# Four Worlds

The Four Worlds (Hebrew: עולמות ʿOlāmot, singular: ʿOlām עולם), sometimes counted with a primordial world, Adam Kadmon, and called the Five Worlds, are the comprehensive categories of spiritual realms in Kabbalah in a descending chain of existence.
The concept of "Worlds" denotes the emanation of creative lifeforce from the Ein Sof or Godhead through progressive, innumerable tzimtzumim or concealments. Kabbalists identified the names of these worlds from Isaiah 43:7, "All who are linked to My name, Whom I have created, Formed, and made for My glory (Biblical Hebrew: כֹּ֚ל הַנִּקְרָ֣א בִשְׁמִ֔י וְלִכְבוֹדִ֖י בְּרָאתִ֑יו יְצַרְתִּ֖יו אַף־עֲשִׂיתִֽיו׃, romanized: Kol hanniqrā b̲išmi wəlik̲b̲od̲i bərāt̲iw yəṣartiw ʾap̲-ʿăśit̲iw.)". The names are thus Beri'ah "Creation," Yetzirah "Formation," Assiah "Action," and Atziluth "Emanation." Below Assiah, the lowest spiritual world, is the Assiah gashmi "Physical Assiah," the physical universe, which enclothes the last two sefirot, Yesod and Malkuth. Collectively, the Four Worlds are referred to as אבי״ע Aviyaʿ after their initial letters. In addition to the functional role each world has in the process of creation, they also embody dimensions of consciousness within human experience.

