Home › Glossary › Letter S

Sephirot

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

In Jewish Kabbalah, the ten attributes or emanations through which the Infinite (Ein Sof) reveals itself and continuously creates both the physical and metaphysical realms.

Detailed Definition
The Sephirot (e.g., Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet) form the symbolic "Tree of Life," mapping the process of creation and the path of divine energy into the world. They represent a complex cosmology and a guide for spiritual ascent. For poets and mystics, the Sephirot provide a rich symbolic language for describing the multifaceted nature of God, the structure of the soul, and the interplay of divine qualities like judgment and mercy. They offer a framework for understanding how the infinite can be manifest in the finite.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Kabbalistic poetry, Sephirot are divine emanations: “Tree of Life—Sephirot map mercy, judgment, beauty”; In mystical verse, Sephirot balance: “Chesed and Gevurah—Sephirot, arms of divine embrace”; In contemporary poetry, Sephirot inspire integration: “Ten facets—Sephirot mirror my complex soul”; Poets use Sephirot for growth: “Climb the Tree—Sephirot guide from fear to wisdom.”
Additional Notes
Sephirot are the ten emanations of Ein Sof (Infinite) in Kabbalah—Kether (Crown) to Malkuth (Kingdom)—mapping divine attributes and cosmic structure; they form the Tree of Life, a tool for meditation; poets use sephirotic imagery to explore balance (chesed/mercy and gevurah/judgment) and the soul’s journey through divine qualities toward unity.
Also Known As
Sefirot Divine Emanations
Skip to main content