Transcription and Translation of Image Text
The image shows the ornate title page of an old Hebrew book, likely a printing from the 16th or 17th century based on the woodcut style.
Hebrew Text (Reading Top to Bottom)
Top Banner:
וזה השער ל״י (likely "וזה השער ליי" - V'zeh HaSha'ar La'Yud Heh Vav Heh or V'zeh HaSha'ar La'Adonai)
Archway Center:
ספר הזוהר (Sefer HaZohar)
Body Text - Column 1 (Inside Arch, below Zohar):
על סדר מקראות כתיקונן
וכרמון בין יפה תואר ובין כתם
טהור מיום תכלתם ונתממקו
עד קצת פרטיות עם סדר תיקוני
המקורים וכל הויות כסף
בפסוקים וכ' ופניהם כפני רגל
מצוה נפש נפשם כהן לעם
מגיהם וזהרם וכל בנות
קשתם וכל פרקם וכ' וכרתי
תחת פרקם בכתם טהור
Body Text - Column 2 (Below Arch):
פה מנטובה
נכרתו במצות עדותו ותקונם
על ספרים רבים וגם ידענו
כגון סכלותם תחת פרקם בכ'ט
זמן ועת והכל במתכונת
גופא ויצאו לאור עולם
ויוסף בגרמתו וכל מתגאב
ויכנע לבן תחת מגרמתו
English Translation (Approximate and Contextual)
Top Banner:
"And this is the Gate of the Lord" (A quotation from Psalms 118:20)
Archway Center:
"The Book of Zohar"
Body Text - Column 1 (Inside Arch):
"Upon the order of the Biblical readings (Mikra'ot) as they were established,
And like a Pomegranate which is beautiful in form and like pure Gold,
From the day of their completion and their ripening,
Until some specific details, with the order of the Tikunim (Emendations/Rectifications) of the Sources (Mekorim),
And all the existence of Silver (Hovayot Kessef) in the verses,
And etc. [and] their faces are like the face of a Mitzvah (commandment), soul, their soul, a Kohen (priest) to the people,
Their commentary (Magiham) and their splendor (Zoharam), and all the daughters of their bow, and all their chapter, and etc. [and] I will cut beneath their chapter with pure gold."
(This text uses highly allusive, kabbalistic language, typical of a Zohar edition's introductory description, mentioning concepts like Tikunim, Mikra'ot, and the imagery of Gold and Silver.)
Body Text - Column 2 (Below Arch):
"Here in Mantua"
"They were engraved (Nikhretu) by the commandments of His testimony and their rectification,
From many books, and we also knew,
Such as their folly/ignorance (Sichlutam) beneath their chapter in pure gold,
A time and a season, and everything in the measure (Matkonet) of a body (Gufa), and they went out to the light of the world,
And Yosef (Joseph) in his making (Girmatu) and all who are proud (Mitga'ev)
And the white (Lavan) will humble himself beneath his making/cause."
(This section refers to the printing process, mentioning the location Mantua, the idea of correction from multiple sources ("many books"), and a reference to an individual named Yosef involved in the production, perhaps the printer or editor.)
Summary
• The work presented is The Book of Zohar (Sefer HaZohar), declared as being the Gate of the Lord. The text emphasizes its comprehensive and perfected nature, stating it is arranged according to the established order of Biblical readings (Mikra'ot). It is described using rich, mystical and aesthetic metaphors like a Pomegranate and pure Gold (Ketem Tahor), indicating its completed state, having ripened from its original form down to its specific details.
• The edition incorporates the necessary Tikunim (Emendations/Rectifications) derived from its Sources (Mekorim). The text alludes to deep Kabbalistic themes by mentioning the existence of Silver (Hovayot Kessef) within the verses, and connecting abstract concepts like the Mitzvah (commandment), soul, Kohen (priest), and the splendor (Zoharam) of the book's commentary and chapters.
• The work was engraved/printed (Nikhretu) Here in Mantua (Poh Mantova). The printing process involved rectifying the text by comparing it against many books to ensure the content and organization were correct, even to the point of correcting the "folly/ignorance" (Sichlutam) found in previous versions. The entire process was conducted precisely, having a "time and a season" and being measured out "in the measure of a body" (Matkonet Gufa), leading to its publication "to the light of the world."