## Enumeration

Part of a series on :
Kabbalah :
Concepts
Ein Sof
Tzimtzum
Ohr
Ayin and Yesh
Sefirot
Four Worlds
Seder hishtalshelut
Tree of Life
The path of the flaming sword
Merkavah
Jewish angelic hierarchy
Shekhinah
Partzufim
Qlippoth
Tohu and Tikun
Sparks of holiness
Messianic rectification
Gilgul
Kabbalistic astrology
Gematria
Notarikon
Temurah
Names of God in Judaism
Shemhamphorasch
Tzadik
Tzadikim Nistarim
Anthropomorphism in Kabbalah
Panentheism :
History
Pre-Kabbalistic Jewish mysticism
Tannaim
Heichalot
Sefer Yetzirah
Chassidei Ashkenaz
Medieval
Bahir
Toledano tradition
Prophetic Kabbalah
Zohar
Kabbalistic commentaries on the Bible
Mainstream displacement of rationalism with Kabbalah
Renaissance
Selective influence on Western thought
Hermetic Qabalah
Mysticism after Spanish expulsion
Mystics of 16th-century Safed
Cordoveran Kabbalah
Lurianic Kabbalah
Maharal's thought
Popular Kabbalistic Mussar
Early modern
Baal Shem-Nistarim
Sabbatean mystical heresies
Emden–Eybeschutz controversy
Immigration to the Land of Israel
Traditional Oriental Kabbalists
Beit El Synagogue
Eastern European Judaism
Hasidic Judaism / philosophy
Lithuanian Jews
Hasidic-Mitnagdic schism
Modern
Hasidic dynasties
Mysticism in religious Zionism
Academic interest in Jewish mysticism
Non-Orthodox interest in Jewish mysticism
English
James Lees' :
Practices
Torah study
Mystical exegesis
Mitzvot
Minhag
Customary immersion in mikveh
Meditation
Kavanot
Teshuvah
Deveikut
Prayer
Nusach
Tikkun Chatzot
Tikkun Leil Shavuot
Pilgrimage to Tzadik
Pilgrimage to holy grave
Lag BaOmer at Meron
Asceticism
Rosicrucianism
Practical Kabbalah :
People
100s
Four Who Entered the Pardes
Simeon bar Yochai
1100s
Isaac the Blind
Azriel
1200s
Nahmanides
Abraham Abulafia
Joseph ben Abraham Gikatilla
Moses de Leon
Menahem Recanati
1300s
Bahya ben Asher
1400s
1500s
Meir ibn Gabbai
Joseph Karo
Shlomo Alkabetz
Moshe Alshich
Moses ben Jacob Cordovero
Isaac Luria
Chaim Vital
Judah Loew ben Bezalel
1600s
Isaiah Horowitz
Abraham Azulai
1700s
Chaim ibn Attar
Baal Shem Tov
Dov Ber of Mezeritch
Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
Shalom Sharabi
Vilna Gaon
Chaim Joseph David Azulai
Nathan Adler
Schneur Zalman of Liadi
Chaim Volozhin
1800s
Nachman of Breslov
Ben Ish Chai
Shlomo Eliyashiv
1900s
Abraham Isaac Kook
Yehuda Ashlag
Baba Sali
Menachem Mendel Schneerson :
Role
History
Torah
Tanakh
Prophecy
Ruach HaKodesh
Pardes exegesis
Talmudical hermeneutics
Midrash
Jewish commentaries on the Bible
Oral Torah
Eras of Rabbinic Judaism
Generational descent in Halacha
Generational ascent in Kabbalah
Rabbinic literature
Talmudic theology
Halakha
Aggadah
Hakira
Classic Mussar literature
Ashkenazi Judaism
Sephardi Judaism
Modern Jewish philosophies
Jewish studies
Topics
God in Judaism
Divine transcendence
Divine immanence
Free will
Divine providence
Kabbalistic reasons for the 613 Mitzvot
Jewish principles of faith
Jewish eschatology
Primary texts :
vte :
The Worlds are formed by the Light that fills all worlds, the divine creative light or ohr that is divine immanence. The ten sefirot "attributes" and their associated twelve partzufim or "personas" reflect this light in the Four Worlds, as do more specific Divine manifestations. In Lurianic Kabbalah, the partzufim interact dynamically, and sublime levels are clothed within lower existences, a concealed soul. Nonetheless, in each world, sefirot and partzufim predominate. The Five Worlds are, in descending order:
* Adam Kadmon (אָדָם קַדְמוֹן) or the Cosmic Man. The anthropomorphic metaphor of Adam Qadmon denotes the Yosher "Upright" arrangement of the sefirot as the tree of life, which is then personified in the form of man, though not yet manifest. "Kadmon" signifies "primary of all primaries", the first pristine emanation, still united with the Ein Sof. Adam Kadmon is the realm of "Keter Elyon" or "Supernal Crown", lucid and luminous lights (tzachtzachot), the pure but concealed sefirot. Regarding the future emergence of Creation, it represents the divine light with no vessels, the manifestation of the specific Divine plan for existence within Creation. In Lurianic Kabbalah, the lights from Adam Kadmon precipitate Tohu and Tikun. As Keter is elevated above the sefirot, Adam Qadmon is supreme above the Worlds; therefore, it is generally not ennumerated in the list of spiritual worlds.
* Atziluth (אֲצִילוּת) Emanation. On this level, the light of the Ein Sof radiates but is still united with its source. This supreme revelation precludes the souls and emanations in Atziluth from sensing or perceiving their existence. In Atziluth, the ten sefirot emerge in revelation, with Chochma "Wisdom" dominating. In the context of Atziluth, the last sefira, Malkuth "Kingdom", represents the "divine speech" of the first Genesis creation narrative, through which God created the universe. It is through this Malkuth that the lower worlds are sustained.
* Beri'ah (בְּרִיאָה or alternatively בְּרִיָּה), meaning World of Creation. On this level is the first concept of creatio ex nihilo (Yesh miAyin), however without yet shape or form, as the creations of Beriah sense their own existence, though in nullification of being (Bittul HaMetziut) to divinity. Beriah is the realm of the "Divine Throne", denoting the sefirot configuration of Atziluth descending into Beriah like a King on a Throne. The sefirah Binah (Understanding) predominates, representing Divine intellect.
* Yetzirah (יְצִירָה),Formation. On this level, created beings assume shape and form. The emotional sefirot, Chesed through Yesod, predominate. The souls and angels within Yetzirah worship through divine emotion and striving as they sense their distance from the Understanding of Beriah. This ascent and descent channel the divine vitality through the Worlds, furthering the divine purpose. Therefore, the main angels, such as the seraphim, are in Yetzirah, denoting their burning consummation in divine emotion.
* Assiah (עֲשִׂיָּה), meaning World of Action. On this level, Creation is complete, differentiated and particular, as by this point the Divine vitality has undergone much concealment and diminution. However, it is still on a spiritual level. The angels of Assiah function on the active level, as the sefirah Malkuth (fulfilment in Kingship) predominates. Below spiritual Assiah is Assiah Gashmi (עֲשִׂיָה גַשׁמִי ʿăśiyā g̲ašmi "Physical Asiyah"), the final, lowest realm of existence, our material Universe with all its creations. Much like how the sefirah Malkuth within Atziluth is the conduit by which the later worlds emanate, the final sefirot of Assiah are the point by which the physical universe derives.

