The 72 names of God, according to a Kabbalistic interpretation, are not explicitly listed as such in the Bible. Instead, they are derived from a numerological interpretation of three consecutive verses in Exodus.
The Kabbalistic Interpretation of Exodus 14:19-21
The Kabbalistic tradition finds the 72 names of God within Exodus 14:19-21. This interpretation focuses on the numerical value of the Hebrew letters within these verses. Each of the three verses contains 72 letters. These 72 letters are then divided into 72 three-letter combinations, each considered a "name" of God. It's crucial to understand that this isn't a literal listing of names in the way we might typically think of it, but rather a complex interpretation based on Gematria (the numerical value of letters).
- Exodus 14:19: This verse, along with verses 20 and 21, each contains 72 Hebrew letters.
- 72 Triplet Combinations: These 72 letters are divided into 72 sets of three letters each, each representing a unique “name” of God.
- Kabbalistic Significance: This practice is rooted in Kabbalistic tradition, a mystical branch of Judaism, which emphasizes the hidden meaning and symbolic significance within the Hebrew text.
It's important to note that this isn't a universally accepted interpretation within Christianity or Judaism, but a key concept within Kabbalistic thought. There is no direct list of "72 names" explicitly named as such in the Bible's text itself.
