The forehead. The secret of the forehead belongs under the sign of the letter Nun, which forms the completion of the letter Zain; sometimes this is included in the symbolism of Zain and sometimes it stands separately. A forehead which rises sharply upward from the nose, being straight and flat without any outward curve or rounding, indicates that its owner is somewhat thoughtless. Such a man will consider himself wise, though in reality he knows little. His temper will be quick, and his tongue like a serpent’s.
If his forehead has large uneven furrows when he speaks, but other lines on his forehead lie even, he is not a person to associate with save for a brief period. Whatever he plans or does is only for his own advantage; he cares for no one but himself. He is incapable of keeping any secret entrusted to him, and the saying, “A tale- bearer revealeth secrets” (Prov. 11, 13) is true of him; indeed, he cares not what he says. This type of person belongs to the mystery of the letter Nun when it is contained in the letter Zain. Such a one may be thought of as anything but reliable.
A fine and rounded forehead indicates a man of great penetration, but whose judgement is sometimes clouded. He loves cheerfulness, and is kindhearted to all. He has high intellectual interests. Should he study the Torah he will become very proficient.
When he speaks three large wrinkles appear on his forehead and three smaller ones above each eye. If when he is angry he weeps, he is better than he appears to be. In word and deed he is forthright and cares nothing for anyone. He will study the Torah with profit. Anyone who allies himself with him will derive benefit from the association and will profit even in secular matters. He is not consistently pious. In legal affairs he will always be unlucky, and should therefore avoid such embroilments as far as possible. This type stands in the symbolism of the letter Nun alone when it is not included in the Zain. It is for this reason that he must shun legal matters, since he does not belong to the region of justice, but to that of love and mercy.
A person whose forehead is large and yet unrounded- the kind of man who always bends his head, whether he stand or move-this type can be divided into two classes, both witless. The madness of the one is evident, apparent to all; such a person is an acknowledged idiot.
On his forehead are four large wrinkles, which usually appear when he speaks. Sometimes, however, the skin of his forehead is stretched and the wrinkles are not evident, but other larger ones appear close to his eyes. He laughs for no reason, and at nothing. His mouth is large and loose. Such a man is of no worth or use. The other kind of madness included in this type is less apparent, and is unnoticeable in common intercourse. Such a man may pursue study with success, even the study of the Torah, though he will not take it up for its own sake, but only to make a show. He makes a great parade of his religion, to give the impression that he is deeply pious, but in reality he has no thought of God, but only of man. The one object of all his thoughts and behaviour is to draw attention to himself. This type, with its two distinct variants, also stands under the sign of the Nun when it is contained in the Zain.
A large rounded forehead indicates one who is openminded and generally gifted. He can acquire any kind of knowledge, even without a teacher. His undertakings are uniformly successful, except when they are concerned with money matters, in which he sometimes comes to grief. He can infer great things from small; hence he is rightly called discerning. He is detached from the things of this world, and even when he knows that he will suffer by not considering earthly matters he pays them no heed. He is tenderhearted.
His forehead is deeply furrowed by two wrinkles, set high upon his brow, one over each eye. His forehead also has three long lines, and between his eyes is the double vertical furrow which signifies deep thought. He is always concerned with realities and not with appearances, because he does not care what men say about him. He is never afraid for long. He is very conciliatory. To outsiders his acts appear sometimes childish and sometimes wise- This type also stands in the sign of the Nun when it is separated and not included in the Zain. So much for the mystery connected with the study of the forehead.
בְּרָזָא דְּמִצְחָא, בְּאָת נ', דְּאִיהוּ שְׁלִימוּ דְּאָת זַיִ"ן, לְזִמְנִין אִתְכְּלִילַת בְּרָזָא דְּאָת ז', וּלְזִמְנִין אִיהוּ בִּלְחוֹדָהָא. מִצְחָא דְּאִיהוּ דָּקִיק וְחַד, בְּלָא עִגּוּלָא דָּא הוּא בַּר נָשׁ דְּלָא מִתְיַישְׁבָא בְּדַעְתֵּיהּ, חָשִׁיב דְּאִיהוּ חַכִּים, וְלא יָדַע. אִתְבְּהִיל בְּרוּחֵיהּ. חֲיִּיךְ (ס"א נשיך) בְּלִישָׁנֵיהּ כְּחִוְיָא.
