And Aristotle added a fifth element, from which the heavens were formed:Īncient Greek philosophers often suggested similar solutions. Now, the Greeks believed in the four elements. See also Ramban and Seforno, who added a fifth element, from which the heavens were formed. In the Zohar we find that Man was created from the four elements: fire and wind and dust and water (Zohar - Secrets of the Torah volume 1(Genesis), portion of Lech Lecha page 80a see also Zohar Chadash volume 2 on the Scroll of Ruth, page 41a). This is the oldest version of the ten sephirot as we know them. In Sefer Yetzira (written sometime between the second and fourth centuries CE) it is found as a component of the ten sefirot(Sefer Yetzira chapter 1:8). The theory of four elements is found in the basic books of Kabbalah,such as Sefer Yetzira and the Zohar. What is interesting is that the theory of four elements is not mentioned in the Talmud nor in the medrashim. Interestingly, the names of the four Angels of the Divine Chariot (Micha'el, Gavri'el, Refa'el, Nuri'el, who represent the various forms of life on this world - see Parasha-Page, Bamidbar 5756) have the same numerical value (Gematria) as the Hebrew words for these four elements (Aish, Ru'ach, Mayim, Afar), as pointed out by Sefer Hapeliyah (1:23a)."įirst, we need to establish whether it is indeed a Torah view. Earth and water are the "lower" two elements - gravity causes them to sink - while air and fire, which are bouyant and rise, are the "higher" elements. 3 Moreh Nevuchim 2:30 Ibn Ezra Tehilim 66:12 Ramban Bereishit 1:1 Ohr Hachayim Bereishit 6:5 and others.) These "elements" closely parallel the three forms of matter - solid, liquid and gas - and energy. "In Midrashic literature, the world is viewed as being constructed of four basic elements: earth, water, air and fire (Bamidbar Raba end of 14:12 Zohar 1:27a, 2:23b-24b Sefer Yetzirah Ch. How do we reconcile the torah view of four foundations fire, wind, water, and earth with modern science which demonstrates wind, water, and earth are really not much different.įor example, water can be turned into oxygen and hydrogen so air and water are not so different, while according to torah view wind and water are two different, independent elements.
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