Difference between revisions of "Category:Yetzer Hara (subject)"
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While God has created man with both good and evil inclinations, the two powers or tendencies that pull him in opposite directions, God commands each man to choose the good and right path over the evil. | While God has created man with both good and evil inclinations, the two powers or tendencies that pull him in opposite directions, God commands each man to choose the good and right path over the evil. | ||
=== 4 Ezra, 2 Esdras === | |||
The first occurrence of the concept of the ''yetzer hara'' is in [[4 Ezra]] at the end of the 1st cent. CE. | The first occurrence of the concept of the ''yetzer hara'' is in [[4 Ezra]] at the end of the 1st cent. CE. | ||
Capter 3 | |||
[20] "Yet thou didst not take away from them their evil heart, so that thy law might bring forth fruit in them. | |||
[21] For the first Adam, burdened with an evil heart, transgressed and was overcome, as were also all who were descended from him. | |||
[22] Thus the disease became permanent; the law was in the people's heart along with the evil root, but what was good departed, and the evil remained. | |||
[23] So the times passed and the years were completed, and thou didst raise up for thyself a servant, named David. | |||
[24] And thou didst command him to build a city for thy name, and in it to offer thee oblations from what is thine. | |||
[25] This was done for many years; but the inhabitants of the city transgressed, | |||
[26] in everything doing as Adam and all his descendants had done, for they also had the evil heart. | |||
Chapter 6 | |||
[45] I answered and said, "O sovereign Lord, I said then and I say now: Blessed are those who are alive and keep thy commandments! | |||
[46] But what of those for whom I prayed? For who among the living is there that has not sinned, or who among men that has not transgressed thy covenant? | |||
[47] And now I see that the world to come will bring delight to few, but torments to many. | |||
[48] For an evil heart has grown up in us, which has alienated us from God, and has brought us into corruption and the ways of death, and has shown us the paths of perdition and removed us far from life -- and that not just a few of us but almost all who have been created!" | |||
[49] He answered me and said, "Listen to me, Ezra, and I will instruct you, and will admonish you yet again. | |||
[50] For this reason the Most High has made not one world but two. | |||
[51] For whereas you have said that the righteous are not many but few, while the ungodly abound, hear the explanation for this. | |||
[52] "If you have just a few precious stones, will you add to them lead and clay?" | |||
[53] I said, "Lord, how could that be?" | |||
[54] And he said to me, "Not only that, but ask the earth and she will tell you; defer to her, and she will declare it to you. | |||
[55] Say to her, `You produce gold and silver and brass, and also iron and lead and clay; | |||
[56] but silver is more abundant than gold, and brass than silver, and iron than brass, and lead than iron, and clay than lead.' | |||
[57] Judge therefore which things are precious and desirable, those that are abundant or those that are rare?" | |||
[58] I said, "O sovereign Lord, what is plentiful is of less worth, for what is more rare is more precious." | |||
[59] He answered me and said, "Weigh within yourself what you have thought, for he who has what is hard to get rejoices more than he who has what is plentiful. | |||
[60] So also will be the judgment which I have promised; for I will rejoice over the few who shall be saved, because it is they who have made my glory to prevail now, and through them my name has now been honored. | |||
[61] And I will not grieve over the multitude of those who perish; for it is they who are now like a mist, and are similar to a flame and smoke -- they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are extinguished." | |||
Revision as of 12:17, 15 September 2020
Yetzer Hara / Evil Inclination
Overview
In Rabbinic Judaism, yetzer hara (Hebrew: יֵצֶר הַרַע) refers to the congenital inclination to do evil, by violating the will of God. The term is drawn from the phrase:
- "the imagination of the heart of man [is] evil"
- (Hebrew: יֵצֶר לֵב הָאָדָם רַע, yetzer lev-ha-adam ra),
which occurs twice in the Hebrew Bible, in Genesis 6:5 and 8:21.
The yetzer hara is not a demonic force, but also comes from God. Humans don't acquire a yetzer tov ("a good inclination") until an age of maturity—12 for girls and 13 for boys—has its source in Chapter 16 of the Talmudic tractate Avot de-Rabbi Natan. They are not responsible before that age.
While God has created man with both good and evil inclinations, the two powers or tendencies that pull him in opposite directions, God commands each man to choose the good and right path over the evil.
4 Ezra, 2 Esdras
The first occurrence of the concept of the yetzer hara is in 4 Ezra at the end of the 1st cent. CE.
Capter 3
[20] "Yet thou didst not take away from them their evil heart, so that thy law might bring forth fruit in them. [21] For the first Adam, burdened with an evil heart, transgressed and was overcome, as were also all who were descended from him. [22] Thus the disease became permanent; the law was in the people's heart along with the evil root, but what was good departed, and the evil remained. [23] So the times passed and the years were completed, and thou didst raise up for thyself a servant, named David. [24] And thou didst command him to build a city for thy name, and in it to offer thee oblations from what is thine. [25] This was done for many years; but the inhabitants of the city transgressed, [26] in everything doing as Adam and all his descendants had done, for they also had the evil heart.
Chapter 6
[45] I answered and said, "O sovereign Lord, I said then and I say now: Blessed are those who are alive and keep thy commandments!
[46] But what of those for whom I prayed? For who among the living is there that has not sinned, or who among men that has not transgressed thy covenant? [47] And now I see that the world to come will bring delight to few, but torments to many. [48] For an evil heart has grown up in us, which has alienated us from God, and has brought us into corruption and the ways of death, and has shown us the paths of perdition and removed us far from life -- and that not just a few of us but almost all who have been created!" [49] He answered me and said, "Listen to me, Ezra, and I will instruct you, and will admonish you yet again.
[50] For this reason the Most High has made not one world but two. [51] For whereas you have said that the righteous are not many but few, while the ungodly abound, hear the explanation for this. [52] "If you have just a few precious stones, will you add to them lead and clay?"
[53] I said, "Lord, how could that be?"
[54] And he said to me, "Not only that, but ask the earth and she will tell you; defer to her, and she will declare it to you.
[55] Say to her, `You produce gold and silver and brass, and also iron and lead and clay; [56] but silver is more abundant than gold, and brass than silver, and iron than brass, and lead than iron, and clay than lead.' [57] Judge therefore which things are precious and desirable, those that are abundant or those that are rare?" [58] I said, "O sovereign Lord, what is plentiful is of less worth, for what is more rare is more precious."
[59] He answered me and said, "Weigh within yourself what you have thought, for he who has what is hard to get rejoices more than he who has what is plentiful.
[60] So also will be the judgment which I have promised; for I will rejoice over the few who shall be saved, because it is they who have made my glory to prevail now, and through them my name has now been honored. [61] And I will not grieve over the multitude of those who perish; for it is they who are now like a mist, and are similar to a flame and smoke -- they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are extinguished."
Pages in category "Yetzer Hara (subject)"
The following 4 pages are in this category, out of 4 total.