The forehead. The secret of the forehead belongs under the sign of the letter Nun, which forms the completion of the letter Zain; sometimes this is included in the symbolism of Zain and sometimes it stands separately. A forehead which rises sharply upward from the nose, being straight and flat without any outward curve or rounding, indicates that its owner is somewhat thoughtless. Such a man will consider himself wise, though in reality he knows little. His temper will be quick, and his tongue like a serpent’s.
קְמִיטִין דְּמִצְחֵיהּ רַבְרְבָן, וְלָאו אִינּוּן בְּזִוּוּגָא. בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּמַלִּיל אִתְעָבִידוּ אִינּוּן קְמִיטִין בְּמִצְחֵיהּ, וְלָאו בְּזִוּוּגָא. רְשִׁימִין אַחֲרָנִין דִּי בְּמִצְחֵיהּ כֻּלְּהוּ בְּזִוּוּגָא. דָּא, בָּעֵי דְּלָא לְאִזְדַּוְּוגָא לֵיהּ, אֶלָּא זִמְנָא זְעֵירָא, וְלָא זִמְנָא סַגִּי. כָּל מַה דְּעָבַד וְחָשַׁב, אִיהוּ לְתוֹעַלְתֵּיה, וְלָא חָיִישׁ לְתוֹעַלְתָּא דְּאַחֲרָנִין. לָאו אִיהוּ מָארֵי דְּרָזִין כְּלָל. דָּא אִיהוּ, (משלי י״א:י״ג) הוֹלֵךְ רָכִיל מְגַלֶּה סּוֹד, וְלָא חָשִׁיב מִלּוֹי כְּלָל. דָּא אִיהוּ בְּרָזָא דְּאָת נ' דִּכְלִילָא בְּאָת ז', וְלָא אִקְרֵי נֶאֱמָן רוּחַ בְּקִיּוּמָא.
If his forehead has large uneven furrows when he speaks, but other lines on his forehead lie even, he is not a person to associate with save for a brief period. Whatever he plans or does is only for his own advantage; he cares for no one but himself. He is incapable of keeping any secret entrusted to him, and the saying, “A tale- bearer revealeth secrets” (Prov. 11, 13) is true of him; indeed, he cares not what he says. This type of person belongs to the mystery of the letter Nun when it is contained in the letter Zain. Such a one may be thought of as anything but reliable.
מִצְחָא דָּקִיק בְּעִגּוּלָא, דָּא אִיהוּ בַּר נָשׁ חַכִּימָא, בְּמָה דְּאִסְתָּכַּל. לְזִמְנִין אִתְבְּהִיל בְּרוּחֵיהּ. רְחִימוּ דִּילֵיהּ בְּחֶדְוָה. רַחֲמָן אִיהוּ עַל כֹּלָּא, אִסְתָּכַּל בְּמִלִּין סַגִּיאִין. אִי יִשְׁתָּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא לֶהֱוֵי חַכִּים יַתִּיר.
A fine and rounded forehead indicates a man of great penetration, but whose judgement is sometimes clouded. He loves cheerfulness, and is kindhearted to all. He has high intellectual interests. Should he study the Torah he will become very proficient.
תְּלַת קְמִיטִין עִלָּאִין רַבְרְבִין בְּמִצְחֵיהּ בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִיהוּ מַלִּיל. תְּלַת קְמִיטִין קָרִיב לְעֵינָא חַד. וּתְלַת קְמִיטִין עַל עֵינָא אַחֲרָא. בָּכֵי בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאַרְגִּיז. דָּא אִיהוּ טָב יַתִּיר מִכַּמָּה דְּאִתְחָזֵי. אַרְמִי בָּתַר כִּתְפוֹי כָּל מִלִּין דְּעָלְמָא, בֵּין בְּעוֹבָדוֹי, בֵּין בְּמִלִּין אַחֲרָנִין, וְלָא חָיִישׁ. אַצְלַח בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. כָּל בַּר נָשׁ דְּיִשְׁתְּדַל בַּהֲדֵיהּ יַתִּיר מִמִּלִּין אַחֲרָנִין דְּעָלְמָא, לְזִמְנִין אִתְדְּבָק רְעִוּתֵיהּ בְּקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּלְזִמְנִין לָא. בְּדִינָא לָא אַצְלַח. אִתְרְחַק אִיהוּ מִן דִּינָא. וְרָזָא דָּא אָת נ' בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, דְּלָא אִתְכְּלִילַת בְּאָת ז'. וּבְגִין דְּלָא אִתְכְּלִילַת בְּאָת ז', אִתְרְחַק מִן דִּינָא, וְלָא קָאִים בֵּיהּ, וּרְחִימוּתָא אִיהוּ סִטְרָא דִּילֵיהּ.
