He said ‘This name is all-comprehensive. The first Ehyeh (I shall be) is the comprehensive framework of all when the paths are still obscure, and not yet marked out, and all is still undisclosed.
When a beginning has been made and the Stream has started on its course, then it is called Asher Ehyeh (That which I shall be), meaning: Now I am ready to draw forth into being and create all, now I am the sum total of all individual things. “That I am”: to wit, the Mother is pregnant and is ready to produce individual things and to reveal the supreme Name.
Observe now how the divine utterance1In Ex. 3, 14. went from grade to grade to teach the secret of the holy name to Moses. First came Ehyeh (I shall be), the dark womb of all. Then Asher Ehyeh (That I Am), indicating the readiness of the Mother to beget all. Then, after the creation had commenced, came the name Ehyeh alone (Ibid.), as much as to say: Now it will bring forth and prepare all.
Finally when all has been created and fixed in its place the name Ehyeh is abandoned and we have TETRAGRAMMATON (Ibid. 15), an individual name signifying confirmation. Then it was that Moses knew the Holy Name, as it is both disclosed and undisclosed, and attained to an insight to which no other man has ever attained, happy is his portion!’ R. Eleazar came and kissed his hand.
אָמַר לֵיהּ, אִי נִיחָא קַמֵּיהּ דְּאַבָּא, הָא שְׁמַעְנָא בְּהַאי, (ח"י ע"א) דִּכְתִּיב, (שמות ג׳:י״ד) אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה, וְלָא קַיְימָא בֵּיהּ. אָמַר לֵיהּ אֶלְעָזָר בְּרִי, הָא אוֹקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָּיא, וְהַשְׁתָּא בְּחַד מִלָּה אִתְקְשַׁר כֹּלָּא.
R. Eleazar then asked his father to explain to him the name EHYEH ASHER EHYEH (I am that I am).
וְרָזָא דְּמִלָּה הָכִי הוּא. אֶהְיֶה, דָּא כְּלָלָא דְּכֹלָּא. דְּכַד שְׁבִילִין סְתִימִין וְלָא מִתְפָּרְשָׁן, וּכְלִילָן בְּחַד אֲתַר. כְּדֵין אִקְרֵי אֶהְיֶה, כְּלָלָא כֹּלָּא, סָתִים וְלָא אִתְגַּלְיָיא.
He said ‘This name is all-comprehensive. The first Ehyeh (I shall be) is the comprehensive framework of all when the paths are still obscure, and not yet marked out, and all is still undisclosed.
בָּתַר דְּנָפַק מִנֵּיהּ שֵׁירוּתָא, וְהַהוּא נָהָר אִתְעַבָּר לְאַמְשָׁכָא כֹּלָּא, כְּדֵין אִקְרֵי אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה. כְּלוֹמַר, עַל כֵּן אֶהְיֶה, אֶהְיֶה זַמִּין לְאַמְשָׁכָא וּלְאוֹלָדָא כֹּלָּא. אֶהְיֶה: כְּלוֹמַר, הַשְׁתָּא אֲנָא הוּא כְּלַל כֹּלָּא, כְּלָלָא דְּכָל פְּרָטָא. אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה: דְּאִתְעַבְּרַת אִימָּא, וְזַמִינַת לְאַפָּקָא פְּרָטִין כֻּלְּהוּ, וּלְאִתְגַּלְיָיא שְּׁמָא עִלָּאָה.
When a beginning has been made and the Stream has started on its course, then it is called Asher Ehyeh (That which I shall be), meaning: Now I am ready to draw forth into being and create all, now I am the sum total of all individual things. “That I am”: to wit, the Mother is pregnant and is ready to produce individual things and to reveal the supreme Name.
לְבָתַר בָּעָא מֹשֶׁה לְמִנְדַּע פְּרָטָא דְּמִלָּה מַאן הוּא, עַד דְּפָרִישׁ וְאָמַר אֶהְיֶה (ס"א יהוה), דָּא הוּא פְּרָטָא, וְהָכָא לָא כְּתִיב אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה. (ויחי קל"ה) וְאַשְׁכַּחְנָא בְּסִפְרָא דִּשְׁלֹמֹה מַלְכָּא, אֲשֶׁר: בְּקִיטוּרָא דְּעִדּוּנָא קַסְטִירָא בְּחַבְרוּתָא עִלָּאָה אִשְׁתְּכַח. כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, (בראשית ל׳:י״ג) בְּאָשְׁרִי כִּי אִשְּׁרוּנִי בָּנוֹת, אֶהְיֶה זְמִינָא לְאוֹלָדָא.
We find it stated in the book of King Solomon that the Asher (That) is the link that completes the joyful union.
תָּא חֲזֵי הֵיךְ נָחִית מִדַּרְגָּא לְדַרְגָּא, לְאוֹדָעָא רָזָא דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא (לאחזאה קודשא בריך הוא) לְמֹשֶׁה. בְּקַדְמִיתָא אֶהְיֶה, כְּלָלָא דְּכֹלָּא, סָתִים דְּלָא אִתְגַּלְיָיא כְּלַל, כְּמָה דַּאֲמֵינָא. וְסִימָן, (משלי ח׳:ל׳) וָאֶהְיֶה אֶצְלוֹ אָמוֹן וְגוֹ', וּכְתִיב (איוב כ״ח:י״ג) לֹא יָדַע אֱנוֹשׁ עֶרְכָּהּ וְגוֹ'. לְבָתַר אַפִּיק (רזא דשירותא עילאה, ראשיתא דכלא ו) הַהוּא נַהֲרָא, אִימָּא עִלָּאָה, אִתְעַבְּרַת, וּזְמִינָא לְאוֹלָדָא. וְאָמַר אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה, זְמִינָא לְאוֹלָדָא, וּלְתַקְּנָא כֹּלָּא. לְבָתַר שָׁארֵי לְאוֹלָדָא, וְלָא כְּתִיב אֲשֶׁר, אֶלָּא אֶהְיֶה: כְּלוֹמַר, הַשְׁתָּא יָפִיק וְיִתְתָּקַן כֹּלָּא.
Observe now how the divine utterance1In Ex. 3, 14. went from grade to grade to teach the secret of the holy name to Moses. First came Ehyeh (I shall be), the dark womb of all. Then Asher Ehyeh (That I Am), indicating the readiness of the Mother to beget all. Then, after the creation had commenced, came the name Ehyeh alone (Ibid.), as much as to say: Now it will bring forth and prepare all.
בָּתַר דְּנָפִיק כֹּלָּא, וְאִתְתָּקַּן כָּל חַד וְחַד בְּאַתְרֵיהּ, שָׁבַק כֹּלָּא, וְאָמַר יְהוָֹ"ה. דָּא פְּרָטָא, וְדָא קִיוּמָא. וּבְהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא יָדַע מֹשֶׁה, רָזָא דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, סָתִים וְגַלְיָא וְאִתְדַּבָּק מַה דְּלָא אִתְדָּבָקוּ שְׁאָר בְּנֵי עָלְמָא, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ. אָתָא רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְנָשִׁיק יְדוֹי.
Finally when all has been created and fixed in its place the name Ehyeh is abandoned and we have TETRAGRAMMATON (Ibid. 15), an individual name signifying confirmation. Then it was that Moses knew the Holy Name, as it is both disclosed and undisclosed, and attained to an insight to which no other man has ever attained, happy is his portion!’ R. Eleazar came and kissed his hand.