R. Jose asked: ‘What is the meaning of the four cups of wine drunk on this night?’ R. Abba replied: ‘The Companions have explained that they correspond to the four expressions of deliverance,1In Exodus 6, 2-8, v. Shemoth Rabbah, 6. but a better explanation is given in the book of R. Jesse the Elder, which says that it is because the holy wedlock takes place on this night, and this is consummated in four unions. When this wedlock takes place we partake in the joy of all, and therefore this night is different from all other nights and it behoves us to form the Name in all four.
Further, we call those four “deliverances”, because this last grade1Malkuth. is called “deliverer”, and that only on account of another higher grade which illumines it, and that one does not do so save through the agency of two more which are above it, so that in all there are four deliverances.’
אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, הָנֵי אַרְבַּע כַּסֵי דְּהַהוּא לֵילְיָא אֲמַאי. אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, הָא אוּקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָּיא, לָקֳבֵיל ד' גְּאוּלוֹת. אֲבָל שַׁפִּיר הוּא בְּסִפְרָא דְּרַב יֵיסָא סָבָא, דְּקָאָמַר הוֹאִיל וְזִוּוּגָא קַדִּישָׁא אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּהַאי לֵילְיָא בְּכָל סִטְרִין, וְזִוּוּגָא הוּא בְּאַרְבַּע קִשְׁרִין, דְּאִינּוּן ד' דַּרְגִּין, וְלָא מִתְפָּרְשֵׁי דָּא מִן דָּא, כַּד זִוּוּגָא דָּא אִשְׁתְּכַח, ואֲנָן בְּחֶדְוָותָא דִּלְהוֹן אִתְּעַרְנָא, בְּגִין דְּהָא זָכֵינָא בְּהוּ, דְּמַאן דְּאָחִיד בְּדָא, זָכֵי בְּכֹלָּא. וְעַל דָּא אִשְׁתַּנֵי לֵילְיָא דָּא מִכָּל שְׁאָר לֵילָוָון, וּבָעֵינָן לְמֶעְבַּד שְׁמָא בְּכֹלָּא, וּלְמֶחְדֵי בְּהַאי לֵילְיָא, בְּגִין דְּחֶדְוְותָא הוּא לְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא.
R. Jose asked: ‘What is the meaning of the four cups of wine drunk on this night?’ R. Abba replied: ‘The Companions have explained that they correspond to the four expressions of deliverance,1In Exodus 6, 2-8, v. Shemoth Rabbah, 6. but a better explanation is given in the book of R. Jesse the Elder, which says that it is because the holy wedlock takes place on this night, and this is consummated in four unions. When this wedlock takes place we partake in the joy of all, and therefore this night is different from all other nights and it behoves us to form the Name in all four.
וְעוֹד אָמַר, דְּאַרְבַּע אִלֵּין אַרְבַּע גְּאוּלוֹת קָרֵינָן לְהוּ. מַאי טַעְמָא. בְּגִין דְּהַאי דַּרְגָּא בַּתְרָאָה, גּוֹאֵל אִתְקְרֵי, (בראשית מ״ח:ט״ז) הַמַּלְאָךְ הַגּוֹאֵל. וְלָא אִקְרֵי גּוֹאֵל, אֶלָּא עַל יְדָא דְּדַרְגָא אָחֳרָא עִלָּאָה, (שמות קכ"ו, ר"ח ע"ב) דְּקַיְּימָא עָלָהּ וְנָהִיר לָהּ. וְדָא לָא אַפִּיק לָהּ נְהוֹרָא, אֶלָּא בְּאִלֵּין תְּרֵין (ס"א באינון דרגין) דַּרְגִּין דְּעָלֵיהּ. אִשְׁתְּכַח, דְּד' אִלֵּין אַרְבַּע גְּאוּלוֹת נִינְהוּ.
Further, we call those four “deliverances”, because this last grade1Malkuth. is called “deliverer”, and that only on account of another higher grade which illumines it, and that one does not do so save through the agency of two more which are above it, so that in all there are four deliverances.’