When he speaks three large wrinkles appear on his forehead and three smaller ones above each eye. If when he is angry he weeps, he is better than he appears to be. In word and deed he is forthright and cares nothing for anyone. He will study the Torah with profit. Anyone who allies himself with him will derive benefit from the association and will profit even in secular matters. He is not consistently pious. In legal affairs he will always be unlucky, and should therefore avoid such embroilments as far as possible. This type stands in the symbolism of the letter Nun alone when it is not included in the Zain. It is for this reason that he must shun legal matters, since he does not belong to the region of justice, but to that of love and mercy.
מִצְחָא דְּאִיהוּ בְּלָא עִגּוּלָא, וְאִיהוּ רַבְרְבָא. הַאי אִיהוּ בַּר נָשׁ דְּכָל זִמְנִין כַּד קָאִים, וְכַד אָזִיל, כָּפִיף רֵישֵׁיהּ. הַאי אִתְפְּלִיג לִתְרֵין לְסִטְרִין, וְאִינּוּן סִטְרֵי שִׁגְעוֹנָא. סִטְרָא חֲדָא אִיהוּ שִׁגְעוֹנָא דְּאִתְחָזֵי, וּבְנֵי נָשָׁא אַחֲרָנִין יַדְעִין שִׁגְעוֹנָא, דְּאִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָא קַמֵי כֹּלָּא. וְאִיהוּ טִפְּשָׁא.
A person whose forehead is large and yet unrounded- the kind of man who always bends his head, whether he stand or move-this type can be divided into two classes, both witless. The madness of the one is evident, apparent to all; such a person is an acknowledged idiot.
בְּמִצְחֵיהּ אִית ד' קְמִיטִין רַבְרְבִין, לְזִמְנִין בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּמַלִּיל קָמִיט לוֹן בְּמִצְחֵיהּ, וּלְזִמְנִין דְּאִתְפְּשַׁט מִצְחֵיהּ בְּמַשְׁכֵיהּ, וְלָא אִתְחָזוּן. אִינּוּן קְמִיטִין אִתְחָזוּן, קְמִיטִין אַחֲרָנִין רַבְרְבִין בְּסִטְרָא דְּעֵינוֹי, חַיִיךְ לְמַגָּנָא. פּוּמֵיהּ רַבְרְבָא. לָאו אִיהוּ בַר נָשׁ לְתוֹעַלְתָּא. סִטְרָא אַחֲרָא אִיהוּ. שִׁגְעוֹנָא דְּאִתְכַּסֵּי בֵּיהּ, וּבְנֵי נָשָׁא לָא מִסְתַּכְּלָן בֵּיהּ. וְאִיהוּ אִתְחַכָּם בְּמָה דְּאִשְׁתַּדַּל, וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, אֲבָל לָא לִשְׁמָהּ, אֶלָּא בְּגִין לְאִתְגָּאָה בִּפְנֵי עַמָּא. וְכֹלָּא בִּלְחִישׁוּ וּבְגַאֲוַת לִבָּא, לְאַחֲזָאָה דְּאִיהוּ זַכָּאָה וְלָאו הָכִי. כָּל מִלּוֹי לָאו אִינּוּן לִשְׁמָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אֶלָּא בְּגִין בְּנֵי נָשָׁא. וְחָשִׁיב מַחֲשָׁבִין, וְאַנְהִיג גַּרְמֵיהּ. כְּמִנְהָגָא דִּלְבַר, דְּיִסְתַּכְּלוּן בֵּיהּ. הַאי אִיהוּ בְּרָזָא דְּאָת נ', דִּי בִּכְלָלָא דְּאָת ז'.
