The Hebrew term Geburah (גבורה) literally has several meanings, including “rigor,” “strength,” “courage,” “valor,” and “power.” This sephirah of the Kabbalistic tree of life is located below Binah, opposite Chesed, and above Hod, Gevurah is “the essence of judgment and imitation”, corresponds to the ability to impress and the element of fire.
Gevurah is the second Sefirot found in the world of the Beriah (“Creation”), and which corresponds to the “left hand of GOD”, i.e. understood as GOD’s way of punishing the wicked and judging humanity. Thus the foundation of rigor, absolute adherence to the Law and strict adherence to justice.
Gevurah is among GOD’s primary ways of acting, as opposed to Chesed’s goodness and irresponsibility, there is Gevurah’s “rigor” and “strict responsibility”. Defined in fact as “power” because of the power of GOD’s absolute judgment.
Thus we speak of GOD’s primary ways of acting as Chesed’s goodness and irresponsibility, against Gevurah’s rigor and severe responsibility, is in fact called “power” because of the power of GOD’s absolute judgment.
Gevurah in the Soul is associated with the power to restrain one’s innate impulse to give good to others indiscriminately, even when the recipient of that good is considered unworthy and capable of abusing it. As the force that measures and evaluates the value of Creation, Gevurah is also referred to in Kabbalah as “Midat Hadin” (“the attribute of judgment”).
Chesed and Gevurah act together to create an inner balance in the Soul’s approach to the outside world. While Chesed’s “right arm” works to bring others closer, Gevurah’s “left arm” reserves the right to reject those deemed undeserving. (Even towards those to whom the initial relationship is that of the “left arm that rejects”, the complementary principle “of the right arm that approaches” must be subsequently applied).
Ultimately, Gevurah’s power becomes the power and strength to realize Chesed’s innate desire. Only with the power of Gevurah Chesed is he able to penetrate the opposite surface of reality. Baal Shem Tov discusses Gevurah’s ability to perform the divine retreat (Tzimtzum), which in turn creates Chesed’s potential in creation.
Gevurah appears in the Sefirot configuration along the left axis, directly below Binah, and corresponds in the tzelem Elokim to the “left arm”.
- Attribute:
RIGOUR – Rigour allows us to arrive very far, and this happens in every field, spiritual, professional and familiar. Rigour is a more “earthly” form than its opposite Chesed (“mercy”), more intangible and spiritual, but in our reality certainly more powerful in its effects. - Biblical characters associated:
• ISAAC – The much-desired son who eventually came late in life to Abraham and Sarah. His life is narrated in the first Book of the Bible (Genesis 15-35). In Islam he is called Ishāq, and in the Koran he is mentioned in the Surah (21 and 37) as a prophet and righteous man of GOD. His name (“will laugh” or “laughed”), comes from his mother Sarah’s reaction to hearing the prophecy of his birth, because she was old and apparently barren.
According to the narrative Isaac was the only patriarch who did not move out of Canaan, dying at the age of 180, the longest lived of the three patriarchs (the steadfastness and strength of Geburha)
- Associated body part:
LEFT ARM – The element associated with this sephira is the left arm the element associated with this sephira is the left arm, the one that serves to ward off evil, keep it at a distance from our actions. Strong and determined to demonstrate its power of justice.
Along the left “path” and “two steps” away from the very top, the Divine Attributes begin to be delineated in those who acquire Geburah, and the aspects of the Soul to possess will be:
- Judgment:
• Being judgmental corresponds to both having sound principles and knowing the Law.
- Imitating GOD:
• – Imitate the Father, make us Gods alike, as suggested by Psalm 82, for we were created to elevate ourselves: “Be ye holy, for I the LORD your GOD am holy” (Leviticus 19:2)
- Netzach (through 10 – yod – י )
- Tiphareth (through 30 – lamed – ל )
- Geburah (through 50 – nun – נ )
- Chokmah (through 80 – pe – פ )