• The final lines reference an individual named Yosef (Joseph) who was involved in the "making" (Girmatu) of the work, and connects his contribution to a theme of humility and overcoming pride, suggesting that those who are "proud" (Mitga'ev) will be humbled beneath his effort or cause.
Key Ideas
• The work is The Book of Zohar (Sefer HaZohar), considered a holy gateway ("Gate of the Lord").
• The text's organization follows the traditional order of Biblical readings (Mikra'ot).
• The Zohar is described with imagery of beauty, perfection, and completion (Pomegranate, pure Gold, ripening).
• The current edition includes necessary rectifications (Tikunim) based on authoritative Sources (Mekorim).
• The text contains deep, kabbalistic concepts related to the spiritual structure of verses (existence of Silver, Mitzvah, soul, Kohen).
• The printing/production occurred in the city of Mantua (Poh Mantova).
• The production process involved comparison and correction against many books to eliminate errors (Sichlutam).
• The publication, led by Yosef, is linked to the spiritual theme of humility.
Events
• The arrangement of the text was established upon the order of the Biblical readings (Mikra'ot).
• The text's evolution progressed from its completion and ripening down to its specific details.
• The rectifications (Tikunim) were made using the Sources (Mekorim).
• The book was engraved/printed (Nikhretu) according to commandments and rectification.
• The text was compared against many books to ensure accuracy.
• Errors, referred to as folly/ignorance (Sichlutam), were corrected beneath a specific chapter.
• The entire production was completed with precise timing ("a time and a season") and measure (Matkonet Gufa).
• The work was published "to the light of the world."
• Yosef was involved in the "making" (Girmatu) of the book.
• The theme of the proud (Mitga'ev) being humbled is connected to the book's making.
Keywords & Definitions
וזה השער ל״י (V'zeh HaSha'ar La'Yud Heh Vav Heh/Adonai) – "And this is the Gate of the Lord"; a verse from Psalms 118:20 used as an epigraph, establishing the book's holiness.
ספר הזוהר (Sefer HaZohar) – The Book of Zohar; the central mystical work of Kabbalah, which is the title of the book being presented.
מקראות (Mikra'ot) – Biblical readings; contextually, the order or arrangement of the Zohar follows the established sequence of portions from the Hebrew Bible.
כרמון (Rimmon) – Pomegranate; used as an aesthetic and symbolic metaphor for the beauty and internal complexity of the text.
כתם טהור (Ketem Tahor) – Pure Gold; a phrase used to describe the refined and perfected quality of the text, mentioned in connection with the chapters.
תיקוני המקורים (Tikunei HaMekorim) – Rectifications/Emendations of the Sources; refers to the corrections or improvements made to the text based on its original or authoritative sources.
הויות כסף (Hovayot Kessef) – Existence of Silver; a technical, highly symbolic kabbalistic phrase referring to a specific spiritual or mystical concept present within the verses.
מצוה (Mitzvah) – Commandment; mentioned as part of the abstract, mystical imagery connected to the book's spiritual power.
כהן (Kohen) – Priest; part of the symbolic language describing the spiritual role or status of the text's contents.
מנטובה (Mantova) – Mantua; the city in Italy where the book was printed or published (Poh Mantova translates to "Here in Mantua").
נכרתו (Nikhretu) – Engraved/Printed; refers to the act of cutting the letters for printing, indicating the manufacturing of the book.
סכלותם (Sichlutam) – Their folly/ignorance; contextually, the errors or textual mistakes that were found in previous editions and corrected by the printers.
מתכונת גופא (Matkonet Gufa) – The measure of a body; refers to the precise, measured, and complete manner in which the printing and production of the text was executed.
יוסף (Yosef) – Joseph; an individual mentioned as being involved in the book's "making" (Girmatu), likely the printer, editor, or sponsor.
מתגאב (Mitga'ev) – Proud/Haughty; part of the moral or spiritual closing thought, suggesting that pride will be humbled by the effort of the book's production.