On his forehead are four large wrinkles, which usually appear when he speaks. Sometimes, however, the skin of his forehead is stretched and the wrinkles are not evident, but other larger ones appear close to his eyes. He laughs for no reason, and at nothing. His mouth is large and loose. Such a man is of no worth or use. The other kind of madness included in this type is less apparent, and is unnoticeable in common intercourse. Such a man may pursue study with success, even the study of the Torah, though he will not take it up for its own sake, but only to make a show. He makes a great parade of his religion, to give the impression that he is deeply pious, but in reality he has no thought of God, but only of man. The one object of all his thoughts and behaviour is to draw attention to himself. This type, with its two distinct variants, also stands under the sign of the Nun when it is contained in the Zain.
מִצְחָא דְּאִיהוּ בְּעִגּוּלָא רַבְרְבָא, פְּקִיחָא אִיהוּ, דָבְּרָנוּ (ס"א דכרנו) דְּכֹלָּא בֵּיהּ. יָדַע בְּכָל מַה דְּאִשְׁתַּדַּל, אֲפִילּוּ בְּלָא אוּמָנָא דְּיוֹלִיף לֵיהּ. אַצְלַח בְּכָל מַה דְּאִשְׁתַּדַּל. וּבְמָמוֹנָא, לְזִמְנִין אַצְלַח, לְזִמְנִין לָא. מִמִּלָּה זְעֵירָא אִסְתָּכַל בְּמִלִּין סַגִּיאִין. נָבוֹן אִקְרֵי. לָא חָיִישׁ לְמִלִּין דְּעָלְמָא, וַאֲפִילּוּ דְּיִנְדַּע דְּיִתְכְּסִיף בְּהוּ לָא חָיִישׁ לוֹן, וְלָא שָׁוִי עַל לִבֵּיהּ. רָכִיךְ לִבָּא אִיהוּ.
A large rounded forehead indicates one who is openminded and generally gifted. He can acquire any kind of knowledge, even without a teacher. His undertakings are uniformly successful, except when they are concerned with money matters, in which he sometimes comes to grief. He can infer great things from small; hence he is rightly called discerning. He is detached from the things of this world, and even when he knows that he will suffer by not considering earthly matters he pays them no heed. He is tenderhearted.
תְּרֵין קְמִיטִין עִלָּאִין רַבְרְבִין בְּמִצְחֵיהּ. חַד קְמִיטָא עַל עֵינָא חַד, וְחַד קְמִיטָא עַל עֵינָא אַחֲרָא. וְאִשְׁתְּכָחוּ תְּלַת קְמִיטִין רַבְרְבִין בְּמִצְחֵיהּ, בְּאִלֵּין דְּעַיְינִין, בַּר קְמִיטָא תַּתָּאָה, דְּאִיהוּ אִתְפְּלַג עַל עַיְינִין. דָּא חָשִׁיב מַחֲשָׁבִין לְגוֹ וְלָא לְבַר. בְּגִין דְּלָא חָשִׁיב לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא בְּעוֹבָדוֹי, וְדָחִיל אִיהוּ לְפוּם שַׁעֲתָא, וְלָא יַתִּיר. לְפַיּוּסָא, אִתְפַּיְּיסָא בְּעוֹבָדוֹי דִּלְבַר מִקָּמֵי בַּר נָשׁ, לָאו אִינּוּן, אֶלָּא לְזִמְנִין כְּרַבְיָא, וּלְזִמְנִין בְּחָכְמָה. דָּא אִיהוּ בְּרָזָא דְּאָת נ', דְּאִיהוּ בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, דְּלָא אִתְכְּלִיל בְּאָת ז'. וְחַלְשָׁא אִיהוּ, דְּלָא אִתְכְּלִיל בְּאִלֵּין אַתְוָון קַדְמָאֵי, אֶלָּא אִסְתְּמִיךְ לְאָת ס' לְאִתְכְּלָלָא בֵּיהּ. וְלָא בְּאַתְוָון קַדְמָאֵי. עַד הָכָא רָזִין דְּחָכְמְתָא דְּמִצְחָא.
His forehead is deeply furrowed by two wrinkles, set high upon his brow, one over each eye. His forehead also has three long lines, and between his eyes is the double vertical furrow which signifies deep thought. He is always concerned with realities and not with appearances, because he does not care what men say about him. He is never afraid for long. He is very conciliatory. To outsiders his acts appear sometimes childish and sometimes wise- This type also stands in the sign of the Nun when it is separated and not included in the Zain. So much for the mystery connected with the study of the forehead.