The tzaddik himself is impossible to comprehend. A person cannot grasp him at all, because [the tzaddik] is higher than his intellect. Only through his followers, those close to him, is it possible to understand the tzaddik’s virtues. This entails seeing his followers—who are virtuous, God-fearing and pious—in whom they do have a grasp and comprehension. This is because people are not yet as distant from them as they are from the tzaddik himself. Thus, someone who desires the truth will be able to know the virtues of the tzaddik through his followers.
This is like a seal. It is impossible to read the writing which is engraved on it because the letters are reversed. Only by stamping and impressing the seal on wax can we see the letters and forms which are engraved on the seal. Then, we understand the writing of the seal.
This is the meaning of: {“With the hand of every man he seals, that all men may know his deeds.”} With the hand of every man he seals—The tzaddik is called “every man.” As it is written (Ecclesiastes 12:13), “for this is [the duty of] every man.”
And the tzaddik, too, is an aspect of a seal. As it is written (Shabbat 137b), “and sealed his offspring with the sign of the holy Covenant.” For the tzaddik is one who guards the Covenant (Zohar I, 59b).
וּבְיַד כָּל אָדָם יַחְתּוֹם לָדַעַת כָּל אַנְשֵׁי מַעֲשֵׂהוּ (איוב ל״ז:ז׳):
“B’yad Kol Adam (With the hand of every man) he seals; that all men may know his deeds.” (Job 37:7)
כִּי הַצַּדִּיק בְּעַצְמוֹ אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַשִּׂיגוֹ, כִּי אֵין בּוֹ שׁוּם תְּפִיסָה, כִּי הוּא לְמַעְלָה מִשִּׂכְלוֹ. רַק עַל־יְדֵי אֲנָשָׁיו הַמְקֹרָבִין אֵלָיו, יוּכַל לְהָבִין מַעֲלַת הַצַּדִּיק. כִּי עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁרוֹאִין אֲנָשָׁיו, שֶׁהֵם אַנְשֵׁי מַעֲשֶׂה יְרֵאִים וּשְׁלֵמִים, וּבָהֶם יֵשׁ לָהֶם תְּפִיסָה וְהַשָּׂגָה, כִּי הָעוֹלָם אֵינָם רְחוֹקִים עֲדַיִן מֵהֶם כָּל־כָּךְ כְּמוֹ מֵהַצַּדִּיק בְּעַצְמוֹ, עַל כֵּן מִי שֶׁרוֹצֶה הָאֱמֶת, אֶפְשָׁר לוֹ לֵידַע מַעֲלַת הַצַּדִּיק עַל יְדֵי אֲנָשָׁיו.
The tzaddik himself is impossible to comprehend. A person cannot grasp him at all, because [the tzaddik] is higher than his intellect. Only through his followers, those close to him, is it possible to understand the tzaddik’s virtues. This entails seeing his followers—who are virtuous, God-fearing and pious—in whom they do have a grasp and comprehension. This is because people are not yet as distant from them as they are from the tzaddik himself. Thus, someone who desires the truth will be able to know the virtues of the tzaddik through his followers.
וְזֶהוּ כְּמוֹ מְשַׁל הַחוֹתָם, שֶׁהַכְּתָב הֶחָקוּק עָלָיו אִי אֶפְשָׁר לִקְרוֹתוֹ, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁהָאוֹתִיּוֹת בְּהֶפֶךְ. רַק עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁמַּכִּין וּמְצַיְּרִין הַחוֹתָם עַל שַׁעֲוָה, רוֹאִים הָאוֹתִיּוֹת וְהַצִּיּוּרִים הַחֲקוּקִים עַל הַחוֹתָם, וּמְבִינִים כְּתַב הַחוֹתָם.
This is like a seal. It is impossible to read the writing which is engraved on it because the letters are reversed. Only by stamping and impressing the seal on wax can we see the letters and forms which are engraved on the seal. Then, we understand the writing of the seal.
וְזֶהוּ: וּבְיַד כָּל אָדָם יַחְתּוֹם. הַצַּדִּיק נִקְרָא "כָּל אָדָם" כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (קהלת יב): כִּי זֶה כָּל הָאָדָם.
This is the meaning of: {“With the hand of every man he seals, that all men may know his deeds.”} With the hand of every man he seals—The tzaddik is called “every man.” As it is written (Ecclesiastes 12:13), “for this is [the duty of] every man.”
וְזֶה: לָדַעַת כָּל אַנְשֵׁי מַעֲשֵׂהוּ. עַל־יְדֵי אַנְשֵׁי מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיק, תּוּכַל לֵידַע אוֹתוֹ, כִּמְשַׁל הַחוֹתָם כַּנַּ"ל.
This is: that all men may know his deeds—Through the pious followers of the tzaddik you can know him, as in the example of the seal.
וְגַם הַצַּדִּיק הוּא בְּחִינַת חוֹתָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְצֶאֱצָאָיו חָתַם בְּאוֹת בְּרִית קֹדֶשׁ; וְצַדִּיק הוּא מָאן דְּנָטֵר בְּרִית:
And the tzaddik, too, is an aspect of a seal. As it is written (Shabbat 137b), “and sealed his offspring with the sign of the holy Covenant.” For the tzaddik is one who guards the Covenant (Zohar I, 59b).