## Meaning

The Four Worlds are spiritual, heavenly realms in a descending chain, although the lowest world of Assiah has both a spiritual and a physical aspect. The physical level of Assiah is our physical finite realm, including the cosmological Universe studied by science. Consequently, as Kabbalah becomes more of a metaphysical study, the terms "higher" and "lower" are used as metaphors for being closer or further from Divine consciousness, revelation, and emanance. The 16th-century systemisation of Kabbalah by Moses ben Jacob Cordovero brought the preceding interpretations and schools into their first complete rational synthesis. Subsequent doctrines of Kabbalah from Isaac Luria, describe an initial tzimtzum (withdrawal of the universal Divine consciousness that preceded Creation) to "allow room" for created beings on lower levels of consciousness. Lower levels of consciousness require the self-perception of independent existence, by the created beings on each level, to prevent their loss of identity before the magnificence of God. This illusion increases with more force in each subsequent descending realm. The number of graduations between the Infinite and the finite, is likewise infinite, and arises from innumerable, progressively strong concealments of the Divine light. Nonetheless, the four worlds represent fundamental categories of Divine consciousness from each other, which delineates their four descriptions. Consequently, each world also psychologically represents a spiritual rung of ascent in human consciousness, as it approaches the Divine.
Kabbalah distinguishes between two types of Divine light that emanate through the 10 sefirot (Divine emanations) from the Infinite (Ein Sof), to create or affect reality. There is a continual flow of a "lower" light, the Mimalei Kol Olmin, the light of eminence that "fills all worlds" is the creating force in each descending world, that itself continually brings everything in that level of existence into being from nothing. It is this light that undergoes the various divine concealments and contractions as it descends downward to create the next level, and adapts itself to the capacity of each created being on each level. A transcendent higher light Sovev Kol Olmin, the light that "surrounds all worlds" would be the manifestation on a particular level of a higher light which above the capacity of that realm to contain. This is ultimately rooted in the infinite light ("Ohr Ein Sof") that preceded Creation, the Tzimtzum and the Sephirot, rather than the source of the immanent light in the "Kav" (first emanation of creation after the Tzimtzum), in the teachings of Isaac Luria. Consequently, all the worlds are dependent for their continual existence on the flow of Divinity they constantly receive from the Divine Will to create them. Creation is continuous. The faculty of Divine Will is represented in the sefirot (10 Divine emanations) by the first, supra-conscious Sephirah of "Keter"-Crown, that transcends the lower 9 Sephirot of conscious intellect and emotion. Once the Divine Will is manifest, then it actualises Creation through Divine Intellect, and "subsequently" Divine Emotion, until it results in action. The reference to temporal cause and effect is itself a metaphor. The psychology of man also reflects the "Divine psychology" of the sefirot, as "Man is created in the image of God" (Genesis 1:27). In man the activation of willpower through intellect and emotion until deed, requires time and subsequent cause and effect. In the Divine Sephirot and their activation of Creation, this does not apply, as limitations only apply to Creation.
The Book of Job states that "from my flesh I see God". In Kabbalah and Hasidism this is understood to refer to the correspondence between the "Divine psychology" of the Four Worlds and the Sephirot, with human psychology and the Sephirot in the soul of man. From understanding the Kabbalistic description of the human soul, we can grasp the meaning of the Divine scheme. Ultimately, this is seen as the reason that God chose to emanate His Divinity through the 10 Sephirot, and chose to create the corresponding chain of four Worlds (called the "Seder hishtalshelus"-"order of development"). He could have chosen to bridge the infinite gap between the Ein Sof and our World by a leap of Divine decree. Instead the Sephirot and Four Worlds allow man to understand Divinity through Divine manifestation, by understanding himself. The verse in Genesis of this correspondence also describes the feminine half of Creation: (Genesis 1:27) "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him, male and female created He them". Consequently, some of the sefirot are feminine, and the Shechina (immanent Divine presence) is seen as feminine. It is the intimate relationship between the Divine scheme of four World and man, that allows man's ascent more easily to Divine consciousness (see Dveikus).

