit" is not preceded by the phrase "And G-d said". That all the six days of Creation are contained in the word "bereishit" can be seen from this word itself, which can be broken down into two component words, which mean: "He created - six." 2

Nevertheless, [while the six days of Creation are still contained within the word "bereishit"] the verse does not mention who created them, because this refers to the concealed Higher World.

This concealed Higher World remains hidden from the created beings of the lower worlds (Or HaChama) and therefore, "bereishit", is not preceded by "And G-d said".

Afterwards, when He [chose to] reveal and articulate [the remaining nine utterances through which the world was created, the verse states,]

"G-d [Elo-him] created the heaven and the earth" - and not [just the simple more ambiguous] "created" [as above] - but rather "Elo-him created", for the name "Elo-him" refers to the revealed.

And therefore the verse utilizes the divine name "Elo-him", for this name signifies the attribute of limiting and diminishing the Infinite Light (Or Ein Sof) so that a physical world can exist. (Zohar, Midrash HaNe'elam, parashat Noach, Ma'amar "Dor Hamabul". See here.)

The beginning is in concealment, meaning the Higher World.

This is alluded to in the word "Bereishit", which precedes material Creation. Who created it is not specified, because it refers to the concealed Higher World.

The Lower World is revealed.

This is so that the deeds of the Holy One blessed be He [always comprise two planes:] hidden and revealed. This is the mystery of the Holy Name [Havayah] which is both hidden and revealed.

The intention is to show that everything in the revealed world is preceded by, and depends on, the higher world, their source (Or HaChama).

[Based on Zohar I:39b; translation and commentary by Moshe Miller
First published by Fiftieth Gate Publications and Seminars.]