Ein Sof

Pronunciations

ein sof (ayn SOHF) listen

Definitions

  • n. "The infinite unknowable God; the One who cannot be comprehended by the human mind, according to kabbalistic theory." (JPS)

Example Sentences

  • "I've been looking further into Judaism lately, and I'm still a little stumped on the concept of Ein Sof. What is it? The formless version of God? Is it safe to say that Ein Sof is a way of articulating God's essence as opposed to God's characteristics?" (source)

Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew

Etymology

  • אֵין סוֹף‎ '(there is) no end'

    • Who Uses This

      • Kabbalah

      Regions

      • North America

      Dictionaries

      • The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001).

      Alternative Spellings

      En Sof

Notes

  • "The 10 Divine emanations (sefirot) issue forth from the Ein Sof." (JPS)

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