## Correspondences

| World: | Descriptions: | Dominant Sephirah: | Letter of Tetragrammaton: | Level of soul: | Level of Torah-PaRDeS: | Other associations: |
| Adam Kadmon "Primordial Man" | Primary form of Kav Above consciousness Sephirot concealed Latent potential Tetragrammatons United with Ein Sof Divine intent Pure light, no vessels | Keter-Crown In relation to 4 Worlds Inherent Will to Create Revealed in Keter-Will of Atzilut | Apex atop י Yud Above representation Alluded to by thorn | Yechidah-Singular Essence of soul Unity with God | Sod Sh'b'Sod Secret within Secret Reflects Atzmut-Essence Inner soul of Torah Yechidah-source of Torah | Beyond all names Including all names Beyond good-bad polarity |
| Atziluth "Emanation/Nearness" | From Tohu to Tikun Sephirot revealed First perception Unrestricted illumination Divine insight No self-awareness Nullification of Essence Divine All | Chochmah-Wisdom Source of intellect Partzuf of Abba-Father | י Yud Dimensionless point First illumination-Male Dot in the Palace | Chayah-Living Encompassing soul Spiritual awareness | Sod-Secret Kabbalah Soul of Torah Chayah-Wisdom of Torah | Concealed World with Beriah Divine name ע״ב Divine good Ayin-Nothingness Torah scroll Ta'amim-Notes |
| Beri'ah "Creation" | Formless existence First self-awareness Parsah-Veil from Atzilut to Beriah Divine Intellect Nullification of Being First sensed Creation Divine Throne Higher Garden of Eden | Binah-Understanding Grasp of intellect Partzuf of Imma-Mother | Higher ה Hei Dimensional expansion Vessel for intellect-Female Palace | Neshamah-Breath Divine intellect in soul Highest internalised potential Breath is internalised | Drush-Homiletic Midrash Neshamah-Understanding of Torah Aggadah alludes to Kabbalah | Divine name ס״ג Mostly good Little potential source of bad Thought garment Torah scroll Nekudot-Vowels |
| Yetzirah "Formation" | General existence Divine Emotions Striving for ascent Awareness of distance Active self-nullification Archetypal forms Lower Garden of Eden | Midot-6 Emotions Chesed to Yesod Centred round Tiferet Partzuf of Zeir Anpin-Son | ו Vav Descending illumination Emotional revelation-Male Reveals Da'at-Knowledge | Ruach-Spirit Divine emotions in soul Potential internalised spirit Emotional movement | Remez-Hint Ruach-Emotions of Torah Soul of simple meaning Some Torah commentaries | Revealed World with Asiyah Divine name מ״ה Equal good-bad potential Speech garment Torah scroll Tagin-Crowns |
| Asiyah "Action" | Particular existence Divine action Concealment of God 1 Asiyah Ruchni-Spiritual Below it: 2 Asiyah Gashmi-Physical Purpose of Creation | Malkuth-Kingship Fulfilment in action Partzuf of Nukvah-Daughter Shechinah-Divine Presence | Lower ה Hei Dimensional expansion Vessel for emotions-Female Nurtures action | Nefesh-Lifeforce Vitality of actions Invested in body | Pshat-Simple Nefesh-Physicality of Torah Halachah and Torah narratives | Divine name ב״ן Mostly bad-little good Action garment Torah scroll Otiyot-Letters |