Daf 74a (דַּף ע״ד ע״א)

The form of Imma-face of a man, face of a lion, face of an ox, face of an eagle (צִיּוּרָא דְּאִימָּא, פְּנֵי אָדָ״ם, פְּנֵי אַרְיֵ״ה, פְּנֵי שׁוֹ״ר, פְּנֵי נֶשֶׁ״ר). And the Spirit creates the form of them all outwardly, according to the moment (וְרוּחָא עָבִיד צִיּוּרָא דְּכֻלְּהוּ לְבַר לְפוּם שַׁעֲתָא), because everything that comes from the side of spirit emerges outward (בְּגִין דְּכָל מַה דְּאִיהוּ מִסִּטְרָא דְּרוּחָא בָּלְטָא לְבַר), and it is seen and concealed (וְאִתְחַזֵּי וְאִתְגְּנִיז). And all these images appear, formed in the image of the letters, even though they are concealed (וְכָל הָנֵי דִּיוּקְנִין אִתְחַזְיָין, מִתְצַיְּירָן בְּצִיּוּרָא דְּאַתְוָון אַף עַל גַּב דְּאִינּוּן גְּנִיזִין). These four images are revealed temporarily (אִלֵּין אַרְבַּע דִּיוּקְנִין אִתְחַזְיָין לְפוּם שַׁעֲתָא) to those masters of vision (לְאִינוּן מָארֵי דְּעַיְּינִין), who know the secret of wisdom to gaze upon them (דְּיַדְּעִין בְּרָזָא דְּחָכְמְתָּא לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בְּהוּ).

The first form-when a person walks in the path of truth (צִיּוּרָ״א קַדְמָאָ״ה, כַּד אָזִיל בַּר נָשׁ בְּאֹרַח קְשׁוֹט), those who know the mysteries of their Master gaze upon him (אִינּוּן דְּיַדְּעִין בְּרָזִין דְּמָרֵיהוֹן מִסְתַּכְּלָן בֵּיהּ), because the spirit within him is rectified (בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא רוּחָא דִּלְגוֹ, מְתַּתְקְנָא בֵּיהּ), and the image of all comes forth and is revealed outward (וּבָלִיט לְבַר צִיּוּרָא דְּכֹלָּא). And that form is the form of Adam (וְהַהוּא צִיּוּרָא אִיהוּ צִיּוּרָא דְּאָדָם), and this is the most complete form of all forms (וְדָא אִיהוּ צִיּוּרָא שְׁלִים יַתִּיר מִכָּל צִיּוּרִין). And this is the form that appears temporarily (וְדָא אִיהוּ צִיּוּרָא דְּאַעְבַּר לְפוּם שַׁעֲתָא) before the eyes of the wise-hearted (קָמֵי עֵינַיְיהוּ דְּחַכִּימֵי לִבָּא). When they look upon his outward face (הַאי כַּד מִסְתַּכְּלָן בְּאַנְפּוֹי לְבַר), those are the faces that stand before him (אִינּוּן אַנְפִּין דְּקַיְּימִן קָמֵיהּ), and the eyes of the heart are drawn to them in love (עַיְּינִין דְּלִבָּא רָחִים לוֹן).

Four markings of letters are within it (אַרְבַּע סִימָנִין דְּאַתְוָון אִית בְּהוּ), one projecting stroke extends horizontally (שׁוּרְיֵיקָא חַד בָּלִיט בִּשְׁכִיבוּ), on the right side (בְּסִטְרָא דִּיִמִינָא), and one projecting stroke that contains two others joined to it (וְשׁוּרְיֵיקָא חַד דְּכָלִיל תְּרֵין אַחֲרָנִין דַּאֲחִידָן בֵּיהּ), on the left side (בְּסִטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא). And these four markings are the four letters (וְאִלֵּין ד׳ סִימָנִים, אִינּוּן ד׳ אַתְוָון), which are called testimony (דְּאִקְרוּן עֵדוּת), and the sign of it is the letter Ayin (וְסִימָנָא דָּא ע׳). That projecting stroke on the right side, which extends lying flat, is the Dalet (הַהוּא שׁוּרְיֵיקָא דִּסְטַר יְמִינָא, דְּבָלִיט בִּשְׁכִיבוּ-ד׳); and the two letters joined within it (וְאִינּוּן תְּרֵין אַתְוָון דְּמִתְחַבְּרָן בֵּיהּ) Some say: Vav and Tav are the testimony (ס״א: ו״ת אִינּוּן עֵדוּת) Vav and Tav are that projecting stroke that contains two others (ו״ת אִינּוּן הַהִיא שׁוּרְיֵיקָא דְּכָלִיל תְּרֵין אַחֲרָנִין). And this is the Secret of what is written (וְדָא אִיהוּ רָזָא דִּכְתִּיב): “A testimony in Yosef was placed…” (Psalms 81) (עֵדוּת בִּיהוֹסֵף שְׁמוֹ), for anyone who saw him (דְּכָל מַאן דְּחָמָא לֵיהּ) would love him in his heart (הֲוָה רָחִים לֵיהּ בְּלִבּוֹי), and through love he was completed (וּבִרְחִימוּ אִשְׁתְּלִים).

The seed of David is transformed in it into the appearance of colors (זַרְעָא דְּדָוִד מִתְהַפְּכָן בֵּיהּ חֵיזוּ דִּגְוָנִין), and because of this, Shmuel erred (וּבְּגִין כָּךְ טָעָה שְׁמוּאֵל), as it is written (דִּכְתִּיב): “Do not look at his appearance” (1 Samuel 16) (אַל תַּבֵּט אֶל מַרְאֵהוּ), for there was another side in Eliav (בְּגִין דְּסִטְרָא אַחֲרָא הֲוָה בֵּיהּ בֶּאֱלִיאָב), which was not so with David (דְּלָא הֲוָה הָכִי בְּדָוִד). For David’s images were hidden (דְּיּוּקְנִין דְּדָוִד טְמִירִין אִינּוּן), because the image of the other side was included within his image (דְּהָא דְּיּוּקְנִין דְּסִטְרָא אַחֲרָא אִתְכְּלִיל גּוֹ דִּיּוּקְנִין), and that image of the other side appeared in him at first (וְהַהוּא דִּיּוּקְנָא דִּסְטָר אַחֲרָא אִתְחָזֵי בֵּיהּ בְּקַדְמִיתָא), passing over the eyes for a moment (דְּאַעְבַּר עַל עַיְינִין לְפוּם שַׁעֲתָא), and the heart was startled and afraid (וּבָהִיל לִבָּא וְדָחִיל). But afterward it is written (וּלְבָתַר דִּכְתִּיב): “Of good appearance, and Hashem was with him” (1 Samuel 16) (וְטוֹב רוֹאִי וַי־הוָה עִמּוֹ). And this is testimony concerning him (וְדָא אִיהוּ עֵדוּת לְגַבֵּיהּ).