HEBREW WORD STUDY – CREATING A VOID -TSIMTSUM – צמצום Sade Mem Sade Vav Mem
Deuteronomy 30:15: “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;”
Did you ever have a Jewish friend give you a hard time about the Trinity, you know, how can you say you believe in one God when you have three, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I mean like forget it, no matter how you try to explain it, it still sounds contradictory. There is no way to explain it, the church teaches that it is a mystery. If I am faced with such a question by a Jewish friend I simply answer with a question. Explain tsimtsum to me. He will most likely say it is a paradox and I will reply so is my belief in the Trinity. If I say three gods equal one god then that is a contradiction. But what I am saying is three persons equal one God which is a paradox. Now how is tsimtsum a paradox? A paradox could be like my nephew and his wife who both hold a doctorate in pharmacology – you know a pair of docs – forget it. A paradox is a seeming contradiction but in reality expresses a truth.
I will not go into the Trinity. Although I do believe in the Trinity I can’t explain it but I hold it as a truth. Tsimtsum, however, is also a true paradox. As simply as possible and if there is a Kabbalist reading this I am sure he will throw salt in the air, tsimtsum is to be present in your absence. Tsimtsum simply means a reduction. It is like another great paradox in Christianity as to how could Jesus can be both God and man at the same time. Well, through tsimtsum (I think I just head the thud of a Kabbalist passing out). But hear me out does not Scripture teach Jesus made Himself a little lower than the angels (Hebrew 2:7). Does it not say He emptied Himself? Philippians 2:7-11. That is my understanding of tsimtsum. I sure can’t explain it but I accept it as a fact.
The idea behind tsimstsum, which is a Hebrew word not found in the Bible but found in extra Biblical literature, is that the ‘o(h)r ein sof (infinite light) had to be reduced, constricted tsimtsum in order for God to create the physical universe. The physical universe is sort of like a dark bubble in the center of the ‘or ein sof. Light here may be just a metaphor, but who really understands light, we just know it is energy which gives off wave patterns. But what is light really? Jesus said He is the light. That may not mean He is a glowing object but He is the essence of all that exist, all of life.
Note God says in Deuteronomy 30:15 “…this day I set before thee life and good, death and evil. Jewish teachers point to this verse to demonstrate tsimtsum. God had to step aside to create the physical world but if He were not in it, it would not be good, in harmony with Him but would be evil ra’a which is not in harmony with God. So He creates this world, creates life and then somehow He is both absent and present.
So why am I messing with something I don’t understand? Because this paradox explains something to me. I was reading one Jewish writer who said the journeys of the children through the wilderness created a tsimstum. I was watching a documentary of a man trying to ski to the South Pole. He entered a land where no life existed, it was barren other than ice and snow, sort of like a desert. Without his supplies his life would have quickly ended. This was like the desert between Egypt and the Promised Land. It was virtually lifeless except for poisonous snakes, scorpions, heat that would quickly dehydrate you and swiftly end the lives of the very young and the old. The night would bring many other dangers and yet, somehow the people survived this harsh life ending environment. How could they do that? There was a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. Both representatives of the o(h)r ein of of God, the infinite light of God who tsimtsum was both present and absent. As long as the people chose God He was present, when they did not chose Him, His absence would become apparent. God create tsimtsum as the only way to give man a free will, the ability to choose Him.
So we live today in the tsimtsum of God. When we accept Him as our Savior we enter his bubble of protection, caring and loving, while we live in that paradox where He could be absent if we do not choose Him.
This concept of “present and absent” is new to me and I’m still chewing on it. However, it does make perfect sense. It something new and something old i.e. it’s been around from the time of no beginning and no ending. Oh well I was never a good philosopher. 🤗
Then, I guess tsimtsum reminds me of finding an electron in an atom. The electron is everywhere, yet nowhere at the same time. Scientists can’t see the electron until they measure it, and they have no idea where it will be until they do. When the electron is measured, it stops moving and the scientists are able to see it. I liken it to Matthew 20:30-32, when the 2 blind men (the scientists in my analogy) cried out to Jesus (measuring the electron in my analogy), and Jesus stood still (an electron stands still when it is measured). Jesus touched their eyes and immediately they received sight. God is like that electron. He is everywhere, yet if you aren’t paying attention to him, then he is nowhere for you. Look for him, and he will stand still for you too. Thank you for this insight Chaim.
I liked your comment Dianna. I bet the old boy who Chaim heard hit the floor just came back to life !!
Thank you so much for your time given in sharing these word studies. I have just recently found your writings and am enjoying their depth of explanation and the new understanding they bring to reading God’s word and coming to know His true character better.
Brilliant!! TY
But here too, God is a consuming fire. His face, in the cloud, caused Moses Face to shine. Revelation tells us He will replace the sun. The scripture talks about being consumed by the brightness of His return.. yet He lives in our hearts because He took away our sins. We are changed into His image from glory to glory. He covered Moses in Ex 33 so He only saw His passing but didn’t look on Him. Why? I believe it was because to look on God would be to look at someone brighter than the noon day sun. He hides Himself in a cloud and doesn’t allow us to experience the fullness of His power because He loves us and knows in these frail bodies it would consume us. Yet Jesus had the fullness of the Godhead bodily. I’m finding as I’ve asked Him to teach me His ways, and have read His word, that I’ve gained understandings yet to prove why I believe them, I would have to search scripture to show. It’s comparing scripture, like gleaning from multiple texts that are true and including from each what different books didn’t include.. Like the gospels. All saw and experience but it takes all 4 to get a clearer picture..and then we only have a glimpse.
I have a problem with trinity which is not found in the Bible
If you find a word translated “trinity “ please give me reference
My point is it is Christian slang
I was told that if you do not believe in trinity then you are not saved
Which is unbiblical
No where in the Scriptures it says that I need to believe that man made doctrine to be saved
Chaim, I see that your interpretations are tied to your doctrine you believe
I would like to see more neutral approach
You know what the word means and what it does not
That would be very valuable to make conclusions
Thank you
Irene, Chaim is clearly making the point that like “the Trinity” is a paradox so is “tsimtsum”(also a word not found in the Bible) and if his Jewish friend was to ask him to explain the Trinity, Chaim would reply with a question just as his Jewish friend would do if a non Jew was asking about tsimtsum. No where does he say or even imply that you must believe in the Trinity to be saved. Chaim went on to say he was not going to explain the Trinity, but simply believes in it…meaning Father in heaven, whom Jesus (fully God and fully man) prayed to and the Spirit of God who remains after resurrection. Wheteher or not the literal word “Trinity” is found in scripture it is certainly implied throughout. If it’s not your personal belief/doctine, that is fine. However, in these daily devotions, Chaim is sharing his Personal studies and application so of course His own personal beliefs will be infused. If you want a “neutral” study we do offer online classes with our paid subscription “All Access” where is Chaim teaching Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic. hebrewwordstudy.com We’d love to have you a part of our on line courses. Also, Chaim often encourages people to take what they want from his daily personal studies, the literal meanings as you have mentioned , (which he researches and meditates on upwards of 4hrs daily before going to his full time job) and to tailor it for themslves and/or throw out what they don’t like. He is simply freely offering his personal musings and personal discoveries from God’s Word. Take from it what you will : )
Blessings, Laura
I explain it like this. My name is Shane, I’m a Dad, a Son and a Provider. Where are the other 2 Shane’s at ??? Different positions in One individual. When this whole thing is over with they God the Father, God the Son, and His Spirit will be come one on the throne.
Just as John said in Revelations. He saw Him that sat on the throne.